Gujarat, the land of festivals, is renowned for its spirit of festivity. There are many festivals uniquely associated with this state and celebrated by its heritage proud people who strictly adhere to their age old customs and traditions.
Navratri is the prime festival of Gujarat and the most colorful and rocking one. It is a festival of fasting, feasting and frolicking and is celebrated by the young and old alike on a mammoth scale. The Gujarat government is known for its lavish arrangements and fortitude during this period.
Navratri also known as Maha Navratri or Sharad Navratri is celebrated in the month of Ashwin during Sharad. (the beginning of winter: September-October.) It commences on the first day and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Ashwin.
Navratri means 9 divine nights. This festival honors the one Divine Shakti/Force which supports the entire universe and is personified as the Mother Goddess. She protects her worshippers, destroys evil and grants boon to her children. During the 9 days, people fast and visit temples to pray to the Goddess.
There are several myths and legends associated with the celebration of this festival. According to one, the mighty demon Mahishasura obtained the boon of eternity from Lord Shiva. He then killed innocent people and harassed the Gods. Intimated by his power, all the Gods from Swargalok appealed to Lord Shiva to tame the demon. Then Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh united their supreme powers and created a divine being called Shakti or Durga – the warrior Goddess. Mahishasura was mesmerized by her beauty and proposed marriage. The Goddess agreed to marry him on condition that he win her over in a duel. The demon agreed. The duel went on 9 nights (Navratri) at the end of which Durga beheaded Mahishasura. The tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashmi.
The 9 manifestations of Durga worshipped during Navratri are:
1.Durga – Goddess beyond reach.
2.Bhadrakali – auspicious power of time.
3.Amba/Jagdamba - Mother of the World.
4.Annapurna – Giver of food and plenty.
5.Sarvamangala – auspicious Goddess.
6.Bhairavi – terrible fearful power of death.
7.Chandika/Handi – violent wrathful furious
8.Lalita – playful.
9.Bhavani – giver of existence.
For all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all the manifestations of the divine Mother Goddess.
During Navratri, people visit the temples of Amba Mata and Bechraji Mata to enjoy Gujarat’s typical folk drama: the Bhavai.
The Navratri cuisine has strictly vegetarian meals with special courses. Most people eat only one meal a day at sunset. The goodies that can be savored after the Navratri fast include a multitude of culinary delights like aloo raita, dal puris, gajar ka halwa etc.
In the nights, the festive mood completely sweeps off everybody. The main attraction of the festival is Garba and Dandiya Raas – the traditional dance forms of the region. People from all walks of life, irrespective of caste and creed wear colorful Ghagras and Cholis with sparkling accessories, and dance together all night with great joy and religious fervor till the wee hours of the morning. Moving around a circle in a Garbo indicates the never-ending cycle of creation, maintenance and destruction phases of supreme reality.
The word ‘Garba’ comes from the Sanskrit Garba (womb) and Deep (a small earthen ware lamp). This dance is performed by groups of women around the object of veneration The Garbo: an earthen ware pot/kumbh filled with water. A betel nut and a silver coin are placed within it and a coconut is placed on the top. Alternately, an image of the Goddess or a lamp may be placed. The concept of Garbo is:
1.Microcosm-an earthen pot with light which shines through similar to the human body with light of God within.
2.Macrocosm:-the universe of ours is an earthen pot and the light of the supreme energy shines through(sun/shakti).
The dancers whirl around to the accompaniment of drum-beats and folk tunes provided by a drummer and a singer. The participants dance in a steady rhythm. Nowadays, loudspeakers are used to enhance the sound which grows to a crescendo. The dance starts slowly, gets faster with the music and then abruptly comes to a halt. After a brief pause, the dance commences – the singer leading with a new song, in praise of the Goddess.
The Dandiya Raas or the stick dance is a rumbustious explosion of color and gaiety, performed by men and women holding small polished sticks on Dandiyas. As they whirl to the intoxicating rhythm of the dance, the participants strike the Dandiyas together adding to the joyous atmosphere.
So popular are the Garba and the Dandiya Raas, that competitions are held in village squares, temple courtyards, open grounds and enclosed halls (where open spaces are unavailable). Prizes are given to the best judged dancers. Garba parties are especially enormous in Ahmadabad and Vadodara – both well known centers of music and culture. This popular festival is no longer confined to the boundaries of the stately and traditional state of Gujarat but has now found practitioners and acolytes in other states of India also.
Not only that, Garba is very popular amongst the youth of Gujarati/Indian diaspora in the UK and the USA, where many universities have Raas Garba competitions every year with professional choreography.
This bright, musical and ebullient festival of Navratri is celebrated with a great deal of pomp and splendor and aplomb which makes all these events quintessentially Gujarati in spirit and rhythm. Worship and general merriment seems to be the order of the day as people of all hues and denominations venture outside their homes to be one with the festive spirit of Gujarat, India.
- Anupam Mujumdar, student intern, Parihara.com
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