Navratri, literally interpreted as ‘nine nights’ is the most celebrated Hindu festival devoted to Goddess Durga symbolizing purity and power or ‘shakti’.This festival combines ritualistic puja and fasting and is accompanied by resplendent celebrations for nine consecutive days and nights.
In 2017, Navratri will be from 21st September to 30th September.
Navratri :
The Mother Divine manifests herself in nine different forms with each form signifying something subtle and deep.
Day 1 Pratipada : Ghatasthapana Shailputri Pujan
Day 2 Dwitiya : Chandra Darshan Brahmacharini Pujan
Day 3 Tritiya : Sindoor Tritiya Chandraghanta Pujan
Day 4 chaturthi : Varad Vinayaka Chauth
Day 5 Panchami : Upang Lalita Vrat Skandamata Pujan
Day 6 Shashthi : Saraswati Awahan Katyayani Pujan
Day 7 Saptami : Saraswati Puja Kalaratri Pujan
Day 8 Ashtami : Durga Ashtami Mahagauri Pujan Sandhi Puja, Maha Ashtami
Day 9 Navami : Ayudha Puja Durga Visarjan, Maha Navami
The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are considered to be important junctions of climatic and solar influences. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother Durga. The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar. on which each woman follow tradition to wear nine colors of the dress.
Defining both the religious and cultural themes, celebrations are seeped in traditional music and dance. Gujarat is the focus of the celebrations with all-night-long dance and festivities. ‘Garba’ is a devotional dance form that derives from the folklore of Lord Krishna singing and dancing with the gopis using ‘dandiya’ or slim wooden sticks. ‘Raas Garba’ has also evolved to include steps like ‘Dodhiyu’, ‘Trikoniya’, ‘Lehree’ and several others.
This festival has seen changes in celebrations with well-choreographed dance performances, high-end acoustics and people dressed in made-to-order, bright costumes. Tourists flock to Vadodara in Gujarat to enjoy a mix of high-energy band music performances, singing, and dancing.
In West Bengal, men and women celebrate ‘Durga Puja’ with great devotion and reverence and worship Goddess Durga destroying the demon ‘Mahishasura’. Check out some top durga puja in Kolkata.
In South India, people arrange idols in a step pattern and invoke the name of God. In Mysore, the nine-day Navratri festival coincides with ‘Dasara’ Festival involving folk music renditions and dance performances, wrestling tournaments and tableau participation.
Hope you have liked our Happy Navratri wishes and images also. Wish you all a very happy and colorful Navratri.
You may check some colorful images of Diwali wishes.
