What
is Navratri?
Navratri festival sacred to the Mother Goddess
are celebrated in the month of October / November. It is a festival
of worship, dance and music celebrated over a period of nine nights.It
is celebrated from the first to the ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha
of the Hindu Calendar for the worship of the Goddess Durga.
This festival commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over a demon,
Mahishasur. During Navratri, devotees of Durga fast and pray for health
and prosperity. They also perform the 'devi-sthaapna' in their homes
wherein they invite the Goddess and perform 'pooja-path' for nine
days without consuming any food.
It is an occasion for vibrant festivities throughout the country.
Nine different manifestations
of Durga are worshipped over the nine days;
Durga :goddess
beyond reach;
Bhadrakali
the auspicious power of time;
Amba
or Jagdamba: mother of the world;
Annapurna:
giver of food and plenty;
Sarvamangala: auspicious
goddess; Bhairavi: terrible, fearful, power of death;
Chandika or handi:
violent, wrathful, furious;
Lalita: playful;
and
Bhavani: giver of
existence. |
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Idols of the
Goddess Durga are elaborately decorated and worshipped in elaborate
pandals for nine days, and on the tenth day immersed in a river or
pond. Each day during this festival has religious significance for
the devotees.
Gujaratis
perform their traditional dances 'Garba' &'Dandiya-Raas' during
Navratri. The Gujaratis enjoy the nine nights by
dancing them away to the blare of loud music and scant attention is
given to the spiritual aspect of the festival.The women-folk
dance in a circle, singing 'Garbas' or traditional songs.'Dandiya-Raas'
is played with wooden sticks or 'dandiyas'. Apart from Gujrat, Garbas
are performed in other states& cities like Mumbai. Beautifully decorated
'mandaps'are set up for playing garba & dandiya by various cultural
socities,housing commitees & youth social groups.Young men-women wear
colourful traditional dresses and play Garba with great enthusiasm.
The mood of Navratri is very colourful & unique.
Baroda is
one of the greatest places to enjoy Navratri. All kinds of
Rasa-Garbas, Dandia ras etc. are practiced in this period, feasting
and fasting are important cultural aspects of this day, and various
rituals are performed at temples of the 9 Goddesses of Hinduism. The
atmosphere is electric and revelry is in the air. The best places
to enjoy the atmosphere of Navratri in Baroda.
My opinion:
Actually there are so many festivals which I celebrate with full
joy but Navratri is the only festival which
I love very much, just by thinking about garba the whole
picture of it come in front of my eyes.The pleasures, the enthusiasm
which is gain by playing garba cannot be describe in words. I personally
enjoyed this festival very much because I get a chance to dance with
my friends freely, wearing my favourite costumes, especially I wear
kurta for playing garba. Navratri festival is celebrated all over
the world. Garba is a festival of fun, devotion, faith and passion
so let's come and enjoy it.
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