NAVRATRI - A HINDU GUJARATI FESTIVAL - Hitesh Ahjoliya Education Materials

NAVARATRI

A festival of faith, sadhana, Penance, Chanting power, Worship and Rejoicing

        Navratri or Navratra is a Hindu festival in which Shakti is worshiped. In Sanskrit and Gujarati, Navratri means nine nights. During these nine nights nine forms of Shakti are worshiped. Navratri symbolizes the celebration of Goddess Durga, which expresses the Goddess in the form of Shakti. Thus, Navratri is the festival of Shakti worship.

        There are many forms of Jagdamba in Mahishasur Mardini. "You will not die at the hands of any man." That blessing was received by Mahishasur from Devadhidev Mahadev. But the gods got tired of this monster's torment. So finally Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh created a female power from their trinity. All the gods gave their weapons to the goddess. From today's Aso Sud unit to Navratri, the goddess fought a battle with the demon. Mahishasur was finally killed on the tenth. Thus, Navratri means the victory of power over Mahishasur.

The Navratri festival is celebrated all over India for nine days every year starting from the Aso Mas Sud unit. On these days, Hindus fast, perform Ghatsthapana and worship Nav Durga. Hindus establish a ghat on the first day of Navratri and invoke and worship the Goddess. This pujan lasts for nine days. Some people also fast on Navratri.

        At this time of religious vows, a perforated pot (called garbi in Gujarati) is placed in the sacred place of the house, which is also called ghatasthapan. The lamp is kept lit in this garbi for nine days. During Navratri some devotees of Mother Durga fast and pray.

        In India, especially in the state of Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with the famous folk dances of Garba and Dandiya Ras. People from all over Gujarat and abroad also come to participate in these nine-day festivals. The last four days of Sharad Navratri in East India are specially celebrated in the state of West Bengal, called Durga Puja. Which is the biggest festival of Bengal. In some parts of South India, Saraswati is worshiped on the ninth day.

        Dussehra i.e. 'Tenth Day' is the day after Navratri. Called Vijayadashami, the last day of the festival, Ramlila is formally performed during Dussehra in northern India to celebrate Rama's victory over Ravana, at the end of which the idols of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are cremated.

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