Navaratri - ~ Nine Nights to Celebrate the Divine Mother
Navaratri in 2015 will start on Tuesday, the 13th of October and will continue for 9 days until Wednesday, the 21st of October. On the 10th day. The festival is celebrated for nine nights once every year during the beginning of October, although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a day less.
Navararti (Nine Nights) Celebrations in South India - Navaratri (Nine nights) chiefly a women’s festival, that lasts nine days and nine nights throughout India. During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of Goddess in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as "Durga or Kali," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power).It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there.
They decorate their houses and steps with kolams, lamps and flowers in the evenings. There are many other stories associated with the festival. No matter what the stories are, festivals in India convey the message of benevolence, peace and love. If the people kept in mind the beautiful and meaningful messages throughout the year, it would have been peace and harmony all around. However, in India festivals are celebrated by all Indians, regardless of being a Hindu or belonging to any other religion. There is a spirit of brotherhood seen during festival seasons.
The worship of the three divine goddesses are:
Goddess Durga is worshipped during the first three days. (Goddess of strength and courage).
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped during the next three days. (Goddess of wealth and prosperity)
Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped during the last three days. (Goddess of learning and speech) Saraswati literally means 'the flowing one'.
Finally, on the tenth day known as Vijayadasami or the Victorious Tenth Day Books and tools are placed in the puja room or in front of the Goddess Saraswathi or painting of Goddess Saraswati on the previous day evening. The most significant aspect of this day is that children are taught their first words on this day, since it is considered an auspicious day to begin formal education.
Radha Lakshmi is an interdisciplinary artist whose contemporary works of art emerges from the ‘Feminine and Earth’ and women’s ritual arts from South of India. Radha's work graces many of the yoga mats and walls at Shine Yoga Center. Radha resides and works in Cincinnati, Ohio. Visit her website @ http://radartist.com