Navrati Festival – 2016

Navrati is a festival of Hindus dedicated to worship Goddess Durga. It commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright forthnight of the lunar month of Ashwin. The festival is celebrated for nine nights and ten days in the month of October. During this festival nine forms of Shakti (Navadurga) are worshipped. The tenth day is known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.

According to vedic scriptures, Navadurga constitues the manifestation of Goddess Durga in her nine different aspects. These nine forms of manifestation are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandrakanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri – worshipped together during this festival.

The festival is celebrated across India in different ways. Each state celebrates this festival in their own unique way, representing the tradition, custom and flavour of the region. Although the ways of celebration are different but the reason for celebration remains the same, that is victory of good over evil which marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura.

In Gujarat and West Bengal, it is the most awaited festival. Garba Raas and Dandiya Raas the well known dance forms becomes the key attraction across Gujarat during this festival. These dance forms are performed by Gujarati men and women by wearing traditional dresses. In West Bengal, this festival is celebrated as Durga Puja or Durgotsava. Across West Bengal large pandals are decorated beautifully with different designs of colourful lighting patterns.

In Maharashtra, Ghatasthapana or Kalashsthapana Puja is performed during this festival. A special earthern pot or round bamboo basket (topli) filled with wet soil is used for sowing multi-grains (nine types of grains). In middle of the pot, silver/copper Kalash along with coconut surrounded by five mango/betel leaves is placed. This is known as Ghatasthapana. It involves invoking Goddess Durga (Shakti) in Kalash. The ladies worship the Ghat for nine days with religious fast. A Yagna/Hom/Havan is performed on the eighth day in the name of Goddess Durga. On ninth/tenth day, the Ghat is immersed in near by river/lake/pond after taking off some sprouted leaves of the grains as
blessing from the Goddess Durga.

Here are some photos of Goddess Durga idols captured during my recent visit to few pandals in Kalyan West region in Thane district of Maharashtra.