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Navratri Festival, meaning 'nine nights', is one of the most popular and widely celebrated Hindu festivals in many parts of India. Gujarat, however, is the only state that erupts into a nine-night dance festival, perhaps the longest in the world. Each night, all over the state, villages and cities alike, people gather in open spaces to celebrate feminine divinity, referred to as Shakti.
The dance form known as ras garba (also joined sometimes by dandiya, which uses small wooden sticks), comes from Lord Krishna's worship rather than Goddess worship, from the Gop culture of Saurashtra and Kutch. Stories of relationships between Krishna and the Gopis, and their emotions, also often make their way into the ras garba music.
Nevertheless, the focal point of every garba circle is the small Goddess shrine erected by each community to mark the beginning of the festival, on the first day of the Hindu month of Ashwin. The shrine includes a garbo, an earthenware pot, in which a betel nut, coconut, and silver coin are placed.
Each night the village or urban neighborhood gathers to perform a puja to one of the nine forms of Goddess. The nine nights are also broken up into sections of three; the first is for Durga, the goddess who destroyed an evil force represented by the demon Mahishasura, and who destroys human impurities; the second is for Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity; the third is for Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and art. It is a time to celebrate fertility and the monsoon harvest, represented by a mound of fresh soil in which grains are sown.
After the puja begins the music; it is unmistakable to those who are familiar with the style and irresistible to many. People begin to dance in a circle, whirling away till late into the night. It is not uncommon to find dancers with swords or lit flames and other spectacles.
The traditional dance steps are simple, though over the years people have been inventing more complex steps. Similarly, the music was traditionally acoustic, principally composed of drums and singing, but most people now use amplified sound systems or a blend in the form of a live band with modern instruments. Vadodara is a good place to find the full range of these styles, traditional to modern, acoustic to amplified, simple to complicated, each one represented in its extreme somewhere in the city.
The History Of Navratri
Navaratri Festivals in GujaratThe history behind Navratri is closely associated with mythical tales. As per myths, Demon Mahisasur had received a boon from Agni devta that no weapon will be able to destroy him ever and that had actually made the demon immortal. He became too proud and powerful and started terrorizing everyone in heaven and earth. The panicked devtas and deities then went to lord Shiva with an appeal to rescue them from the prowess of Mahisasur. Lord Shiva in association with Lord Brahma and lord Vishnu created the female Shakti, Ma Adhya Shakti who then fought with Mahisasur for 9 continuous nights and days. On day ten she triumphed over the demon by beheading him and in that way the evils associated with mahisasur came to an end.
Nine Days of Festivals
First Three Days : On the first day of the Navaratras, a small bed of mud is prepared in the Puja room of the house and barley seeds are sown on it. On the tenth day, the shoots are about 3 - 5 inches in length. After the Puja, these seedlings are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from god. These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy. Her various manifestations, Kumari, Parvati and Kali are all worshipped during these days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood that include the child, the young girl and the mature woman.
Second Three Days : During these days, Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity is worshipped. 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.
Seventh and Eighth Day : These final days belong to Saraswati Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This in turn will free us from all earthly bondage. But on the 8th day of this colorful festival, Yogna (holy fire) is performed. Ghee (clarified butter), Kheer (rice pudding) and sesame seeds form the holy offering to Goddess Durga Maa.
Mahanavami, Final Day : The festival of Navratri culminates in Mahanavami. On this day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshiper.
Navratri Celebration
All through the nine days, the devotees would chant mantras, sing songs and bhajans in the honor of the deity. To celebrate the festival, a number of Pujas are conducted all through the nine days. There have many procedure (Vidhi) to performing Navaratri Puja.
First day of the festival devotees should take bath in the morning and wear cleaned clothes. Then, fill a Kalash (pitcher) with water and set mango leaves on its mouth. Then a coconut should be put on the Kalash. Now, attach Moli (red sacred thread) on the neck of the pitcher. Two banana trees are placed to the both side of the idol or picture of Ma Durga or Puja room and the pitcher is to be set under those trees.
Then a priest begins main worship the deity with Roli (red color for Tilak), rice, and flowers, Balepatra (a tree leaf), Kumkum (vermilion) and Gulal. Thereafter, the priest fire on oil lamp which is made of clay and pour ghee (clarified butter) over it. It is a custom to keep oil lamp burning till the Puja is over.
Through out a long time the priest chanting Mantras and sing Aarti song while doing the Aarti. After completing the Puje devotees fold their hands and encircle the flame for three times of the oil lamp and touch their hand on their face and head.
Delhi is the capital city of Indian Republic and thus has a vibrant culture. This is pretty evident from the fact that various kinds of fairs and festivals are held almost every now and then. No matter what time of the year you visit Delhi; you will find some or other fair or festival being organized. Most of these fairs or festivals are organized to showcase either the Indian culture or its technological advancement. They are organized in various parts of the city and are attended by people coming from different backgrounds and strata. Thus, besides reflecting the cultural, scientific, educational advancement, the fairs and festivals of Delhi bring cohesion among the people.
The foremost and the torchbearer among them is India International Trade Fair (IITF), popularly known as trade fair in Delhi. The Delhi Trade Fair is normally organized in the month of November (14-27). This trade pulls crowd in millions and is arguably one of the largest fair in the world in terms of footfall volume. Besides showcasing products from nearly all the states in India, it has pavilion from nearly 100 countries. This is a one-stop destination to shop whatever you like, literally, from a thing as miniscule as a needle to a thing as gigantic as an Aircraft. Then there is Art and crafts fair that showcases the vivid art and craft of India. There are stalls from nearly all the states with special emphasis on the Tribal art and crafts, fighting the war against extinction.
