Navratri : of Nine nights and turning into a new leaf....

Navaratri : from nine nights to turning a new leaf.....

Navratri, is the celebration of goddesses , of Maa Shakti, the divine power whether, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ambe Mata. It sets in with Ghatastapana and continues for nine days till Dashera.
Festivals in India have their own charm but the charm, splendour, vigour and vitality associated with the Navratri festival makes it altogether different. It is celebrated all over India in different ways.
The Durga Pooja of Bengal is well known to most of us. I vividly remember the grand celebrations by the Bengali Association at the Bhusawal railway colony where we stayed in our childhood. As a child, I would wait most eagerly for the delicious bhog comprising of "begoon bhaajaa", "paayesh" and other delicious prasad.
At our own home, Navratri meant "Golu", also known as "Bommai Golu", the display of idols of Gods, Goddesses, dolls, on odd numbered steps, either three, five, seven and so on. Setting up the steps , putting up the Idols and dolls and decorating the area would be a fun-filled activity for me and my siblings. This would be followed by visiting each others homes, singing and eating sundal, boiled lentils.
I continued to follow this tradition with my mother-in-law after my marriage . Her sudden demise in 2001 left a void and disrupted it. Four years later, intuitively I had a desire to restart the tradition and we restarted keeping Golu. That was fifteen years ago, there has been no looking back since then.
Of course the festival has been lucky for us in more than one way. We regained our joys of meeting up with family and friends and celebrating Navratri together. However the biggest blessing was the birth of our son, Vishnuchittan. He is fourteen now and this is the fifteenth year of Navratri Golu at our place. Each year thereafter has been special and magical with camaraderie and much joie de vivre.
Most families in South India celebrate Navratri Bommai Golu, with vettalai paaku, haldi kumkum along with "sundal", boiled lentils and sing devotional songs.
The festival has a vibrant dimension in Gujarat with the famous Garba and Dandiya. The Garba or Garbi is a decorated earthen pot which symbolizes life and Maa Shakti. It is worshipped on all the nine days of the festival. Dandiya are colorful sticks used in rhythm while dancing giving it a zesty fervour.
Navratri Raas Dandiyas in Ahmedabad and Mumbai are the most happening places to hang out on all nine days.
So from Durga Pooja in the east to Garba in the west, from Golu in the south to Navratri in the north , the whole country is immersed in revelry till Dashera.
Navratri also signifies Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura, of good over evil.
Ram Lila and the burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad on Dashera also signifies the victory of the good over evil.
Goddess Saraswati worshipped on Saraswati Pooja day epitomises knowledge and learning for students and also includes worshipping of the instruments by those using it as Aayudh Pooja.
Navratri could also mean "new" night. It could be the beginning of our transformation, our desire to do something new or give up our grudges.
Like the burning of Ravana we could burn our negative thoughts and fill our minds with positivity. We could pledge to give up our bad habits and adapt better living. We could pledge giving up on plastic and propagate protection of the environment. We could plant new trees and nurture them.
This Navratri let us resolve to do our bit for our Matrubhumi,  our planet, mother earth and for our country.
May it be a new beginning not only for greater glory and prosperity but also for peace and serenity. May it be the beginning of a new era.
Happy Navratri.....