Navaratra - worshipping nine avatars of goddess Durga
Navaratra, a Sanskrit word which means nine nights, is a festival celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion by the Hindus to worship goddess Durga, deity of Shakti. Based on the religious beliefs and astrological calculations, the nine nights festival is observed five times a year as Vasanta Navaratra, Gupta Navaratra, Sharada Navaratra, Paush Navaratra and Magha Navaratra.
Navaratra celebrations begin much ahead of the specified date since the festival carries a lot religious and traditional significance. Every year, navaratra is observed in the month of Ashwin according to the lunar calendar for continuous nine nights. This year, the nine night festival will commence on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 and will continue till Wednesday, October 23. This majestic festival is celebrated in fascinating ways across India under different names.
A feeling of happiness and joy fills the air and everyone looks ahead with eagerness to celebrate navrartra. To pay homage to goddess Durga devotees fast throughout the celebration and offer prayers at home or temple. Decorating temples and organising ragas throughout the night are also considered an integral part of the celebration.
The tradition to celebrate Navaratra varies across the country. In north India, Hindus observe the festival in three different seasons by fasting and offering prayers at temples with due respect to goddess. Among the three navaratras, the Sharad Navaratra or Sharad Navaratri is the most popular and culminates with Dusshera. In Gujarat, navaratra is the main festival and people in their best dresses throng at temples to dance the traditional garba and dandiya dance.
In West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam the festival is observed as Durga Puja which is celebrated by worshipping artistically crafted and embellished life-size clay idols at mandaps of the Goddess Durga. The festival concludes with the immersion of the idols in the river. Special arrangements are also made for the devotees to mark the occasion.
The festivity of navaratra is not only limited to India but observed throughout the world by Indian communities. Hindus beautifully decorate their houses and temples and adorn the idols of the goddess with sandalwood paste, turmeric and flowers. At the end of the prayers, 'prasad' is distributed to devotees in the form of goddess' divine blessings.
Navaratra is considered such grand celebration that schools and many offices also declared it a holiday. People send warm Navaratri wishes and greetings to their friends and family members to share the joy and spread the essence of the festival. To celebrate the festival, collection of beautiful and lovely Navaratri SMS are also available on the occasion.
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