Navratri (Nine Nights)
Navratri, the festival of nine nights has started. People celebrate it all over India. But it is widely and grandly celebrated in West Bengal and Tamilnadu. Wherever it is celebrated it is dedicated to the mother goddess shakthi. She is the eternal. She is the source of energy to all and also the destroyer of the evil.
In west Bengal, Durga Pooja or Saraswati Pooja or Dasara is celebrated with distinct pride. A big kali statue is created and pooja is done on all the nine days. Donations are also collected from the public for doing pooja. The prasadam is distributed to everybody after every day of the pooja. People visit the Kalighat kali temple at Kolkata in large number during the Navratri.
Tamilnadu celebrates Navratri in a unique way. People arrange dolls positioned in steps in their own houses. Usually the dolls include gods and goddesses. It is called as Golu in Tamil. It is a beautiful sight to see dolls and toys of gods arranged neatly. Daily a sort of sundal (chenna) is prepared and distributed to people. People sing devotional songs and pray to Goddess Durga for the welfare and peace.
There is a story associated with Navratri as to know how people started celebrating Navratri. Once there was a rishi who was heavy headed and he did not give due respect to Agasthiar. Agasthiar is considered to be the most respectable of all Tamil saints. Since Agasthiar was very short he mocked at Agasthiar’s height and made fun of it. Agasthiar got angry and cursed him to be a buffalo headed rakshasa. Hence the name Mahishasura (meaning a buffalo headed rakshasa).
Mahishasura did penance and asked for a boon to Brahma that he should not be defeated by even the Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and all others. Brahma said it is not possible to give such a boon. So Brahma asked him to designate a person by whom he will be killed. Mahishasura thought for a while and told Brahma that only a woman may destroy him. He was in the illusion that no woman will dare to come against him. Brahma gave away the boon as he wished and disappeared. Now Mahishasura did lots of mischief to the rishis, devas and others. He tortured the innocents.
Then Goddess Parvathi, Lakshmi and Saraswati joined together to form mahishasuramardini or Bhavani and killed the Asura. This is the victory of good over the evil. The war fought between Mahamaya and mahishasura held for 9 nights. Hence the name Navratri. On the 10th day Devi destroyed mahishasura and it is the victorious day of vijayadhasami. During the day of vijayadhasami kindergarten schools open up for admissions. People start doing good things on vijayadhasami. There is a belief that if you start your work on vijayadhasami you are bound to get success. Vijayadhasami is also commonly known as ayutha pooja.
If you praise, sing and listen to songs, Bhajans, slogams or think about the glory of goddess Bhavani on these Navratri days then she is most pleased and she blesses you with all fortunes and success in your life. Reciting the Mahishasura Mardini Slogam (alternate link) is the best thing to do during Navratri.
“She is the energy aspect of the Lord. Her other name is Durga. This cosmic energy or Shakti is the omnipotent power of the Lord. We call her Durga, the Divine Mother.”
- Swami Shivananda
