Navaratri is one of the most important festivals of Hindu religion that celebrates nine consecutive days every year. Navratri is the most observed in the honor of the divine Durga Devi. This celebration is basically devoted to the worship of the Eternal mother Goddess Durga, that has its origins in the Vedas.
Nine sacred days of Navaratri marks the most auspicious days of the lunar calendar according to Hinduism. India is basically a Land of Spirituality and the Festivals. Hindu Community is celebrating nine Navaratri days in a spiritual and festivity manner, with great deal of enthusiasm and fully dedicated to the supreme goddess Durga Maa and her nine avatars. During the nine days period, majority of the people are observing a strict vegetarian diet and abstaining certain spices.
Navaratri is celebrating to commemorate the battle between goddess Durga and Mahishasura, and also to commemorate the battle between Lord Rama and the King Ravana.
Navaratri celebrations include stage decorations, installing Sharada Devi Statue, recital of the god, chanting of the Hindu Scriptures. Organizes wide range traditional programs such as classical and folk dances of Hindu culture. All these nine days, large scale of devotees are visiting to Durga Devi Temple or the areas where Durga Devi idol installed at night to pray and to get blessings from her.
Last day of Dussehra called Vijayadashami, the idols are either immersed in a water body such as river and ocean or alternatively the idol symbolizing the evil is burnt with fireworks marking evil’s destruction.
Shakti is the creative force behind the universe and feminine power of Shiva. Even though Lord Shiva is highly powerful, but he was not in a position to create anything without the feminine power. Durga Devi was battling and defeating all the evil forces one after another to restore Dharma and peaceful atmosphere in this world.
The form of the goddess Durga is said to symbolize creative energy and the feminine body and this form of the goddess has nine aspects.
Navaratri is celebrating in many ways in different parts of India. In the eastern and northeastern parts of India especially Assam and West Bengal, the Durga Puja is celebrating, wherein Goddess Durga Devi battles and emerges victorious over the buffalo demon to help restore Dharma.
Special images of Durga commemorating her victory over the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasura are worshiped daily in these region, and on the 10th day of Durga Puja, Idols are taken in jubilant processions to nearby rivers or reservoirs for immersion in water. In addition to the same, people are observing puja, rituals, and the people are arranging public concerts, recitations, etc.
Whereas, in the northern and western parts of India, people celebrates Dussehra to celebrate the battle victory of Lord Rama against King Ravana.
Ravana, the king of Lanka was a hard core devout and a staunch follower of Lord Shiva. He was highly intellectual, at the same time he was a cruel & arrogant demon king. Ravana had ten heads which signifies his thorough knowledge about the four Vedas & six Upanishads, which made him as powerful as ten scholars. Instead of utilizing his knowledge and power for the betterment of the people and the world, he was always utilizing the same for the evil purposes.
At the same time in Southern States of India, the victory of God Rama as well as as Goddess Saraswati is celebrated. In all the cases, the common theme is the battle and the victory of God against the Evil forces based on a regionally famous epic such as Ramayana or Devi Mahatmya.
Navaratri is celebrating in various Indian regions in a different manner. Wide range Dances including Garba are performed in Gujarat, Mumbai etc.
Garba dance is a folk dance celebrated in Navaratri and one of the famous Dance form of India mostly seen in Gujarat. People plays Garba dance during the 9 days of Navaratri at night and worship goddess Durga. Garba styles movements performed in a circle as a symbol of Hindu view of time .
Nine nights of this festival are dedicated to different aspects of the divine feminine principle or shakti. Night is a highly powerful time to be in touch with the Divine. During the night time The Divine is highly active.
The meaning of Navaratri is the Nine Nights of The Goddess sacred time. All these Nine Nights The Divine comes into the earth level. Particularly The Goddess descend into this earth level during the night period.
One of the popular rituals of Navaratri festival is Kanya Puja that takes place on the eighth or ninth day. Kanya Puja is a Hindu Holy ritual. Nine young girls are dressed as the nine forms of goddess Durga (Navadurga) and are worshiped with ritual foot-washing and given offerings such as food and clothing.
Altogether Navaratri/Durga Puja/Dussehra is a colorful nine days Hidu festival that is widely celebrating every years not only in India but also across the world.
