Navratri (nine nights), a festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and her various forms is one of the famous festival which is celebrated with great fervor in India. Like many other Hindu festivals, Navratri symbolizes the win of good over evil. Some of the devotees observe nine-day fast to show their devotion and get blessings of this goddess. As India is a country with diverse cultures, every state has its own and unique way of celebrating this cheerful festival. People tapping their legs and performing dance with Dandiya sticks, clamor of devotional songs, sound of drums, a long queue outside goddess temples is general sight spotted during this auspicious 9-day festival. It is not practically possible to visit all the states and take the pleasure of this occasion but through this article you can take a virtual tour around these places and experience the zest of this festivity.
West Bengal:This part of India celebrates Navratri with great enthusiasm and glitter. In west Bengal, Navratri is known as Durga puja or Durgaotsav. The celebration here starts from Saptami that is on the seventh day of Navratri and continues till Dashmi (tenth day). Durgaotsav marks the victory of Maa Durga over the demon Mahishasura. Musicians play dhak (drum) during this occasion. The streets of Kolkata, state capital is drenched with colorful and creative pandals. Pandal -hopping is the main activity observed in the state during this festival. People come down the streets to visit the pandals, take the pleasure of innovative themes presented by the pandals and acquire the blessings of the goddess.
Gujarat:Garba, a clay pot which represents the womb of a woman is prominent feature which is witnessed in Gujarat. Devotees observe strong fast for 9 days, some of them also sacrifice the comforts during Navratri. Dandiya raas and garba are the main attractions during Navratri. People wear colorful and vibrant traditional clothes and perform the graceful dance. According to tradition, the dancing session takes place after Aarti. Dandiya is played by tapping sticks and garba is played with hands. It is said that dandiya sticks represent sword of Durga, Dandiya raas is the dramatization of the fight between goddess and demon. Women wear traditional ghagra-choli with heavy glasswork and embroidery and men wear attractive kedia. The dancers tap sticks and dance in circular motion to the tunes of Navratri songs.
Maharashtra:In Maharashtra, Navratri is considered to be an auspicious festival for buying new things like gold, home, vehicle etc. Ghat Sthapana which means food grains is grown on a small mud bed and watered everyday in house. On the tenth day, the food grains are harvested and distributed among the devotees as blessing of the goddess. Bhondla is also main attraction of Maharashtra during Navratri. It is traditional game performed by the ladies and girls in Maharashtra. A picture or replica of elephant is placed in the center and woman of all age group perform a circle around the elephant and sing bhondla songs by moving round and round. Various delicacies are prepared, shared and consumed by the ladies after the game. Women invite female friends and relatives and put a dot of haldi and kumkum on their forehead and present them coconut, beetle nut leaves with banana. Even dandiya raas is famous in Maharashtra.
Tamil Nadu:Golu, a decorative arrangement of dolls kept on 7 or 9 steps in most of the houses (Brahmins) is the main attraction in Tamil Nadu. Any sort of wooden dolls are placed on the steps. Women invite guests and relatives to their homes to enjoy the festival and offer them prasad and sweets. Sundal, a famous snack made of pulses and lentils are prepared on all the nine days. Female member of the home invite other female members and place haldi and kumkum on their forehead and present them coconut, beetle nut leaves with banana.
Karnataka:In Karnataka, Navratri is an historical event, it is celebrated with great fervor. People organize plays based on Goddess Durga and demon Mahishasura episode. Mysore which is said to be the resident of this demon, here the festival is celebrated with immense enthusiasm. Fairs and exhibitions are organized, lavish elephant procession are seen on the streets. On vijayadashmi (10th day), the whole city is illuminated with lights and celebrate the victory of good over bad.
Punjab:In Punjab the festival is celebrated in a unique way. Devotees observe fast on the first seven days. They organize jagraata where they stay awake whole night and sing bhajans and devotional songs dedicated to the Goddess. On Ashtami (eight day) they invite 8 or 9 young girls, wash their feet present them red chunri(piece of cloth) and offer them delicious puri, halwa and chana.
Kerala:Kerala, where the literacy rate is 100%, in this city the mainly they worship the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, Saraswati during Navratri. Unlike other South Indian states, in Kerala the celebration takes place on the last three days that is Ashtami, Navmi and Dashmi. They worship goddess Saraswati by placing books, stationary and musical instruments in front of the idol. This is done of the eight day. On the tenth day they thank the goddess for granting them knowledge and wisdom and take the things placed. Similarly Saraswati puja is also observed in Tamil Nadu.
Andhra Pradesh:Batukamma Panduga which means Come Alive Mother Goddess is a nine day celebration dedicated to Shakti. Women in this state prepare stack of seasonal flowers that is of seven layers. This is known as Batukamma and it looks like a pot made up of colorful flowers. Women get lovely dressed in silk sarees with chunky gold jewelry and go to Amman temples with Batukamma, singing devotional songs dedicated to the goddess. Later they go towards the lake or any other water body and float the Batukamma by offering prayer to the goddess. This religious act is specially celebrated in the Telangana region.
Himachal Pradesh:Unlike other states, here the festival starts when the festival almost end in other locations. It is a one day festival in Himachal Pradesh which takes place on dashmi that is on the tenth day. It is known as Kullu Dusshera, but the state celebrates the festival as the mark of victory of Lord Ram. Fair and exhibitions are organized in the state. However Hindu devotees, pay respect to the goddess Durga during Navratri by visiting temples.Every state has its unique and different ways of celebrating this grand festival but the spirit and gusto among all the devotees regarding the devotion towards Goddess is the same.займ на карту без отказов круглосуточновзять кредит онлайн