How Navratri is celebrated across India in various ways
Be it language, food, culture, or even the attire, everything is unique and varies depending upon which part of the country you belong to. Even the way of worshipping differs as per the diversified customs and rituals.
And Navratri is one such example, therefore, to witness its sheer diversity, peek into the different ways of Navratri being celebrated across India.
Navratri Celebration in Gujarat
Navratri is celebrated on the first nine days of Ashwin month to worship Maa Shakti. Basically, on each night of the ‘Navratri’ festival, puja in honour of one of the 9 Ma Shakti forms is performed. Each night of the Navratri symbolizes one specific form of Goddess Shakti (The first three nights are dedicated to goddess Durga, the second three nights is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and the third three nights is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati).
Devotees keep fast for 9 days and celebrate Navratri by worshipping grain kept in an earthen pot with holes called ‘garbi’. An oil lamp is placed inside the pot and the flame is kept burning non-stop for these nine days of the festival. Post the evening aarti, people indulge in graceful Garba dance or dandiya. And on the tenth day that is on the day of Vijayadashami, new vehicles are purchased as it is considered as an auspicious day.
Navratri Celebration in Maharashtra
During the Navratri festival, Maharashtrians observe a special ritual called Ghatasthapana on the first day of Navaratri. Where a small bed of mud is prepared in a container. In the middle of this, an earthen pot filled with water is placed. This vessel symbolizes Goddess Durga. Grains are sown in the soil around the pot and allowed to sprout.
Women worship this pot for nine days by performing various rituals and offering fruits, flowers, leaves. And on Dasara or Vijayadashami (10th day), leaves of the tree Apta, called ‘sona’ (gold) are offered while visiting the homes in the neighborhood to seek the blessings of elders.
Navratri Celebration in Punjab
The Punjabis organize jagratas where they stay awake the whole night and worship Goddess Shakti.
In Punjab, people keep fast on the first 7 days of Navratri and end their fast on Ashthami or Navami by worshipping 9 little girls and a boy, which is known as “Kanjika”.
Navratri Celebration in Kerala
Keralites celebrate the last three days, Durga Ashtami, Mahanavami, and Vijaya Dasami. On the night of the Durga Ashtami, a ceremony known as 'Puja Vayppu is performed by placing books and musical instruments in front of Ma Saraswati’s idol and worshiped till Dashami. During these three days, all sorts of learning and business comes to a standstill.
In Kerala, it is considered auspicious to introduce the child into the world of letters on Vijaya Dashami Therefore, when the child reaches the age of three or five, a lot of them are initiated into the world of learning in temples dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and learning.
Navratri Celebration in West Bengal
In West Bengal, Navratri is celebrated as Durga Puja. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and glitter in various parts of the state where large-sized idols in elaborately designed pandals, are worshipped for five days. A “must-watch” for everyone once in a lifetime!
After the evening rituals on Ashtami, the devotional Dhunuchi folk dance, were Bengali women wearing their traditional red saree performs holding an earthen pot filled with burning coconut husk and camphor.
Navratri Celebration in Karnataka
Navratri (“Naada Habba”) in Karnataka is still being celebrated the same way as way back in 1610 by the great Vijayanagara dynasty. Since, the city of Mysore was originally named after the victory of Durga over the evil demon Mahishasura hence, on the day of Vijay Dashami the Mysore Palace is decorated with more than a lakh light.
The rituals include bejeweled elephants’ procession on the streets, including fairs and exhibitions of handicrafts and artifacts.
Navratri Celebration Andhra Pradesh
Navratri in Andhra Pradesh is celebrated as “Batukamma Panduga”, which means “Come Alive Mother Goddess”.
Women make beautiful flower stack with seasonal flowers known as “Batukamma” and perform puja in front of the Batukamma for 9 days and then on the last day it is set afloat in a lake or any other water body.
Navratri Celebration in Tamil Nadu
Navratri is celebrated in Tamil Nadu to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, and Goddess Saraswati.
One interesting feature is the decoration of the “Kolu” which is a staircase having 9 stairs, representing the 9 nights. Each stair is decorated with beautiful wooden dolls, and idols of gods and goddesses. It is said that the dolls that are used are handed over from generation to generation.
Navratri Celebration in Himachal Pradesh
Navratri celebration in Himachal Pradesh starts on the tenth day (Vijaya Dashmi) and lasts for seven days. Kullu Dussehra is held to celebrate the success of good over evil and is celebrated with great devotion.
The first day is started with a huge celebration and on this day the statue of Lord Raghunathji is installed on a beautifully designed chariot. And on the last day of the festival, the chariot is brought by the banks of the Beas River where a mass of wood grass is burnt, which signifies the burning of Lanka.
To conclude, Navratri sets the mood of celebration and is all about rejuvenating and connecting with ourselves which, in turn, helps us in connecting better with our loved ones and celebrate life.
