India is one of the countries which is known especially for its tradition and culture. People of different religions and beliefs live together in the country which leads to a number of festivals being celebrated across the country. In fact, it will not be wrong to say that every day, some parts of the country is celebrating some festival.
There are also some festivals which are celebrated in different ways in different parts of the country. And the best thing is, every way has some story or some tradition attached to it. Navratri is one such festival which has many traditions related to it.
Basically, Navratri is a festival of nine days where Hindus worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is considered the symbol of courage, strength and power as per Hindu culture. But the nine forms of Durga represent her in nine different ways, and each of them relates to different forms of women.
Navratri is one of the most prominent festivals in India. People of different states celebrate it in different ways. Let's see, the different forms in which Indians celebrate this grand festival across the country.
1. Durga Puja in West Bengal
While talking about this Navratri or Goddess Durga, we can’t really ignore the Durga Puja, one of the grandest festivals celebrated in India.
In West Bengal and in most eastern states like Assam, Tripura, Odisha and Jharkhand, Navratri is honoured as Durga Puja, the main annual festival for Bengali Hindus that celebrates the victory of Durga over the shape-shifting buffalo devil Mahishasura.
Durga Puja for the Bengalis is much more than a festival. It is an emotion that marks a time of joyful waves. Families engage themselves in this five-day gala of awesome food, pandal hopping, music and cultural evenings and welcoming Maa Durga. During these five days, they welcome Goddess, celebrate her presence and then bid her goodbye with enthusiasm and joy.
One of the oldest Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal is the ECo Railway Sarbojanin Durga Puja at Waltair Kali Bari, near the Railway Station. Here, more than 1,500 Bengali families in the city jointly participate in the five-day festive merrymaking.
2. Ramleela in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
In UP and Bihar also, Navaratri is celebrated with joy and excitement. Here people welcome Goddess Durga for nine days and worship nine forms of the Goddess. Other than celebrating at their homes, they visit different Pandals and fairs (mela).
Other than the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, Navratri is also considered a festival which marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana.
In these states, it is celebrated with the Ramleela- a theatrical implementation of the life of Lord Rama from the Hindu epic Ramayana – performed in theatres, temples and brief stages. They depict everything from Rama’s birth to Sita’s abduction. On the tenth day, Dussehra is celebrated by burning the large statues of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Vibhishan.
These skits and dramas play a major role in the celebration of the nine-day-long festival, especially in UP and Bihar.
Source: Google Images
3. Garba in Gujarat
Gujarat has always been popular for its unique culture and tradition. Celebration of Navratri is also done in a different but unique way in Gujarat. They keep fast for nine days to worship nine incarnations of the Goddess.
Navratri in Gujarat is also known for its Garba Raas, in which men and women perform a traditional dance around the idol of Durga. This culture is now becoming popular in different states as well. In fact, in big cities, Garba nights are organized in many places. Garba is also included in a lot of movies as well.
Source: Google Images
4. Kullu Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh
On the tenth day when Navratri ends in all the other states, grand celebrations of Kullu Dussehra take place in Himachal Pradesh. The festival marks the celebration of the homecoming of Lord Rama. The entire valley is decked up in bright hues of embellishments decorating its streets. A huge procession carrying idols of gods and goddesses to the main ground is a highlight of the festival that is glorified with great splendour and enthusiasm.
This is the time when a major proportion of tourists visit this place. In fact, the State Government has also accorded the festival, the status of an International festival.
Source: Google Images
5. Bathukamma in Telangana
In Telangana and some parts of Andhra Pradesh, Bathukamma is a popular festival celebrated for nine days till Durgashtmi. This festival represents the culture of Telangana. Historically, bathukamma implied "festival of life" and was celebrated to thank Goddess Parvati for her blessings for the crop yield and income she helped generate the current year and again ask for her blessing for the next year.
It is the celebration of feminine felicitation. On this special occasion, women dress up in the classic sari combining it with jewels and other accessories.
So, these were a few of the ways in which Indians celebrate Navratri. There are many more ways in which the festival is celebrated in different states of the nation.
But the main motto of all the cultures and traditions is to inculcate a feeling of love for our creators and joy and enthusiasm.
Written by: Nidhi Jha
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