Navratri 2013 is just around the corner. And with this, the whole world will again witness thousands of Hindus worldwide come together to celebrate the Navratri festival, which pays worship to the Divine Mother in Hindu religion, the female counterpart of the paternal Creator of the Universe. The Hindu religion may be one of those that gives due importance to female deities that are crucially venerated in mythology and culture. The sacred femininity is held at a high pedestal in Hindu religion.
Of course, the Navratri festival may not be as popular to the rest of the world as Ramadan is. Some may not even be familiar with the concept of goddess worship in Hindu religion, which is stereotyped to be male-dominated. But this may serve as an eye-opener to the pessimistic critic, especially for this Navratri 2013. While the rest of the commercialized popular world awaits the latest Halloween costume ideas for 2013, Hindus prepare for a worship that re-defines the concept of sacred femininity and the place of women in the culture of worship.
Image: Demotix
What is Navratri Festival?
All about Navratri, What is Navratri, Navratri Meaning
Hinduism celebrates the Navratri as worship to the Divine Mother, Durga, who is believed to be the mother of all. It may be the only religion in the world that gives due praise to an equal counterpart of the Creator that is depicted as in the paternal sense. Literally, Navratri means “nine nights.” The origin of the “nine nights” celebration roots from a long way since the belief in ancient times. The Navratri is celebrated twice a year to mark the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter. In Hindu beliefs, these times of the year are very symbolic for worship because the changes in the season are divine providence to achieve in the earth’s balance. The changes of the season cause people to think and act; thus, worship becomes necessary to achieve the similar physical and mental balance.
The worship lasts for nine nights and nine days in order to celebrate the three goddesses in Hindu religion: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The different levels of worship to these goddesses bestow different blessings in a Hindu’s life. Durga, for instance, is believed to bestow wealth, prosperity and knowledge.
When is Navratri Festival
Navratri Dates, When Navratri is Celebrated
For 2013, Navrati will start on October 9 until October 13. The celebration of the festivals may last for one day or more. Pratipada refers to the first day of the fortnight of the Hindu calendar in the month of Ashwin.
When is Navratri 2013: In 2013, Navratri will be on October 9th to October13th
When is Navratri 2014: In 2014, Navratri will be on September 25th to October 3rd
When is Navratri 2015: In 2015, Navratri will be on October 13th to October 21st
When is Navratri 2016: In 2016, Navratri will be on October 1st to October 9th
When is Navratri 2017: In 2017, Navratri will be on September 21st to September 29th
Navratri History: The legends that live on
History of Navratri, Legend of Navratri
The legend behind the Navratri celebration stretches a long way back in ancient times in India. It was believed that Mahishasura, a follower of Shiva, acquired a power to gain immortality. With this, he started to take innocent lives away. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh used their divine powers to stop him. By doing so, they created Durga, a powerful warrior goddess. Durga and Mahishasura engaged in a war that lasted for nine days until Durga was able to defeat the latter by beheading him. This is the reason why Navratri is celebrated for nine days.
Another legend in Hindu mythology that gave birth to the nine-day celebration of the Navratri originated from the marriage of Uma at Shiva. It was believed that Uma, daughter to King Daksha of the Himalayas, married Shiva against her father’s will. The story goes that Daksha offended Shiva when Uma visited home for the yagna. Uma jumped to the agnikund, unable to hear her father’s insults. She was then reborn as Sati and still married Shiva. She made peace with her parents and stayed with them for nine days. Later on, this was celebrated as Navratri.
In the historical sense, Kshatriyas avoided engaging in activities that related to war during the monsoon season. When the monsoon season would have been over, they will worship Devi for nine days before resuming with war-related activities. The nine days are also celebrated today as Navratri.
Importance of Navratri
Why Celebrate Navratri, Significance of Navratri
The celebration commemorates the legend of the warrior goddess Durga, who is also known for the names Devi and Shakti. It is believed that Hindus acquire an energy that removes miseries in life for worshipping Durga. This is also the time in the lunar year that pays great respect to the universal mother and the divine femininity in Hindu worship. The Creator in Hindu worship is believed to be the one that has put stability in the world. The Divine Mother is one that continually puts balance into the world’s energy in order to maintain its life system. Navratri is an affirmation that change is inevitable; thus, balance is necessary to maintain physical and mental stability.
Navratri Celebration
Celebration of Navratri in India, how Navratri is Celebrated
Navratri, although united under one paradigm for the Hindu, may be celebrated differently. Here are some examples Navratri celebrations all over India:
Image: BBC
Navratri Festival in Bengal
Navratri is celebrated by going to Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkota, West Bengal. The climatic celebration is through a grand procession on the tenth day of the worship. There are also worship songs and dances during the nine day celebration. The most important days of the worship are the last four days because this is when kanyas or pre-pubescent girls are taken out and worshipped to celebrate the warrior goddess Durga. On the ninth day, Ayudha Puja is celebrated. This is where people take out their tools, study books and everything else related to livelihood and place these at the altar of Durga to be blessed with prosperity and success. Saraswati Puja is performed on the tenth day in order to invoke blessings of knowledge and mental peace.
