The festival of Navratri is celebrated all over India with full devotion, joy and passion. It is a festival which is celebrated with pure happiness and is one of the most auspicious occasions for Hindus. Navaratri is celebrated twice a year- First in the month of Chaitra (March- April) and secondly in the month of Ashwani (September – October). Chaitra Navratri commences with the start of the Hindu New Year “VIKRAM SAMBAT” i.e the 1st day of the month of Chaitra.
Navratri continues for nine days. These nine days are devoted to goddess Maa Durga, known as Shakti. People worship her by referring as Mata Sherawali as the first appearance of her sitting on a tiger. It is believed that goddess Durga exists in many forms and is worshipped during this nine-day long festival. These various forms of the Goddess are: Uma, Gauri, Parvati, Jagatmata, Kali, Chandi, Bhairavi, Ambika etc.
For these nine days during Navratri people keep fasts, go to temples, and sing devotional prayers. The temples are beautifully decorated with lights and flowers. In homes people place the images of goddess Durga and worship her by singing devotional songs and bhajans. Most of the Hindus go to the temples to worship Devi Durga.
People also like to have jagran, chooki, in the Navratri time. On the eighth and the ninth day people like to end Navratri by calling small girls to their home and giving them delicious items to eat. This is also called as kanya poojan.
According to legends, Navratri and Ram Navami are celebrated for the birth of Lord Rama and his victory over Ravana. As per the Hindu calendar, the 9th tithi in Chaitra Sukla is observed as Ram Navami to commemorate the birth of Lord Rama.
The worship of Lord Rama dates back to the Pre-Christian era. About keeping strict fast on Ram Navmi is mentioned in the Kalika Purana. The Vrata of Ram Navami is considered as one of the five most sacred vratas among Hindus. The Ramachandrika and Vratarka also states that each and everyone should observe this vrata as it is the only means of worldly happiness and salvation.
Navratri, celebrated in the month of March-April is the starting of the Hindu New Year. The nine-day festival is synonymous with the celebration of Ram Navami. The Ram Navami festival is celebrated on the last of this 9-day long festival. Ram Navami is the birthday of lord Rama, and is observed as the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Chaitra (March-April). Lord Vishnu is worshipped in his human incarnation as Rama, the divine ruler of Ayodhya. This day is celebrated with full joy in Ayodhya, the place where lord Rama was born. A two day fair is also organized there.
Celebrations start with a prayer to the Sun early in the morning. A special prayer is performed during mid-day, the time when Lord Rama is believed to have been born. People sing and recite devotional songs for Lord Rama and a chariot procession is carried out on the street. It carries four persons who are dressed as Lord Rama, his brother Laxman, wife Sita and Rama’s disciple Hanuman. Many people dressed up in the costumes of Rama’s soldier also walk behind the chariot.
During this period people gather in the banks of the sacred river of Sarayu and perform holy dip. On the day of Ram Navami, some observe a strict fast They recite devotional songs and prayers in praise of him. Some people arrange special Ramach-aritamanas recital programmes to make the occasion more devotional. There is regular chanting of Gayatri Mantra 24, 000 times and yagyan. The birth of Lord Rama on the day of Ram Navami is believed to be the end of the evil era.
Navratri is an auspicious occasion for Vaishnavas (a sect of Hindu who consider Vishnu as their God) who celebrate it with due solemnity. There is a popular belief that Lord Rama full fills one’s dream if he/she prays him on this day of Ram Navami.
In Jammu Navratras are celebrated with enthusiam and gaiety. People visit different temples. Especially a huge rush is witnessed in Raghunath Mandir. But the Chief attraction of the Navratras is the Darshan of Goddess Bhawani (Mahakali) at Bahu Fort. Tens of thousands of people visit the shrine since very early morning. The whole city of temples wears a festive look.
Lakhs of people visit Mata Vaishnodevi during Navratras. To have the Darshan of the Holy Mother in the form of natural pindies is considered highly auspicious. Katra wears a festive lok during Navratras. People from far and wide visit the cave shrine. Ist Navratras is celebrated as Navreh by Pandits of Kashmir. On this day a new almanc for the year is released people have the darshan in the morning of a basket full of nil, on which flowers, walnuts curd, milk, pen, cooked nil and a herb celled ‘Wai’ (sweet flag) is put. A mela is held at Chakrareshwar temple at Hari Parbat in Srinagar on this day.
People start farting on Ist Navratras upto Ram Navami. Pujas are regularily held in homes and temples on Rama Navmi People visit Ram temples. Sri Ragu Nath temple is the main attraction of Ram Navami. of natural pandits is considered highly auspicious. Katra wear a festive look during Navratras. People from far and wide visit the cave shrine.
It is hoped that these Navratras will bring overall well being and prosperity to the country in general and the State in particular. Navratras are the herbinger of new light and festivities. Let Navratras bestow upon the people of the State all round prosperity.
Tags: Celebrations, festival, harbinger, kashmiri pandits, legends, Mata Vaishnodevi, Navratra, Navreh, Ram Navami, worship
