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Navratras
"Navratri" or "Navratra" is a combined word which translated means
nine nights. " Nav" means Nine and "Ratri" means night, so combined
it means Navratri or Nine nights. In northern parts of India this
festival is called " Navratra". Navratri is a nine day holy
festival, which is celebrated to propitiate Goddess of Shakti or
Divine Mother. Many devotees keep fast on all the nine days of this
holy festival of nights. Devotees throng the Devi temples all over
India where Goddess Idol is decorated beautifully. Navratri
celebrations are observed very enthusiastically in the state of
Gujarat where all nine nights of Navratras are spent in vibrant
Garba and Rasa dance. In West Bengal Durga Puja is the most
important festival and is celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm.
According to Hindu
mythology, Goddess Durga is Mother Goddess or Shakti (The Divine
Female Energy). According to the legend Lord Brahma granted a boon (
Var ) to Mahishasur who was king of the demons. Armed with the
powers of the boon, he created havoc in the universe, and no one
could defeat him or kill him. He got
so insolent, that he started terrorizing the Gods ( Devtas) also. He
one day reac hed Heaven ( Swarglok) to kill Indra (King of Gods ).
Greatly distressed, Indra asked Lord Brahma to help him. Lord Brahma
was enraged at such blatant misuse of his boon and the power
associated with that boon, he along with Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh
,released their energies and combined these shaktis ( powers) and
brought to life a magnificent Goddess with many arms. This form of
Shakti was called "Durga". Goddess Durga
armed rode on a Lion ( Singh) and fought a fierce and a
bloody battle with the Mahishasur . For nine days and nights ,
Goddess Durga fought a fierce battle with Mahishasur. In this battle
Mahishasur changed his form many times. On the tenth day, Goddess
ultimately trapped him under her foot and the Demon was killed, and
the universe was saved from the terror of Mahishasur. This victory
symbolizes the victory of good over evil. These nine days are
devoted to the propitiation of the Mother Goddess or Shakti .
Hinduism is the only religion the world which has emphasized to such
an extent the motherhood of God.
Navratri is celebrated twice in a year.
As per Astrology there are two major solar influences each year.
The seasons are determined by the two directions in which the sun
appears to be moving. So one is when Sun is crossing Equator and
moving towards south direction which is called "Visaragakaal" or "Dakshinayana"
The sun is not very harsh in this season, and more moisture is
released in the atmosphere. The other is when Sun is crossing
Equator and moving towards north direction which is called "Aadanakaal"
or "Uttarayana". The sun is stronger in this phase, and tends to
absorb the moisture from the atmosphere. One is the start of the
winter season and the other is the start of the summer season in the
Northern Hemisphere.
The beginning of summer season and the beginning of winter season
are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influences.
The bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change on
account of the changes in nature. These two periods are taken as
sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother or Maa
Shakti. So both the seasons are chosen for celebrating Navratras.
Ram Navratri is celebrated in Chaitra Month (the first month of the
year according to Hindu Calendar, beginning on 22 March (or 21 March
in leap years) and ending on 20 April) and the Durga Navratri in
Ashvin or Aswayuja (seventh month of the year according to Hindu
calendar, beginning on 23 September and ending on 22 October.). Lord
Rama is worshipped during Ramnavmi , and the Divine Goddess Mother
Durga is worshipped during Navratri.
Navratri's each
night( ratri) is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga. That is
every night ( ratri)of the Navratri corresponds to worship of
different forms of Goddess Durga.
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Maa Shailputri :
The daughter of Parvatraj
Himalaya (King of the Mountain Himalaya). She married Lord
Shiva and is known as mother of Lord Ganesha (The Remover of
obstacles) and Kartikeya (The God of War).
Maa Brahmachaarin : She gives
the message of pure love to the world.
Maa Chandraghanta : She
establishes Justice. She wears the crescent moon on her head.
Maa Kushmaanda :
She provides the basic necessities, and every day
sustenance to the world.
Skand Maa : She gives the gift
of differentiation & discrimination of right from wrong to the
world.
Maa Kaatyayini : She
persistently & relentlessly battles against the evil and
deceitful & devious entities.
Maa Kaalratri : She killed
Raktabeeja (A demon who had the power to produce a demon from
every drop of blood that fell from his body. Goddess & Divine
Mother eventually licked the blood before it could reach the
ground and hence conquered & over powered him).