Navratri Festival in Gujarat
The Navratri is celebrated as a community event wherein Dandiya Raas and Garba Raas, worship songs and dances, are conducted. The Jaagran is also done as an additional praise to Durga. Devotees venture to the Amba Mata Temple at Junagarh Gujarat during the nine days worship as well. Women also perform Garba dances in the temple, wherein there are painted earthen pots that are danced around to. The men also perform a Garba that is related to agricultural rites.
Navratri Festival in Maharashtra
Saraswati is worshipped on the tenth day
The tenth day is considered as the day to buy new things and ornaments
Puja is performed during the nine-day celebration
Flowers are offered to the idol of the warrior goddess Durga
People Visit the Ayyappa Temple at Goregaon
Navratri Festival in Kashmir
Fasting is observed for nine days. This is the Navratri fasting that is guided with specific food ideals to be eaten for the celebration.
NOTE: Navratri fasting depends on the physical and mental capability of a devotee, but for the strict implementer, fruits and water are only consumed for nine days. Flour and grains are avoided. In the modern celebration of Navratri, some people eat vegetarian non-grain based foods in order to keep their strength for the rest of the celebration.
• The temple of the goddess Kheer Bhawani is visited during the nine-day celebration.
• People also go to the mountain cave of the Vaishno Devi Temple to worship
• Aarti is done after the fasting on the ninth day.
Navratri Festival in Kerala
Tools are worshipped during this time. Books and records at home are also worshipped during this time in the name of the goddess Saraswati. People visit the Saraswati temple at Kottayam and the Thekkegram temple
Navratri Festival in Mysore, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh
- Chamundi is worshiped for the Navratri in Mysore.
- The worship of Chamundi on the tenth day is spent on grandeur with a grand procession of elephants, horses and chariots. Even the people are adorned with magnificent clothing.
- In Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhara Pradesh, the Bommai Kolu is performed by women. Nine kanyas or virgins are given flowers and sweets, while married women share flowers and spend time eating together.
Navratri Garba
Garba is one of the much awaited dance performed during auspiricous occasions like Holi and Navratri. Navratri garbe dance symbolizes worship of the Goddess Jagdamba. Traditionall, Navratri Garba is performed by women, but these days, men may also participate in the performance. This kind of dance is performed in a circular formation. Performers clad themselves with elegant and colorful attires.
So what is Garba? The meaning of Garba is derived from the root words “Garbha Deep”. In Hindu religion, Deep is known as a lamp that is placed inside an earthen pot or also called as Garba. The lamp gives out light through the Garba which symbolizes embryonic life.
Navratri Songs
Most Navrati songs are popularized by Aamir Khan, Javed Akhtar, AR Rahman, Saroj Khan. Navratri songs, just as other popular songs, also go by the trend. They can fade and be revived. There is, however, a different form and content in a Navratri song. Here are a few examples:
• Dola, Dola by AR Rahman
• Sherawali Maa by Amitabh Bachchan
• Maa Sherawali by Akshay Kumar
Navratri Recipes
- Motia Pulao: this is made with Samai rice, supplemenyed with pearl-shaped balls
- Kulhad ki Kheer: served in earthen bowls to match the essence of the occasion, this is also served with Samai rice with dry fruit kheer.
- Stuffed Tomatoes: not only is this recipe delicious, it is also healthy.
- Phalahari Kadhai Paneer: cubed cottage cheese in tomato gravy.
- Raw Banana Koftas: drenched in potato gravy, the raw banana is moulded to dumplings.
- Malai Laddoo: another cottage cheese gourmet that is, this time, mixed with condensed milk balls
Navratri Puja Procedure
The Navratri Puja is a devotional ritual that is done during the celebration of Navratri. In order to perform this, there are guiding principles in doing so. Here’s how to make Navratri Pooja or Puja
Items to Yield
- Image of goddess Durga
- Durga Sapthashati book
- Water in pitcher or Kalash
- Mango leaves (fresh washed)
- One coconut
- Red Roli for Tilak
- Moli
- Chawal or rice
- Betel leaves or Paan
- Bettle nuts or Supari
- Cloves
- Cardamom
- Kumkum
- Gulal
- Incense sticks
- Deep
- Matchstick
- Rose / lotus / red hibiscus
- Stalks of Bilwa
- Fresh pomegranate
- Sweets such as Laddoo, Peda or Prasad
- Panchpatra with spoon and water and Bael Leaves
- Mat
How to Perform Navratri Puja
1. Take a bath in the morning.
2. Wear fresh clothes.
3. Put water in the Kalash with the mango leaves and coconut.
4. Tie the Moli on the neck of the Kalash.
6. Put the image of Durga in the room.
7. Worship with Roli, rice, flowers, Balepatra, Kumkum and Gulal.
8. Add burning coal to the clay pot.
9. Pour a Ghee or clarified butter in addition to the burning coal.
10. Put a small amount of sweetmeat to the fire while continually adding the ghee.
11. After the Puja, fold your hands and encircle the flame three times.
12. Then, light the incense and the deep.
13. Perform the Aarti, wherein a devotional song can be performed.
14. Chant the Durga Saptshati or Devi Kavach.
Related Resources:
- Navratri Recipes from pankajbhadouria
- Navratri from Wikipedia
- Navratri Wishes from easyday.snydle
- Navratri Cards from 123greetings
