[Navratri] Profound Devotion, Still Alive
Time has observed some drastic changes in the way we celebrate our festivals. Navratri also witnessed a complete face lift in last few years. Yet, there are many who are trying to the keep the traditions alive. Many youngsters keep fast for nine days, visit temples regularly and many of them even discard footwear. Some of these never dieing traditions are, Navratri commences with Placing the Images and Idols of Goddess Durga in homes and temples. Devotees offer fruits, flowers and ‘sindoor’ a
Time has observed some drastic changes in the way we celebrate our festivals. Navratri also witnessed a complete face lift in last few years. Yet, there are many who are trying to the keep the traditions alive. Many youngsters keep fast for nine days, visit temples regularly and many of them even discard footwear. Some of these never dieing traditions are:
- Navratri commences with Placing the Images and Idols of Goddess Durga in homes and temples. Devotees offer fruits, flowers and ‘sindoor’ and sing Bhajans in honor of the goddess.
- Keeping Fast for Nine Days: This is one of the most common feature or highlights of this scared festival. People take meals once in a day that too in one sitting. They believe that this is a way to purify their heart soul and body.
- There is also a tradition of Sowing Barley Seeds on the first day of Puja in small bed of mud. This symbolizes birth of a new life. On the ninth day these shoots are immersed in water, with idols of goddess Durga.
- Discarding Footwear: Some people discard footwear for these nine days and walk barefoot.
- Eating a Particular Food Item regularly for these nine days: These may include eating fruits, juices, milk and milk products, dishes made from ‘kangini’ and ‘samak’ flour, potatoes etc. Use of onions and garlic is generally prohibited during these nine days.
- Kanchika Pujan: The festival of Navratri ends with ‘Mahanavmi’; nine young girls are worshiped as nine forms of ‘shakti’. These girls are offered food and set of new clothes by the devotees.
- In various part of India, ‘Ramleela’ or ‘Ramayan Path’ is Organized for Nine Days. It is stage inaction of Ramyana with an aim of remembering and praising the victory of lord Ram over Ravan.
- The nine day celebration ends with the Immersion of Idols of Goddess Durga in water.
These customs and traditions have a very special place in our lives. It is because of this ethnicity that India and Indians are known world wide. These customs keeps us rejuvenated and emotionally intact with our culture and history.