Navaratri is one of the most widely celebrated festivals across India. This festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the country. Navaratri marks the nine-day long battle that Goddess Durga fought against Mahishasura, the demon emerging victorious. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil.
The nine days of Navaratri are completely dedicated to the nine avatars of Durga, also called as Navadurga. Each day of the festival is associated with the incarnation of the Goddess. Navaratri is a unique festival and has a different recognition in different states of the country. In some parts, people fast while in some states people feast during Navaratri. The Chaitra Navaratri is celebrated during the springtime, but for most of the Hindu Community, Navaratri around the autumn is the main festival. In the eastern parts of India, Navaratri is celebrated as Durga Puja, the warrior avatar of the Goddess, while in other traditions the more peaceful avatar of the Goddess like the Saraswati- the Goddess of knowledge, music and other arts is celebrated.
Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the West Bengal State. It is the most important festival for Bengali Hindus, and a major event in the eastern parts of India Thousands of Pandals are raised across the streets to celebrate the festival, and some Shakta Hindus also have a home-based celebration. The Durga Puja festival is celebrated for the victory of Goddess Durga over the deceptive and powerful buffalo demon.
In the Northern part of India, Ramlila events are organized throughout the Navaratri festival, where the story of Rama and Ravana are enacted by artists in rural and urban areas, inside the temple and even on temporary stages. Historically, Navaratri was a ritual festival for kings and the military of a kingdom. At the end of Navaratri, on the day of Vijayadashami, Dussehra is celebrated as a day of victory of good over evil forces.
Navaratri is also the main state festival for Gujarat. The celebrations of Navaratri in Gujarat include fasting for nine days by not eating grains or just having a liquid diet in remembrance of one of the nine aspects of Goddess Shakti. During the nine days of the festival, Garba is a cultural dance form performed in villages as well as towns. Garba is accompanied by a live orchestra, seasonal raga or devotional songs. During Garba, sometimes dandiyas are included in the dance, which is the co-ordinated striking of sticks.
This year, the pandemic has affected the enthusiasm and the excitement of devotees that wait for eagerly for the festival to arrive. But what does not stop in us Indians, is the devotion and belief in the Goddess. With restrictions on mass celebrations, you can now celebrate Navaratri right at your home by listening to your favourite devotional Navaratri songs like Chalo Bulawa Aaya Hai, Om Sakthi Om, Dhol Baje Maa, Jaya Jaya Devi, Dolida Dhol Re Vagad and many more on the Saregama Carvaan Mini Bhakti.
The Carvaan Mini Bhakti is a portable digital audio player with pre-loaded collection of 300 devotional bhajans, aarti and mantras. You can also play your playlist on the portable device via Bluetooth and USB connectivity. You can also tune into FM/AM radio stations making the Carvaan Mini Bhakti an all in one music player.
This Navaratri, may Goddess help her devotees fight and get through the pandemic so that next year the traditions related to the festival are revived, and celebrations become more even grander.