Navarathri:
Lakshmi Durga Saraswati
As the name implies it is 9 nights of celebration. Nine
different aspects of Devi including Saraswati are
worshipped. They are Durga( godesss beyond reach),
Bhadrakali (Auspicious power of time), Amba(mother),
Annapoorna, Sarvamangala, Chandi( furious), Lalitha
(the playful), Bhavani ( giver of existence) and Saraswati
( goddess of knowledge and learning).
There was a time when the world was in the demonic
grip of Mahishasura (a demon who had taken the form of
a buffalo). The boon of invincibility, made him all
powerful, for no man could ever defeat him in battle.
Mahishasura conquered the heavens, and possessed
the palace of the gods.
The gods pleaded with Shiva for help. Shiva appealed to
Parvati, who used her shakti and a goddess appeared
from the dark. Durga is the tamasic (dark) incarnation of
Parvati. The gods bowed before Durga and offered her
their powerful weapons.
While the gods watched, Durga battled Mahishasura. On
Vijayadashmi day, Durga won back the heavens and
earth from Mahishasura when she thrust her trident into
his chest and killed him.
The festival is celebrated during the first nine days in the
bright half of Aswina or September-October. The last
three days of the Navarathri are called Durgashtami,
Mahanavami and Vijayadasami, and they are considered
more sacred than the other days for Devi worship. It is
believed that by offering prayers to Devi during these
three days one can attain the full benefits of observing
the Navarathri rites for the whole period.
Navarathri is the time for women bonding and praying to
Devi. In south India dolls of gods and goddesses called
Golu are arranged in steps for display with decorations.
The women of the house invite their friends, relatives and
neighbours to come to their house and take a look at
their golu. It is only the womenfolk who are invited, as
Navarathri is very much a woman's festival. Every day,
special dishes are made – sundal( made out of Dals) is a
Navarathri essential. Nine different types of sundal are
made each day. Nine different rice dishes are also made.
These dishes are served to the guests and when they
take leave, they are given some sundal to take back
home too. They are also given the traditional
thamboolam, along with a blouse piece, a small mirror, a
comb and a kumkum container.
The ninth day of Navarathri is celebrated as Ayudha
Pooja. On this day, people pay obeisance to the
implements (ayudham) they make use of during the
course of their life - be it at home or at work. Tools such
as scissors, knives as well as every tool of the trade, be it
factory machinery or computers, are considered sacred
and prayers are offered. This day is also the day of
Saraswati Pooja. Saraswati is the goddess of learning
and on this day, an idol or a picture of the goddess is
kept along with the books as well as any musical
instrument in the house, like a veena or a violin. Prayers
are offered to the goddess and children are generally
urged to pray extra hard, so that they will score well in
the exams!
In Northern India Ramliala ( story of Rama ) is performed
on the 9 days and on the 10’th day the effigy of Ravana
and Kumbakarna are burned.
The tenth day is Vijaya Dasami. This day marks the
winding up of the long festival. On this day, after the
evening pooja, the dolls are all packed neatly in their
boxes and taken back to the loft, where they will lie till
next Navarathri.
On the whole Navarathri is the celebration of triumph of
good over the evil no matter how it is celebrated.
Lakshmi Durga Saraswati
As the name implies it is 9 nights of celebration. Nine
different aspects of Devi including Saraswati are
worshipped. They are Durga( godesss beyond reach),
Bhadrakali (Auspicious power of time), Amba(mother),
Annapoorna, Sarvamangala, Chandi( furious), Lalitha
(the playful), Bhavani ( giver of existence) and Saraswati
( goddess of knowledge and learning).
There was a time when the world was in the demonic
grip of Mahishasura (a demon who had taken the form of
a buffalo). The boon of invincibility, made him all
powerful, for no man could ever defeat him in battle.
Mahishasura conquered the heavens, and possessed
the palace of the gods.
The gods pleaded with Shiva for help. Shiva appealed to
Parvati, who used her shakti and a goddess appeared
from the dark. Durga is the tamasic (dark) incarnation of
Parvati. The gods bowed before Durga and offered her
their powerful weapons.
While the gods watched, Durga battled Mahishasura. On
Vijayadashmi day, Durga won back the heavens and
earth from Mahishasura when she thrust her trident into
his chest and killed him.
The festival is celebrated during the first nine days in the
bright half of Aswina or September-October. The last
three days of the Navarathri are called Durgashtami,
Mahanavami and Vijayadasami, and they are considered
more sacred than the other days for Devi worship. It is
believed that by offering prayers to Devi during these
three days one can attain the full benefits of observing
the Navarathri rites for the whole period.
Navarathri is the time for women bonding and praying to
Devi. In south India dolls of gods and goddesses called
Golu are arranged in steps for display with decorations.
The women of the house invite their friends, relatives and
neighbours to come to their house and take a look at
their golu. It is only the womenfolk who are invited, as
Navarathri is very much a woman's festival. Every day,
special dishes are made – sundal( made out of Dals) is a
Navarathri essential. Nine different types of sundal are
made each day. Nine different rice dishes are also made.
These dishes are served to the guests and when they
take leave, they are given some sundal to take back
home too. They are also given the traditional
thamboolam, along with a blouse piece, a small mirror, a
comb and a kumkum container.
The ninth day of Navarathri is celebrated as Ayudha
Pooja. On this day, people pay obeisance to the
implements (ayudham) they make use of during the
course of their life - be it at home or at work. Tools such
as scissors, knives as well as every tool of the trade, be it
factory machinery or computers, are considered sacred
and prayers are offered. This day is also the day of
Saraswati Pooja. Saraswati is the goddess of learning
and on this day, an idol or a picture of the goddess is
kept along with the books as well as any musical
instrument in the house, like a veena or a violin. Prayers
are offered to the goddess and children are generally
urged to pray extra hard, so that they will score well in
the exams!
In Northern India Ramliala ( story of Rama ) is performed
on the 9 days and on the 10’th day the effigy of Ravana
and Kumbakarna are burned.
The tenth day is Vijaya Dasami. This day marks the
winding up of the long festival. On this day, after the
evening pooja, the dolls are all packed neatly in their
boxes and taken back to the loft, where they will lie till
next Navarathri.
On the whole Navarathri is the celebration of triumph of
good over the evil no matter how it is celebrated.
