What is Navratri? It actually comes from two words, 'Nav', which means nine and 'Ratri' which translates to nights. So it is the nine days devoted to the propitiation of Shakti or Divine Mother. She represents prakriti, counterpart of purusha jointly making possible the creation of the world according to the religious ideology of Goddess worship. The nine nights are there for us to revel in the knowledge of the goddesses that live within us imbibing us with their spiritual energy and power. Used for the good, they help liberate us from the mire of this world.

The main temples of mother goddess that are visited by multitude of devotees during Navratri are the shaktipithas. One belief is that Lord Vishnu had to cut the body of Sati into fifty-two pieces to stop the destruction by Shiva who was perturbed by her death. The main temples are therefore where these pieces of her body were believed to have fallen. The nine nights are dedicated to the three main goddesses of Hinduism - Parvati, Lakshmi and Sarasvati. The first three nights are dedicated to the goddess of action and energy. Her different manifestations Kumari, Parvati and Kali are worshipped during these days. They represent the three natures/ stages of womanhood - the innocent virgin young girl, caring wife/ mother and the angry old woman. Lakshmi is worshipped for the next three days in her various aspects as the goddesses of peace, plenty, fulfillment and bliss. Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge is worshipped during the final three days of the Navratri.

In various parts of India, the 'Ram-Leela' is performed during Navratri. Ram-Leela is a stage enaction of the Ramayana, the mythological book on Lord Rama. The day after Navratri, i.e. 'Dassera' ( tenth day) or 'Vijayadashmi' is observed . It is believed that on this day, Lord Rama had killed the demon Ravana. So, on Vijayadashmi, effigies of Ravana are burnt all over India. It marks the victory of good over evil.

As the case with most festivals today, lots has been added and changed. It has also been seriously commercialised. So today it is a festival of religious, devotional, cultural and recreational activities. People enjoy this period's festivities by dancing them away to the blare of loud music and scant attention is given to the spiritual aspect of the festival. The Hindus of Gujarat perform their traditional dances 'Garba' & 'Dandiya-Raas' during Navratri. The women-folk, dresses in traditional clothing, dance in a circle, singing 'Garbas' (traditional songs and dance). 'Dandiya-Raas' (rhythmic dance with sticks) is played with 'dandiyas' (wooden sticks). Beautifully decorated 'mandaps' (stages) are set up for playing garba & dandiya and the mood is quite colourful.

In West Bengal, Navratri is celebrated as 'Durga-pooja' which is the most important festival in that part of India. Celebrations of Durga-pooja in Bengal are similar to celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra. Idols of Goddess Durga are worshipped for nine days in beautifully decorated 'pandaals'. It is a public festival. On the tenth day, the 'Visarjan' or immersion of idols in the sea is performed.

- Anita Ramchandani

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