Navarathri 2020, Importance, Nine Day Festival Dedicated To Mother Goddess

 Navaratri

"Navaratri" is a festival that's been celebrated in India across different states during the autumn season. This festival has a long lost history which might be lesser known to the current generation. Navarathri festival is celebrated for 9 nights and 10 days were infilled with such colorful events and rituals across the country. This festival showcases the true colors of Hinduism and even all the religions coming together to celebrate this grand festival in style. The celebration occurs during the month of October and the worshipping reasons differ from each state in India.

When we see the northeast and western parts of the country "Navaratri" is seen celebrated by worshipping the goddess "Durga" the belief is that goddess Durga wins the battle against the buffalo demon and people worshipping Durga Devi one of the powerful deities according to the Hindu beliefs. The temples in northeastern parts can be seen lighted and having indulged in Durga pooja which brings in power and wealth for the family. There would be various folk performances and recites of the deities which turn out to be a good visual treat for every single traveler. The local communities indulge in making beautifully crafted statues and even miniatures of the goddess "Durga".

But when we see the  Northcentral parts of the country, this festival is been celebrated as the victory of god "Rama" over the evil king "Ravana" and it's termed as "Ramlila" or "Dushera". So basically this festival is celebrated on the neutral belief of the victory of God over the Evil according to the Hinduistic epic legends such as "Ramayana" and "Devi Mahathmya". During the course of this grand festival, one can witness the lighted cities and villages glittering with beautiful stage decorations and having organizing various classical and folk dances that dictate the epic stories of the Hindu God and Goddesses. There can be seen a large crowd turnaround to witness these wonderful events and rituals.

Now coming to the Southern parts of the country "Navaratri" is seen celebrated as by worshipping god "Rama" and the goddess "Saraswathi", and especially in Kerala, all the temples can be seen indulged in worshipping the goddess Saraswathi which according to belief is good for blessings for children to empower in their studies. In Kerala, the last 3 days of the Navarathri is considered really important and these days children keep their important books for pooja at their home/temple, and the ending day is known to be "Vijayadashami" where children and even elders can be seen writing "HARI SREE GANAPATHAYE NAMAHA" on the sand inside their worshiping room or even temple.

Karanataka celebrates this festival in a much more grandeur manner by showcasing their folk and grand rituals which spreads across their cities and villages. The Mysore Dasara is very much famous and the grand possessions which start from the Mysore palace are one eye-catching event were people come from different nook and corner of the world to witness this historical day. During the whole Navaratri festival, Mysore city will be lit, and especially the top view of golden lighted Mysore Palace is one of the best picturesque views from the famous Chamundi hills.

So overall "Navaratri" is celebrated in some grand fashion across the country but the major belief remains the same as the victory of God over the Evil, and especially in Northern parts people will build huge statues of "Ravana" and on the ending day of Navaratri, they would burn the statue with crackers and thus signaling the end of Navarathri and also the beginning of the famous holiday festival named "Diwali".

Diwali is celebrated as the light festival were people gather together with their families by lighting up their houses with lanterns, this being done in the belief of the power of the lights to defeat the darkness and provide blessings to the family for a good upcoming year. All parts of the country are truly lighted up during this festival and "Diwali" is celebrated just 20 days after the ending of Navaratri. These festivals really showcase India's folks and festivals as one of the major tourism income generators.

                                        

This year could be the first time India might be without any major celebrations during the course of Navaratri, and with much less international tourist arrivals due to the COVID -19 situations still running spree. But let's all celebrate this auspicious day with our family and loved one's inside our homes and thus pray for a better year. Let's all unite and light up the houses and pray for the blessings of the goddess "Durga"  god "Rama" and the goddess "Saraswati" to defeat this darkness and show us the better way forward.