NAVATHRI FESTIVAL – 22ND SEPTEMBER 2025 – 1ST OCTOBER 2025
Navaratri is a prominent Hindu festival celebrated in India, spanning nine nights and ten days. The name "Navaratri" is derived from the Sanskrit words 'Nava,' meaning nine, and 'Ratri,' meaning nights. This festival is dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine energy, Adi Shakti, in her various forms.
The festival is celebrated five times a year, but the most widely observed one is the "Sharad Navaratri," which falls in the autumn season, typically in the Hindu month of Ashvin (September-October). It symbolizes the victory of good over evil, most notably the triumph of the goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
Three Primary Goddesses:
The nine nights of Navaratri are divided into three sets of three, with each set dedicated to a specific form of the Goddess.
First Three Nights (Durga): The first three days are dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, the divine warrior who embodies power and strength. She is invoked to destroy all impurities and negative tendencies within us, symbolizing the removal of ego and arrogance.
Next Three Nights (Lakshmi): The middle three days are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and spiritual enlightenment. Worshippers pray to her for material and spiritual abundance, recognizing that true wealth is not just monetary but also includes health, wisdom, and peace.
Last Three Nights (Saraswati): The final three days are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, arts, and wisdom. This period is for seeking intellectual and creative pursuits, honoring education, music, and all forms of art.
Key Rituals and Celebrations
The way Navaratri is celebrated varies across different regions of India, with unique traditions and customs.
Dandiya and Garba (Gujarat): In Gujarat, Navaratri is famous for its vibrant folk dances, Garba and Dandiya Raas. People gather in large groups to perform these traditional dances, spinning in circles while wielding colorful sticks (dandiya).
Durga Puja (West Bengal): In West Bengal, Navaratri is known as Durga Puja and is celebrated with grand pandals (temporary structures) featuring beautifully crafted idols of Goddess Durga. The festival is a community affair with cultural performances, feasts, and processions to immerse the idols in water bodies.
Bommai Golu (Tamil Nadu): In Tamil Nadu, a unique tradition called "Bommai Golu" is practiced. It involves arranging dolls and figurines on a tiered display, with an odd number of steps (usually 5, 7, or 9). The dolls represent deities, scenes from mythology, and everyday life, symbolizing the divine and worldly aspects of life. Visitors are invited to homes to view the Golu, and are offered "Sundal" (a dish made of legumes) and "Thamboolam" (a gift pack of betel leaves, betel nuts, and other items).
Kanya Puja: On the eighth or ninth day, a ritual known as "Kanya Puja" or "Kumari Puja" is performed. Nine young girls, who are considered manifestations of the divine feminine, are worshipped. Their feet are washed, and they are offered food and gifts as a sign of reverence.
Ayudha Puja and Vijaya Dashami
The festival culminates on the ninth and tenth days with special observances:
Ayudha Puja (Ninth Day): On this day, instruments, tools, machinery, vehicles, and books are cleaned, decorated, and worshipped. It is a day to express gratitude for the tools that help us earn a living and acquire knowledge.
Vijaya Dashami (Tenth Day): This is the day of victory. It marks the day when Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura and also when Lord Rama defeated the demon king Ravana. It is considered an auspicious day to start new ventures, as it signifies the triumph of righteousness and the beginning of a new, positive journey.
LET ALL E-TOUCH FAMILY MEMBERS BE BLESSED BY THREE
GODDESSES - DURGA, LAKSHMI AND
SARASWATHI – WITH POWER, WEALTH AND
KNOWLEDGE THROUGH OUT THEIR LIFE TIME.
Above is an image of the burning of Ravana's effigy during Dussehra
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