Nine days of fasting and prosperity
throughout the year. That's what the magic of Navratri is. Luck, money,
business, and education; this is a favourable time for all aspects of
your life.
Gujarat: The festival of Navratri is celebrated with great zeal in
the western & northern part of India. Gujarat, in particular, is
well known for its grand Celebrations and dances during this festive
occasion. The most popular and well known among these folk dances are
the Rasa and the Garba. The Rasa is said to have its origin in the
legends of Lord Krishna. These are enactments of stories in dance form
from tales of Krishna. These colorful yet elegant dances are performed
as part of the Navratra celebrations. People gather from all over to
enjoy and be a part of these festivities. These are also known to be
associated with the agricultural rites that are performed. The designs
made on the dance floor remind one of the vibrant paintings made on the
walls of huts. The Dandiya Rasa performed by men is at par with the
Garba of the women folk. The dancers gather around with sticks on their
hands all geared up to entertained. The sticks have tiny bells attached
at their end that enhances the sound which is created when the sticks
are struck.
Rajasthan: Jaipur is the hub of enjoyment and garba is probably one
of the most entertaining dance forms performed here. Women dressed in
beautiful costumes bearing pots on their heads go from one home to the
other and perform the Garba. There is always a leader who begins the
song and the others repeat in unison which forms the chorus. The dance
is rhythmic and the singing, a reminder of how rich and colourful India
really is. Getting all tied up with Navratri celebrations will not come
as a surprise, especially if you happen to be in Rajasthan.
Kashmir: In Kashmir, there are many devotees of Sherawali Ma Durga
and Lord Shiva. The Kashmiri pundits especially celebrate navratras with
much enthusiasm. Each hindu house-hold performs the pooja at home. The
adult members of the household fast and they only consume water followed
by fruit in the evening. Also, they grow barley in the earthen pots to
attain prosperity.
Most of these kashmiri pundits visit the temple of goddess Kheer
Bhawani on all nine days; this is one of the important rituals in
Kashmir.
Punjab: Punjabi people perform navratri puja in their farming fields
for a good cultivation. They devotionally celebrate Navratri. They only
drink milk for seven days before breaking the fast on Ashtami or Navami.
They worship Durga Ma, Lakshmi and offer prayers at home. Some of them
have fruit or a complete meal once a day. Alcohol and meat are strictly
avoided during this time.
Navratri Celebrations in South India
Navratri celebrations in the southern part of India are celebrated in
a manner much different from the rest of India. There's nothing in
common except for the devotion and enthusiasm with which the people in
this region celebrate this occasion. Read on till the end to find out
all about what makes Navratri special in the South.
Bommai Kolu: During the nine nights of the Navratri festival, women
in the south, especially Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
decorate their houses with traditional wooden dolls. These wooden dolls,
popularly known as Kolu Bommai by locals in this region are a symbol of
pride for those who display it for others to see. These handcrafted
idols are beautiful and reminds one of how rich India is, in terms of
tradition and culture. Mostly, scenes from the village or Gods are
depicted through these dolls.
Rangolis: This is yet another traditional art South India is well
known for. Patterns are made on the floor and women gather to design
these rangolis using various coloured powder and flowers. This is a
tradition mostly followed by the women in the house. Rangoli is referred
to as Rangavallie in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Sundal: Sundal is what instantly comes to mind when one mentions the
Navratri festival in South India. This delicious sweet dish with its
mouthwatering taste is an instant hit with the locals. It is also
available in different varieties and forms. Lentil and brown sugar are
used in the preparation of this special sweet dish. Navratri
celebrations in the South are not complete without preparing Sundal in
the evening.
Traditional gifts exchanged between family and friends during this festive occasion include coconuts, clothes and sweets.
