Hindu Festival brings for the essence of life
Ragavan Rengachariar
As Hindus celebrated Navarathri from September 21 to September 30, 2017, thousands of people of other faiths and ethnicities joined them.
Like Diwali, Navarathri is becoming a major observance, transcending barriers of religion and social disposition.
One Festival, many forms
Navarathri literally means ‘Nine Nights,’ a major Hindu festival celebrated in most parts of India. But the way in which it is celebrated differs between States and sometimes between regions.
Navarathri is observed mostly by Hindu women and female children, compared to most other festivals or special religious functions at which fathers or husbands conduct prayers (sometimes with the help of priests) with all the family members.
The Navarathri Festival comes around September or October each year, immediately after the New Moon day (Mahalaya Amavasai- in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Kanya month).
Nightly prayers and dances
In many parts of and North and West India including Gujarat, women wear colourful Sarees or Salwar Khameez, visit Temples and other community halls to witness and participate in Garba and Dandiya dancing, fostering friendship and goodwill. They form large circles and strike at each other the Dandiya sticks with rhythm and singing special songs. This performance is held every evening.
Navarathri enables women, who were in the past confined to home cooking and maintaining the family and later became employed, now have opportunities to be culturally creative and to give vent to their creative talents. Slowly, young female children are being encouraged to participate in the Navarathri celebrations.
Today, apart from joining in these performances, children help in decorating their homes, preparing sweets and other items and offer them in prayers at public gatherings and at temples and places where celebrations are held.
Navarathri is also a good occasion to visit homes and invite family and friends, thereby fostering good neighbourliness and members of other ethnic groups. Visiting homes enhances the spirit of friendship and goodwill and enables other ethnicities to follow closely the meaning and purpose of the Festival.
Durga Pooja in West Bengal
In West Bengal, ‘Durga Pooja’ gains prominence over the nine nights at Temples, Community Halls and homes at which women, children and men pray and perform Mangala Aarti in front of well-decorated Idols. The Pooja Room or the part of the house where the idol of the Goddess is kept decorated, becomes the centre activity.
The Deity of Goddess Durga will be decorated by women in their own image, in front of which, women and youngsters song and dance, before the Maha Aarti is taken.
Karnataka
In the State of Karnataka, especially in Mysore, Navarathri, with addition of ‘Vijaya Dashami,’ accounts for the 10th auspicious day and hence is marked as Dassera.
As a part of Dassera, the King of Mysore would be taken on a grand procession, elephants and horses would be decorated with gold and other ornaments.
Traditionally, these processions will be conducted in the evening with the streets well-lit and the Royal Palace well decorated.
A separate story on Navarathri is Mysore (which used to be the Capital of Karnataka appears elsewhere in this Diwali Special.
Other Southern States
‘Bommai Golu,’ display of dolls, is a feature of Navarathri Festival celebrated in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. The Dolls displayed would mostly be Deities of Gods and Goddesses painted and decorated with colourful clothes.
Prayers to these Deities are offered in blocks of three days; first to Goddess Durga, followed by Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathi.
According to a legend, the war between Dharma an Adharma or Good vs Evil was fought occupies the first three nights and thereafter three nights each for Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathi.
The Declaration of victory is on Vijayadashami Day.
The significance of Navarathri is that it is difficult to control the mind from evil or negative thoughts and the Festival reminds us to fight and discard them, imbibe positive thoughts and pray for the well-being of all communities. When there is harmony and prosperity, the environment is one of unity and cooperative spirit.
The Commercial World
Navarathri is a busy season for makers of Deities and other dolls, garment manufacturers, distributors and retailers, makers of sweets, vegetarian food and other items. These are usually sold at stalls set up at community halls, temples and other places where large number of women and children gather.
The festivities are usually held during School and University holidays (in India) enabling more people to participate in various activities. While most businesses in West Bengal observe holiday throughout Navarathri (this practice is changing with the growth of multinationals), establishment of 24-hour call centres and other businesses that operate round-the clock.
Many women observe fasting during Navarathri, a way of cleansing the body, promoting healthier living through abstinence. They welcome visiting women offering ‘Kumkum,’ Chandan,’ fruits and gifts according to their financial status.
Ragavan Rengachariar is Founder-Trustee of the RAMS Foundation, a Trust registered under the New Zealand Charities Commission. An Auckland resident, he writes extensively on Temples and spiritual and religious matters.
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Photo Caption:
- Thematic ‘Kolu’ with ‘Sets of Gods’ featuring the Twelve Alvars of Lord Vishnu, the Eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi and others
- Traditional Kolu in a South Indian Home. Three large Deities with their faces and crown are made of clay, painted and decorated by talented women at home
(Pictures by Ragavan Rengachariar)
- Dancing at the Garba Night at Auckland Indian Association on September 22, 2017
- Performing youngsters at the Navarathri Celebrations on September 23, 2017
(Picture by Hemant Parikh)
