Saturday, September 19, 2009

Wish you a HAPPY NAVRATRI




The Navratri festival is dedicated to the Mother Goddess. Known by other names suchas Durga, Devi, she occupies a special place in the Hindu pantheon. Sherepresents Shakti, the cosmic energy that animates all beings, and isalso considered to be prakriti (nature), the counterpart of purusha.Together, they are responsible for the creation of the world accordingto the Puranas and Vedas (ancient Hindu Scriptures).



How is Navratri celebrated all over India?

InNorth India fasting is an important part of the proceedings. A specialcelebration occurs on the eighth day or Ashtami when fasts are broken.Ashtami is a day of puja for young girls who are treated as thegoddesses or Kanjak Devis.

Gujarat marks Navratri withlarge-scale festivities. Pulses and other kinds of seeds are sown inspecial pots on the first day of the festival. These pots are wateredfor nine days and by the ninth day the seeds have most certainlysprouted. A Garba deep is lit around which a garba or dandiya isconducted.


In South India, the nine days are a day of dolls.Images of gods and dolls are set up in each home. Pujas and archanas(chants) are conducted. This display is known as Bommai Kollu -- bommaimeans dolls and kollu means displaying.



Jai Mata Di

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