Navratri 2008
Navratri – Longest Indian festival of nine nights.
Navratri means Nine Nights dedicated to the devi Durga maa, the godess of power and energy. Navratri falls in the month of Septembet – October (Ashvin Sud from 1-9). No other hindu festival is celebrated for such a long period of nine days.
On the very first day of Navratras, people prepare a small bed of mud in their Pooja Room and sow barley seeds on it. After 9/10 days the shoots are about 4 inches long and after the pooja, these seedlings are pulled out to be given to devotees as a blessing from god.
The initial days of Navratri are dedicated to Devi Durga. Devi Durga maa is the goddess of energy and power. Kumari, Parvati and Kali (3 manifestations of Devi Durga) are also worshiped. Kumari represent the child, Parvati the young girl and Kali the matured woman. They are 3 different phases of womanhood.
Devi Laxmi maa – the godess of peace and prosperity, is worshiped during 4th to 6th day of Navratri.
Devi Saraswati – the godess of knowledge and art is worshiped on the fifth day – Lalit Panchami. Also on Ashtami, ie 8th day of Navratri, Saraswati maa is worshiped to acquire spiritual knowledge.
On Mahanavmi this colourful festival comes to an end with Kanya Pooja. Nine young girls representing nine forms of goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed and they are offered food, new clothes.
The 10th day is VijayaDashmi. The idols of Goddess Durga are taken on a procession to be dipped in a water body. This day is also known and celebrated as Dussehra – to mark the return of Lord Ram back to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile.
Here is a color list representing the different aspects of Devi.
Sept 30th - Amba - Parrot Green
Oct 1st - Tara - Orange
Oct 2nd - Shorashi - Yellow
Oct 3rd - Bhavneshwari - Sky Blue
Oct 4th - Channamasta - Pink
Oct 5th - Bhairavi - Grey
Oct 6th - Dhoomavati - Green
Oct 7th - Bagala - Ink Blue
Oct 8th - Matangi - Royal Blue
Oct 9th - Kamala - Red
Leena
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