Navratri Customs And Rituals
The customs and
ritual of Navratri, celebrated on September-October, consists of placing
images of Goddess Durga, in homes and temples. The devotees offer fruits and
flowers to the Goddess. They also sing bhajans in her honor.
The first three days
of Navratri are devoted exclusively to the worship of Goddess Durga, when her
energy and power are worshipped. Each day is dedicated to a different
appearance of Durga, namely Kumari, Parvati and Kali.
There is also a custom of planting barley seeds in a small bed of mud on the first day of puja. The shoots, when grown, are given to the attendees, as a blessing from Goddess, after the puja ceremony.
These fourth, fifth
and sixth days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of
Wealth & Prosperity. Goddess Saraswati is also prayed to, on the fifth day,
which is known as Lalita Panchami.
The seventh day is
dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while the Goddess of Art and Knowledge is
worshipped on the eight day and a yagna is also performed.
The ninth day is the
final day of Navratri celebrations, which is also known as 'Mahanavami'. On
this day, Kanya puja is performed, where nine young, who have not yet reached
the stage of puberty, are worshipped. Each of these nine girls symbolizes one of
the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The feet of the girls are washed, to welcome
the goddess and show respect to her. Thereafter, the girls are offered food and
a set of new clothes, as a gift from the devotees.
The nine-day Navratra
celebrations, which fall in September-October, come to an end with the
immersion of the idols of Goddess Durga in water.
Dandiya and Garba are
the featured dances performed on the evenings of Navratri, mainly in Gujarat.
Garba is performed before the 'aarti', as devotional performance in the honor
of the Goddess, while Dandiya is performed after it, as a part of the
celebrations.
In case of
September-October Navratri celebrations, the tenth day is celebrated as
Dussehra. On this day, devotees perform 'Saraswati Puja', for blessings of
knowledge and mental peace. On the day, the burning of the dummy of demon king
Ravana also takes place.
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