Wishesh Magazine November_2018 Wishesh Magazine November 2018 | Page 26

INDIAN DIASPORA CULTURE
The first three days of Navratri
are devoted exclusively to the
worship of Goddess Durga,
when her energy and power
are worshiped. Each day
is dedicated to a different
appearance of Durga, namely
Kumari, Parvati and Kali.
There is also a custom of
planting barley seeds in a
small bed of mud on the first
day of puja. The shoots,
when grown, are given to
the attendees, as a blessing
from Goddess, after the puja
ceremony.
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These fourth, fifth and
sixth days of Navratri are
dedicated to Goddess
Lakshmi, the Goddess of
Wealth & Prosperity. Goddess
Saraswati is also prayed
to, on the fifth day, which is
known as Lalita Panchami.
The seventh day is dedicated
to Goddess Saraswati, while
the Goddess of Art and
Knowledge is worshiped on
the eight day and a yagna is
also performed.
The ninth day is the final
day of Navratri celebrations,
which is also known as
‘Mahanavami’. On this day,
Kanya puja is performed,
where nine young, who have
not yet reached the stage
of puberty, are worshiped.
Each of these nine girls
symbolizes one of the nine
forms of Goddess Durga.
The feet of the girls are
washed, to welcome the
goddess and show respect
to her. Thereafter, the girls
are offered food and a set of
new clothes, as a gift from the
devotees.
The nine-day Navratra
celebrations, which fall in
September-October, come to
an end with the immersion of
the idols of Goddess Durga
in water.
Dandiya and Garba are the
featured dances performed
on the evenings of Navratri,
mainly in Gujarat. Garba is
performed before the ‘aarti’,
as devotional performance
in the honor of the Goddess,
while Dandiya is performed
after it, as a part of the
celebrations.
In case of September-
October Navratri
celebrations, the tenth day
is celebrated as Dussehra.
On this day, devotees
perform ‘Saraswati Puja’, for
blessings of knowledge and
mental peace. On the day,
the burning of the dummy
of demon king Ravana also
takes place.
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