!!! HAPPY NAVRATRI & DUSSEHRA TO MBIANS !!!

During Navratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and prosperity. A period of introspection and purification, Navratri is traditionally an auspicious and religious time for starting new ventures.

In the state of Punjab

Kanchika Pujan :

People usually fast during this period, for seven days .After seven days of fasting, people would break their fast on the eighth day - Ashtami - by worshiping young girls , who are supposed to be representatives of the Goddess . The ritual of offering prasad to the young girls is called Kanchika Pujan.As per the tradition, puris (deep fried Indian bread), halwa (sweet dish made of suji) and Bengal gram curry are served to the young girls, called upon by the people who have observed fast. After seeking the blessings of the young girls (kanchikayen), the devotees would break their fast by consuming the prasad (puri, halwa and sabzi) that they have prepared for them and offer them red chunnis (long scarves) also .

In this region, the Navratri festival is predominantly linked with harvest. This is the time of the khetri, (wheat grown in pots in the urban context) that is worshiped in homes, and whose seedlings are given to devotees as blessings from God.

In state of Maharashtra ,

Worship - 7 Girls age between 4-7yrs. & 7 or more but in odd numbers Married women wash their feet with Milk & water.Apply chandan on their wrist, kumkum on forehead, fill their Maang with pinch of Sindoor. Afterwards offer them flowers, fruits, Kheera (mix- of crushed dry coconut & sugar) dryfruits, paan supari, puffed rice & Masala Milk. On this 5th day Jagraan (Jagrata) & recite stories of goddess

In West Bengal, it takes the form of Durga Puja, an occasion to celebrate the Triumph of Good over Evil. According to legend, a vicious buffalo-demon, Mahishasura, had raised hell at the gates of heaven, causing widespread terror. The Goddess Durga was actualised by the combined efforts of all the deities to slay him. Thus, Durga astride a lion, with an assortment of weapons in her 10 hands, slayed Mahishasura. Durga is also worshipped as Shakti, and beautiful idols of the Mother Goddess adorn elaborate pandals (marquees) for five days (starting from the fifth day of Navratri). Durga Puja is traditionally viewed as the coming of the married daughter, Durga, to her father, Himalaya's home. Eighth day is traditionally Durgashtami which is big in Bengal .

During the week of Durga Puja, in the entire state of West Bengal as well as in large enclaves of Bengalis everywhere, life comes to a complete standstill. In playgrounds, traffic circles, ponds'wherever space may be available'elaborate structures called pandals 'are set up, many with nearly a year's worth of planning behind them. The word pandal means a temporary structure, made of bamboo and cloth, which is used as a temporary temple for the purpose of the puja. While some of the pandals are simple structures, others are often elaborate works of art with themes that rely heavily on history, current affairs and sometimes pure imagination.

Sindoor khela

After five days of worship of Goddess Durga and her entourage, married ladies formally bid her goodbye. It is the biggest celebration of Bengal and Bengalies.

Here, on the fifth and the last day, all local married ladies put red colored vermilion's to the goddess and themselves. It is the festival of life, which brings joy and happiness.

At the end of six days, the idol is taken for immersion in a procession amid loud chants of 'Bolo Durga mai-ki jai' (glory be to Mother Durga') and 'aashchhe bochhor abar hobe' ('it will happen again next year') and drumbeats to the river or other water body. It is cast in the waters symbolic of the departure of the deity to her home with her husband in the Himalayas. Durga Puja commemorates the annual visit of the Goddess with Her children to Her parents' home, leaving finally on the Dashami to be re-united with Shiva. This leaving ceremony is symbolised by the immersion of the idols on Dashami.

Vijaya Dashami

After this, in a tradition called Vijaya Dashami, families visit each other and sweetmeats are offered to visitors (Dashami is literally "tenth day" and Vijay is "victory").

Special Navratri pujas and rituals are performed for Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. The first three days are dedicated to Durga, the next three to Lakshmi and the final three days to Goddess Saraswati.

Saraswathi Puja on the last three days is of great importance to many Hindu communities.

A kalash symbolizing the Goddesses is prepared and worshipped during the Navratri period.

But for most South women, Navratri is dedicated to Kolu doll arrangements. Women arrange Kolu dolls in homes on decorated steps made from wood. The kollu dolls which are collected over a period of years and some which are traditionally passed from one generation to another forms part of the Kollu dolls. These 9 days we invite women to cum home to take the thamboolam which consists of beetal leaves beetal nut with fruits along with blouse bits are any with any gifts "

Kolu dolls are believed to be the army or court of Goddess Durga before slaying demon Mahishasura. But today Navarathri Kolu is more famous for arrangement of dolls by themes.

Ayudha Puja is performed on the ninth day of Navratri.

We consider knowledge, very sacred and divine. For Hindus, Goddess Saraswathi is the Goddess of learning and we pray to her for academic as well as spiritual knowledge. We also believe that she bestows on us clarity of thought and nobility of ideas. We pray to her to gain knowledge, dispassion, devotion and prosperity. When we keep knowledge on a pedestal, how can we trample on paper which stands for Saraswathi ?

On Saraswathi puja day, we keep all books in the prayer room, evoke Knowledge in the form of Saraswathi and do puja.

The following prayer is chanted to her before starting our studies:

Saraswathi namasthubhyam varadae kaamaroopinee

Vidhyaarambham karishyaami siddhir bhavathumae sadaa

{ I prostrate to you, Goddess Saraswathi. You give boons and fulfill our wishes.

I pray to you to grant my wishes when I start my studies.}

Goddess Saraswathi presides over and protects every form of art. So, on this day, consecrated to Saraswathi, the musical instruments in the house are cleansed, placed on an altar and devotedly worshiped, these being the abode of this Goddess.

Besides, on that day Ayudha Puja is also celebrated for worshiping whatever implements, one uses in livelihood. One can make a conscious effort to see the divine in the tools and objects, Weapons, agricultural implements, all kinds of tools, equipments, machinery and automobiles are decorated one uses each day and worshiped on this day along with the worship of Goddess. , it will help one to see one's work as an offering to God. It will also help one to maintain constant remembrance of the divine. This is an expression of gratitude to God for helping one to fulfill one's duties.

Yet another prayer to Saraswathi, to be blessed with brilliance, knowledge and talent is:

Yaa daevee sthooyathae nithyam vibhudhair vaeda paaragaih

Saa mae vasathu jihvaagrae brahmaroopaa saraswathi

The work starts afresh from the next day, i.e. the 10th day which is celebrated as 'Vijaya Dashami'. Many teachers/Schools in south India start teaching Kindergarten children from that day onwards.

Saraswathy Pooja - Basically the educational books of children or adults are kept in pooja on this day and it would not be taken back.. on the day of vijaya dasami ... they do a pooja again and then take the books and read them... it is believed that studying on that day is very auspicious...

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Farmer sow seeds and thank the Goddess for her blessings and pray for better yield. In older times, Navratri was associated with the fertility of Mother Earth who feed us as her children.

Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvartha sadhike l

Sharanye trayambake gauri, Narayani namostute ll

[ Meaning: O Mother ! You are the personification of all that is auspicious, You are the benevolent form of Lord Shiva, You bestow Divine energy and help people achieve Righteousness, wealth, fulfill desires and Liberation, You are worthy of being surrendered to. Three eyes adorn You. O Narayani Devi, I pay obeisance to You ! ]

Garba (dance)

Dandiya and Garba Rass are the highlights of the festival in Gujarat .The Rasa has its origin in the life scenes of Lord Krishna and is associated with the agricultural rites, while Garba is performed only by men and is related with the agricultural fertility.

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