NAVARATHRY

NAVARATHRY CELEBRATION

India’s longest and vast festival is Navarathy. It is also known as ‘’ Dasarath’’. The 9 sacred nights are dedicated to the primordial energy which is called as ‘’Parasakthy’’. This supreme energy is depicted as Goddess who takes the various forms as Parvathy, Mahalaxmi and Saraswathy.

This is the festival which is being celebrated from 1000s of years to respect the Mother Goddess and women. The 10 days celebration starts with the ancestral worship on the new moon day of Tamil month Puratasi or Karkadaka month. This usually falls in September or October.

The Indian subcontinent celebrates this grand festival is various ways and many varieties of customs are followed all over the nation. But this article will narrate a simple method of celebrating Navarathry and how to perform the rituals which is followed in Tamil Nadu state.

OBJECTIVE OF THE FESTIVAL:
The main objective of this festival is to refresh our mind and move towards complete awareness. The primordial energy which is called ‘’parasakthy’’ is the universal energy which has created every thing on this cosmos. The creation can be done only by the women. So the energy has been recognized as Goddess in our tradition. So offering poojas to girls from 3 years to other ages as devi is one of the most important aspect of navarathry.
The festival also embraces all helpers of the society like flower sellers, doll makers, cloth merchants and others. The 10 days gives the space for expressing our talents and show our respect to our parents and tutors.

HOW TO CELEBRATE NAVARATHRY?

Clean the house and surroundings before ammavasa day.
Perform ammavasa pithru pooja on ammavasa day.
Perform Ganapathy pooja and pray to Bhoomi for holding the Golu stand with dolls for 10 days.
By evening, in good timing place the dolls on the Golu stand and pray to Goddess.
Install the poorna kalasam as Parasakthy before the Golu stand or on the top most step and do simple poojas and invite the Goddess to your home.
FIRST 3 DAYS:
First 3 days worship the Goddess as Durga or Parvathy. Lalitha sahasranama, Thirisadhi, Devi mahathmiyam and Devi bahavatham is suggested for reading along with any other language devotional texts.

Flowers: Neem leaves, any red flowers, kumkum archana is suggested.

SECOND 3 DAYS:
Worship Devi as Laxmi and chant any devotional texts in praise of laxmi.

Flowers: Any yellow color flowers, tulsi leaves and turmeric powder archana.

LAST 3 DAYS:
Worship the goddess as Saraswathy. On Moola nakshatra time place your reading texts, tools, instruments and children’s books and start the rituals. 9th day 9 Navami] is the Saraswathy pooja day to worship Devi as wisdom.

TENTH DAY:
This is Dasami. Strat your new work , research, reading, writings, creative work, performing arts after worshipping Goddess as Durga who slayed the Demon Mahishasoora who is the depiction of our self ego.

Make a visit to your tutors and greet them. This is the day of victory. By evening again do simple poojas and make few dolls to lie down and by morning wind up the Golu.

Golu:
The royal setting of the King is called as Golu. Devi is having her golu in our home and mind. The golu is the arrangement of various dolls in order on steps in odd numbers. Usually 9 steps are arranged. Dolls representin from fish to Devi in succeeding evolution can be placed.

If you can’t have Golu light the lamps and do the poojas. The poojas are also done to pictures, clay dolls of Devies.

Kanya pooja:
Invite girls from 3 years to any higher age women and perform poojas to them as Goddess. Offer food, dresses and gifts according to your economical status.

Involve your children in every aspect. They can arrange their own expression of ideas and exhibit their arts and crafts.

Better offer simple germinated cereals and pulses as Prasad. Do not waste time in kitchen, chatting and TV.

Invite your friends, new neighbors and relatives. Get together is most important to worship the Goddess.

Try to observe your thoughts, mind’s commands, speech and actions which are directed towards awareness everyday. Share the joy of true mother’s selfish less love and service.

Ammavasa: 18.9.09

Navarathry begins on, September 19th

Saraswathy pooja or Navami : 27.9.09

Vijayadasami day: 28.9.09