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| Navratri |
The festival of Navratri is celebrated
in the month of Aso i.e. Ashwin approximately
between 15th of September to 15th of October.
This festival is celebrated in order to worship
the Goddess Shakti. In many places, this festival
has been split into three categories, i.e.,
three days for the worship of Ma Durga, for
strength and power, three days for Ma Saraswati
for knowledge and three days for the worship
of Ma Laxmi for wealth and prosperity. Therefore,
Navratri is a long festival celebrated continuously
for nine days.
During this period many people fast by taking
only fruit and milk and at many places yagnas'
take place as a form of worship.
There is a well-known tale behind this festival.
In ancient times, a demon called Mahishasura
had been harassing the Devas and humans. The
Devas convened and prayed to Brahma, Vishnu
and Mahesh. Due to their anger on Mahishasura,
a Divine Energy was generated. The Devas and
humans welcomed it with chants and worshipped
it. The Gods instilled this Energy with their
own Divine attributes. This Divine Energy,
termed Shakti fought a continuous battle with
the Demon for nine days. She managed to defeat
Mahishasura and killed him. Thus, both the
Devas and humans were greatly relieved.
It is the Divine power of Jagdamba or Ma Durga,
which we worship during Navratri. A look at
history shows us how evil forces have continually
overpowered the good thoughts. To escape from
the grip of evil, those possessing Divine
thoughts have always been at war with them.
To overcome this, people have given up their
comforts and have prepared themselves for
difficulties, which have come their ways.
This too is a form of penance and worship.
This victory of good over the evil is God's
gift to humanity.
Although this festival is celebrated each
year by traditional dances called Raas Garbas,
where children, men and women get together
for a joyous time, it is also important to
remember that this is the time to worship
Ma Jagdamba for Shakti and enrich their lives
with the divine power to combat their inner
enemies. To establish a healthy society is
also a message of this festival. A man on
the wrong track can tread the right path if
he sees all women as Ma Jagdamba. Women have
a definite role in society and to awaken in
them the latent power is also the aim of this
festival. She should be aware of the power
of creation she possesses and should not forget
her role as a mother and be proud to fulfil
this role with dignity. |
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