Navaratri is a nine night festival that honors the Mother Goddess in all
her manifestations, including Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. It's a
festival full of worship and dance. The festival culminates with Dussehra, the victory of good over evil, on the tenth day.
Usually in late September/early October each year. In 2012, Navaratri starts on October 16 and ends on October 23.
The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar
calendar. Note that it's only an eight night Navaratri this year, as
astrologically Day 3 and Day 4 both occur on the same date (October 18).
The festival is celebrated all over India but in different ways. The
most flamboyant and renowned Navaratri celebrations can be seen in
western India, throughout the state of Gujarat and in Mumbai. In West Bengal, Navaratri and Dussehra are celebrated as Durga Puja.
In western India, Navaratri is celebrated with nine nights of dancing. The traditional dances of Gujurat, known as garba and dandiya raas, are performed in circles with dancers dressed up in colorful clothes. Small, decorated sticks called dandiyas are used in the dandiya raas.
In Mumbai, dancing takes over stadiums and clubs throughout the city.
While some of it has retained a traditional flavor, the introduction of
disco dandiya has given Mumbai's Navaratri celebrations a
glamorous and modern twist. Nowadays, people unleash their dancing to a
fusion of remixed beats and loud Hindi pop music.
Pictures Tell A Thousand Words
In this Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 photo, devotees throng a butterfly-shaped worship venue during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India. The five-day festival, commemorates the slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, 10-armed goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil.
In this Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 photo, a priest worships an idol of Hindu goddess Durga during the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India. The five-day festival, commemorates the slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, 10-armed goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil.
Hindu women apply vermillion powder on each other during Durga Puja festivities in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. The festival commemorates the slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, ten armed goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil.
A Hindu woman offers betel leaves to an idol of Hindu goddess Durga during Durga Puja festivities in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. The festival commemorates the slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, ten armed goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil.
Hindu women make offerings before idols of Hindu goddess Durga during Durga Puja festivities in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. The festival commemorates the slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, ten armed goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil.
Hindu women
apply vermillion on each other during Durga Puja festivities in New
Delhi, India, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. The festival commemorates the
slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, ten armed goddess Durga, marking
the triumph of good over evil.
Indian workers carry an idol of Hindu Goddess Durga for immersion into
the River Ganges on the last day of the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata,
India.
A man looks at an idol of Goddess Durga floating on water after being
immersed into the river Ganga on the last day of the Durga Puja festival
in Calcutta, India.
Over the course of the nine days, the Mother Goddess is worshiped in her various forms -- Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
Each goddess is worshiped for three days in turn, starting with Durga who destroys negative tendencies. Next is Lakshmi who bestows good virtues and fortune, and last is Saraswati, who instills wisdom and spiritual knowledge. The worship, accompanied by fasting, takes place in the mornings. Evenings are for feasting and dancing.
Source: For more pictures___ DenverPost, Telegraph.
Each goddess is worshiped for three days in turn, starting with Durga who destroys negative tendencies. Next is Lakshmi who bestows good virtues and fortune, and last is Saraswati, who instills wisdom and spiritual knowledge. The worship, accompanied by fasting, takes place in the mornings. Evenings are for feasting and dancing.
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