Navratri – nine days of merriment, festivity
Navratri also called Nauratan, Nauratri or Navratan or with many other names is a holy festival celebrated in entire India with a distinct passion and engagement. People wear a variety of dresses, cook savoury dishes and decorate their house. This festival can be a door to bond relationships for a total of nine days. India is a diverse country and has various ways of celebrating Navratri.
In Kerala, called God’s own country, has nine days but has vibrantly celebrated three days namely Ashtami, Navami and Vijayadashami altogether called Golu, praying Maa Saraswati. Idols and dolls are adorned elegantly in steps like a table. Vijayadambhram is a propitious practice in which students keep their books in front of Maa Saraswati in Golu season and take it back on Vijayadashami. The delicacies made during Navratri are Phovu or Panchagadai, Ghari, Ambya Humman etc. We understand that Kerala makes sure the Golu season is worth enjoying.
Karnataka calls the Navratri State festival or Nadahubba. Mysore has a unique celebration. The successors of Odeyars live in their Mysore Palace during Dasara and follow the ancient cultures they used to follow before. The illuminated Mysore Palace is worth watching. Feasts held serve dishes like Avalakki Pongal and Avalakki Payasa, Gudanna, Hayagreeva, Sihi Appa, Holige etc. On the last day, that is Vijayadashami, all the idols of God are taken from temples and prayed near the Bunni tree. Few common customs of south India followed are Aksharabhyasa where children who start learning anew draw letters on a plate containing rice or sand with their little hands.
Telangana celebrates Navratri as Bathukamma. Bathukamma is a floral festival celebrated predominantly in Telangana and a few places of Andhra Pradesh. People arrange a beautiful flower stack, with different and unique seasonal flowers with most of them with medicinal values, in seven concentric layers in the shape of a temple gopuram. Telangana has different cuisines representing each day of Navratri. Like Attukulu on the first day or Saddhula on the last day.
All the states have numerous customs but there are a few particular things that the whole India does like Shastra puja on Navami where selected tools, utensils and devices used by a worker are ceremoniously arranged at the feet of the Goddess and worshipped. Even the Indian Army blesses its weapons on this day. After all the erudition we’ve got to know today, we realise that it is requisite to respect all the rituals and enjoy them.
Apoorva Vishwanath
Class V, DPS Nacharam
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