- Noopur Jambhekar
Navratri is a festival of colorful dresses, an enthusiasm filled dance with people, and of
course the 9 very important nights dedicated to goddess Durga. These 9 nights have
some specific significance.
These fall typically in the months of September-Octoberaccording to the Hindu calendar. Apart from these nights, this festival is also celebratedduring the months of spring in March-April. But the former one is the most celebrated;with avidity and adherence.
Although the huge land of India has different beliefs based on the legends they’ve heard, relating to this festival but all of them come down to one single life lesson –“Good always wins over evil.” When Durga defeated the evil Mahishasura.
Navratri is a Hindu festival but has a deeper meaning for the Gujarati, Bengali and the Maharashtrian communities than the rest of India. This is when we see different meanings of the same festival and how they hold divergent meanings in the lives of Indians.
Indians living overseas participate equally in the preparations of this joyous occasion
and get together to perform Garba(dance famous during Navratri) and distribute sweets.
Navratri and its different stories –
In the eastern and northeastern parts of India, this festival marks a strong religious
presence. In Bengal, Meghalaya, Odisha, and other neighboring cities, the last 5 days of
the festival are very important. Sixth day(shashti) holding the highest value. The following three days- saptami, ashtami and navmi, people chant religious prayers and then wear red clothes on the 10 th day(Vijaydashmi). Here, they let go off, of the clay statues used during the processions held in the honor of the Goddess Durga.
In the northern and western parts of India like Gujarat – where this is the state’s most important festival; people perform acts based on the story of Ram and Ravana called Ramleela and that goes on till the 10 th day when Ram finally kills Ravana - the evil, on Vijaydashmi. People use their creativity to the fullest when performing this piece of art on stage to entertain the audience. Narration, dances, musical plays, puppet shows, and chanting of the religious prayers form a complete package and leave the people mesmerized.
The 9 nights and 10 days of Navratri have specific colors and stories attached to them and people follow those to dive into the cultural spirits and pray to the goddess – Durga.These represent 9 different incarnations of the goddess.
Day 1: Durga as Shailaputri
The color of this day is grey depicting action and vigor. This day is dedicated to the daughter of Mountain. She is seen as riding a bull with a Trishul in her right hand and a lotus in her left. She is also said to be the incarnation of Mahakali.
Day 2: Durga as Bramhacharini
The color of this day is orange, showing calmness yet strong energy. This day marks the unmarried self of the goddess Parvati when she became Sati. She is shown as holding a japamala and and walking bare feet. She spreads bliss.
Day 3: Durga as Chandraghanta
The color of this day is white, plain, and soothing to everyone’s mind. Parvati got this name after she married to Lord Shiva, and put a half-moon on her forehead. She symbolizes beauty and bravery.
Day 4: Durga as Kushmanda
The color of the fourth day is red, depicting power. This incarnation of the goddess
celebrates her as the creative power of the earth. She is shown to have eight arms,
sitting on a tiger.
Day 5: Durga as Skandamata
Blue is the color for this fifth day as it’s celebrated in the honor of the mother of
Kartikeya. The color symbolizes the unimaginable strength of a mother when her baby
is in danger. The goddess is shown to have four arms sitting on a lion and protecting
her baby.
Day 6: Durga as Katyayani
The color yellow for this day depicts the strength and courage the goddess Durga possesses. She is a warrior and the most dangerous one. She is a form of the goddess Mahalaxmi.
Day 7: Durga as Kalaratri
The color for this day is green. This form of Durga is the most ferocious. Legends say
that the goddess peeled off her fair skin to kill the demons. She wears a white attire and
rages so much that her eyes turn fiery black.
Day 8: Durga as Mahagauri
This incarnation of goddess Durga symbolizes peace and intelligence and hence the
color peacock green to spread optimism.
Day 9: Durga as Sidhidatri
Navmi is celebrated to honor this incarnation of the goddess that is shown to sit on a
lotus bestowing everyone for their prayers. This day’s purple color is believed to
appreciate nature’s beauty.
