Navarathri is a Hindu festival that spans nine nights (and ten days) and is celebrated every year in the autumn. It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various regions of India. Theoretically, there are four seasonal Navaratris. However, in practice, it is the post-monsoon autumn festival called Sharad Navaratri that is the most observed in the honor of the divine feminine Hindu Goddess Devi.
In the eastern and northeastern states of India, the Durga Puja is synonymous with Navaratri, wherein goddess Durga battles and emerges victorious over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura to help restore Dharma. In the northern and western states, the festival is synonymous with “Rama Leela” and Dussehra that celebrates the battle and victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana. In the southern states, the victory of different goddesses and of Rama is celebrated. In all cases, the common theme is the battle and victory of Good over Evil based on a regionally famous epic or legend.
Celebrations include stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, chanting of the scriptures of Hinduism and setting up of Golu where miniature dolls of gods and goddesses are set up for display. The nine days are also a major public celebration of classical and folk, music and dances of Hindu culture. On the final day, called Vijayadashami or Dussehra, the statues are either immersed in a water body such as river and ocean, or alternatively the statue symbolizing the evil is burnt with fireworks marking evil’s destruction. The festival also starts the preparation for one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays, Diwali, the festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after the dashara.
Navarathri Sangeetha Utsavam 2020
Navarathri Sangeetha Utsavam 2021
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