Maa Chaamunda :
She killed two demons--Chanda and Munda and restored
tranquility & order in the world.
Maa MahaGauri : She also
liberated the world from the evil forces.
Mata Sidhidaarti : She is a
treasure house of Mystic Powers (Yantra Tantra) and Knowledge (Gyaan).
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It is also said that the nine days are divided and devoted to the
Trinity of God worshipped in a female form in which for three days
Maa Durga (Goddess of valor, Power & Energy ) is worshipped, for
three days Maa Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth & Prosperity) and three
days for Maa Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge , Learning and Art) is
worshipped.
Following rituals are observed
in these nine days:
Rituals for the
First Three Days of Navratras :
During the first three days of
Navratri Maa Durga -( The Goddess of Valor, Power and Energy ) is
worshiped in its manifestations as Kumari, Parvati and Kali. These
three forms represent the various nature or classes of woman - as a
young virgin girl, as a wife and mother and as an old mature woman
respectively. On the first day of Navratri barley seeds are sown in
a small pot (mostly earthen pot or container) in the Puja (worship )
room. On the tenth day when these seeds grow into small shoots these
are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from god and are
received as Prasad.
Rituals for Fourth - Sixth
Days of Navratras :
During these three days it is Maa Lakshmi - ( The Goddess of Wealth
and Prosperity ) who is worshiped. This is done to rekindle divine
qualities in a devotees mind. Prayers, Kirtans and Jagratns are
organized in various temples and community halls by the religious
minded people. On the fifth day which is known as Lalita Panchami,
it is traditional, to gather and display all literature available in
the house, light a lamp or 'diya' to invoke Saraswati Maa, the
Goddess of knowledge and art.
Rituals for
Seventh - Eighth Days of Navratras :
On the seventh and eighth day of Navratri Maa Saraswati - (The Hindu
Goddess of Knowledge, Learning & Art) is worshiped. It is believed
that worshiping Maa Saraswati enhances the spiritual knowledge of a
devotee and makes a person free of all bonds of the Sansara (
Material World). This in turn will free a devotee from all earthly
bondages. On the 8th day of this colorful festival, Yagna or Homam
(holy fire) is performed. Pure Desi Ghee (clarified pure butter),
kheer (rice pudding) and sesame seeds form the holy offering to
Goddess Durga Maa ( Divine Mother). Many people in north India
worship the 8th day as ashtami .
Rituals of the Ninth or Mahanavami Day :
The festival of Navratri culminates on Mahanavami .
This is the most important day of the festival. On this day 'Kanya
Pujan' is performed in Hindu households. Nine young girls
representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their
feet are washed and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by
the worshiper. They are also treated with a Prasad of Puri, Black
Chanas ( Chhole) and Halwa , small token of money , red bangles and
red scarf . On this day these little girls usually move from house
to house and enjoy and relish this special treat. This ritual is
performed in most parts of the country.
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During these Navratri days most of
the people eat vegetarian food, some people eat food without any
form of cereal and some fast for all the eight days.
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In the case of Navratri festival celebrated as Durga Navratri in
Ashvin or Aswayuja (seventh month of the year according to Hindu
calendar, beginning on 23 September and ending on 22 October), the
tenth day of this festival is celebrated as Vijaydashmi or Dussehra.
People in North India very often visit the world famous holy shrine
of Maa Vaishnodevi ,
 which is situatued on Trikoot mountain (parvat
) near Jammu during this period. Lunches and Dinners are also
organized in temples and community places which are known as
bhandaras. In the states of Gujrat and West Bengal , Navratras are
celebrated with great pomp and show. In Gujrat at night time, girls
and young women dress up in best of their ghagra cholis and boys and
young men wear their best Kurta Pajams and gather for the
traditional Garbha dance or dandiya rass.
In West Bengal during Navratras, Goddess Durga is worshipped. The pujas are held over a five day period, which is viewed as the home
coming of the married daughter, Durga, to her father, Parvatraj
Himalaya's ( Mountain King Himalaya) home. It is considered to be
the most important festival of the Bengali people. During these days
Bengali people buy new clothes, exchange sweets and most of the new
purchases are made. These new clothes they buy are worn by them in
the evenings when the family goes out to see the 'Pandals'
(temporary structures set up to venerate the goddess Durga). Muscial
evenings are mostly organized in these pandals. On the last day of
the puja, the idol of the Goddess is taken with great fanfare and
immersed in the river.
Goddess Durga
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