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Navratri is a festival of
worship,dance and music celebrated over a period of nine nights.It is
celebrated from the first to ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha of the
Hindu Calendar for the worship of the Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is
believed to exist in many forms like Goddess Bhavani, Jagdamba,Mahakali
etc. Devotees perform the 'devi-sthaapna' in their homes wherein they
invite the Goddess and perform 'pooja-path' for nine days.
Gujaratis perform their traditional dances 'Garba' &'Dandiya-Raas'
during Navratri. The women-folk dance in a circle, singing 'Garbas' or
traditional songs.'Dandiya-Raas' is played with wooden sticks or
'dandiyas'. Apart from Gujrat,Garbas are performed in other states &
cities like Mumbai. Beautifully decorated 'mandaps'are set up for playing
garba & dandiya by various cultural societies,housing commitees &
youth social groups. Young men-women wear colourful traditional dresses
and play Garba with great enthusiasm.The mood of Navratri is very
colourful & unique.
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 sea waters is performed.
in various parts of India,the 'Ram-Leela' is performed during Navratri.
Ram-Leela is a stage enaction of Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama. The day
after Navratri,i.e.,tenth day, is observed as 'Dassera' or 'Vijayadashmi'.
It marks the victory of good over evil. 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. |
