.Prizzle.
03-02-2007, 04:20
The festival of Navratri falls during the Hindu month of Aashwin, and is devoted to the worship of Shakti or Divine Mother. The nine nights are dedicated to the three Goddesses - Durga (Goddess of valour), Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth), and Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge), who symbolise the trinity of God through a female representation.
Days 1-3
The first three nights are dedicated to the goddess of action and energy. Her different manifestations Kumari, Parvati and Kali are all worshipped during these days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood. Firstly, the young child, followed by mother/wife and finally as a mature woman.
Days 4-6
Lakshmi is worshipped during the following three days as the Goddesses of peace and bliss. The essence of the worship is that fulfilment is more important than wealth itself. As the goddess of wealth she also governs basic things such as family, friends, food etc. On the fifth day (Lalita Panchami), it is traditional, to gather all books, light a lamp and invoke Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge and art).
Days 7-9
Saraswati is worshipped during the final three days. She is the goddess of spiritual knowledge, which frees us from the bind of Samsara.
In West Bengal, Navratri is celebrated as 'Durga Puja', which is the most important festival in that part of India. Idols of Goddess Durga are worshipped for nine days in beautifully decorated 'pandaals'. On the tenth day, the 'Visarjan' or immersion of idols in seawaters is performed.
Navratri is celebrated in Gujarat by the performance of Garba and Dandiya-Raas. This is Gujarat's popular folkdance, with people participating in traditional dancing late into the night during the nine days. Women wear brightly coloured Chania choli and the men wear Dhoti-Kurta. The participants move around in a circle around a mandvi (a structure to hold earthen lamps filled with water and to house the image or idol of mother goddess) singing 'Garba's' or traditional songs.
A slow dance to begin with, the speed picks up along with the tempo of the music to a rapid pace until the dance comes to a halt. 'Dandia-Ras' is played with wooden sticks or 'dandiyas'. Dancing to the rythm of traditional and religious music, men and women strike the dandiyas together in an uniformed manner, adding to the joyous and festive atmosphere.
Days 1-3
The first three nights are dedicated to the goddess of action and energy. Her different manifestations Kumari, Parvati and Kali are all worshipped during these days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood. Firstly, the young child, followed by mother/wife and finally as a mature woman.
Days 4-6
Lakshmi is worshipped during the following three days as the Goddesses of peace and bliss. The essence of the worship is that fulfilment is more important than wealth itself. As the goddess of wealth she also governs basic things such as family, friends, food etc. On the fifth day (Lalita Panchami), it is traditional, to gather all books, light a lamp and invoke Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge and art).
Days 7-9
Saraswati is worshipped during the final three days. She is the goddess of spiritual knowledge, which frees us from the bind of Samsara.
In West Bengal, Navratri is celebrated as 'Durga Puja', which is the most important festival in that part of India. Idols of Goddess Durga are worshipped for nine days in beautifully decorated 'pandaals'. On the tenth day, the 'Visarjan' or immersion of idols in seawaters is performed.
Navratri is celebrated in Gujarat by the performance of Garba and Dandiya-Raas. This is Gujarat's popular folkdance, with people participating in traditional dancing late into the night during the nine days. Women wear brightly coloured Chania choli and the men wear Dhoti-Kurta. The participants move around in a circle around a mandvi (a structure to hold earthen lamps filled with water and to house the image or idol of mother goddess) singing 'Garba's' or traditional songs.
A slow dance to begin with, the speed picks up along with the tempo of the music to a rapid pace until the dance comes to a halt. 'Dandia-Ras' is played with wooden sticks or 'dandiyas'. Dancing to the rythm of traditional and religious music, men and women strike the dandiyas together in an uniformed manner, adding to the joyous and festive atmosphere.