Navratri - The Festival of Nine Nights

Navratri - The Festival of Nine Nights

Navratri,also called as the Durga Puja or the Dussehra is one of the most sacred Hindu festivals. Literally meaning nine nights, determined by lunar reckoning it is celebrated during nine nights and ten days after Pitri Paksha, following the new moon in the month of Ashvina-September/October. During the nine days and nights the Univeral Goddess,Durga is worshipped under nine different names: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini,
Chandraghanta,Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhatri. The tenth day is known as the Dussehra or the Vijaydashmi. The whole celebration commemorates the triumph of the ten-armed warrior goddess, Durga over the demons such as Mahishasura,Shambhu, Nishambhu and also that of Rama over the demon Ravana, which symbolises the victory of Good over evil.

The Navratree is one of the few festivals celebrated by Hindus aound the world especially, India, MAURITIUS, South AFrica, Canada (I'm not sure !!!), Trinidad & Tobago. I don't have any information if it is celebrated in Fiji with the take over from the coup by Katwas (Ravans) and Hindus have been reduced from 70% to 33%.

In India, different Communities celebrated this festival all in pomp and gustos. Example in Gujerat, during the nine days celebration, ladies dance the Garbha dance around an earthern lamp. In Tamil Nadu, the first three days are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and the other six days to Godesses Durga and Saraswati respectively. Bengalis propritiate Kali. Like in Bengal, the Ramakrishna Mission found at Quinze Cantons, Vacoas, Mauritius immersed the image/murthi of Goddess Durga in the sea.

In MAuritius, the atmosphere during this festivals is filled with positive energy/aura thanks to the devotion of Hindus through fasts, prayers, archanas, stutis, bhajans and kirtans.

HINDUS SHOULD NOT IMITATE 7 8 6 people

They believe that during their 30 days fasting all their sins will be wiped out, hence after that, they can commit all sorts of horrendous and barbaric action like killings, throat-cutting, terrorism, suicide bombings,abduction, destruction of temples/Mandirs and the next year , fast and give money to the poor and their sins will be washed.

We Hindus should understand that through real love that religion exists and not in ceremony. Unless, we are pure in body and mind, going to temple and worshiping Durga or Shiva is useless. It is hypocrisy to be worshiping while impure in life and yet try to preach religion to others. Internal worship and purity are the only real things.

Many people go to Yatra believing that in their old age, they can pray and will get moksha for their misdeeds. This is all more sinful as they are satisfying only their egoism and this is due to ignorance. The gist of all worship is to be pure and do good to others. He who sees Durga or Shiva in the poor and the diseased, do good things like giving blood to save lives of those whose lives are in danger at the hospital really worship Durga or Shiva as Shiva or Durga will be much pleased with those who help His/Her children than with those who praise Him or Her.

In our shastras, it is said that those who serve the servants of God are His/Her Greatest servants. By the power of such service, ur hearts become pure and Shiva or Shakti who resides in each of us will become manifest. Purity and unselfishness are the essence of spirituality and he who has these is nearer to Shiva or Shakti than those with impure minds, cowards and believe that by doing prayers, reciting mantras or offering lots of bank notes will go nearer to God. Sage Ramanuja called this Dry Worship. Shri Satya Sai Baba says: " That Hands That Help Are Better Than Lips That Pray".

Hindus have been given the opportunity to become manifested and unite with God as we have a beautiful and richest Culture and religion with liberty. We are bound by One umbilical cord of the same Shakti where there are no differences in jaat and paat. We are all Hindus, Children of Shiva and Shakti.