NAVARATRI AND VIJAYADASAMI

NAVARATRI

Navaratri puja (nine night’s worship) is done to goddess Durga. Though this is observed throughout India, it is more prominent in North India than anywhere else.

As in the Vedas, the Nine nights’ worship is to be made in the seasons of spring and autumn. These two seasons are called Kaladamstras (the tusks of seasons). Diseases and deaths occur in these seasons in excess, and so it is ordained that this fast and worship should be conducted in the months of Medam (Mesa) and Tulam.

Vyasa has ordered that Navaratri worship should be conducted as follows. The thing necessary for the worship and oblations should be collected on the new moon day. Only clarified butter could be eaten on that day. An open temple should be erected with pillars and flag-posts in an open flat place which is pure. It will be good if the shed has a circumference of sixteen cubits. There should be sixteen pillars. The shed should be floored with the mixture of cow dung and white clay. In the middle of the shed there must be a dais having a height of one cubit and circumference of four cubits. This is the place for the seat. The shed and the dais should be decorated.

The throne placed on the dais must be covered with white silk and Devi (goddess) Durga should be consecrated on it. A calm Brahmin should chant the Vedic mantras and at that time the worship of the goddess should begin. This worship will continue for nine days.

Another ritual of this ‘navaratripuja’ is the worship of virgins which is called Kumaripuja.

VIJAYADASAMI

As this festival is celebrated for nine nights from the 1^st to the 9^th in the bright lunar fortnight of the month of Kanni (September-October) it is known as Navaratri (Nine nights) and as it continues up to Dasami (the tenth night) it is called Dasra.

The Hindus believe that the Vijayadasami (the victorious tenth) was the day on which Devi Durga killed Mahisasura and got victory. So this day is considered to be a suitable moment to begin the learning of all the arts which would enable one to carry on a successful life.

Dussehra or Dasra or Vijaya-Dasami is a festival celebrated every where in India. And it literally means ‘the tenth day of Puja which indicates victory over evils’.

Now, Saraswati is considered the transfiguration of Durga (especially in South India). As people became less superstitions, they began to consider the story of killing Mahisasura as a metaphorical saying, to mean the killing of ignorance.

So the day of victory of Devi Durga (the same as Saraswati) is considered to be the auspicious moment for the beginning of learning.

The warrior places his weapons, the man of literature his books and pen, the musician his musical instruments (like harmonium, tabla, tanpura, sitar, flute etc.), at the feet of Devi Durga and with devotion and worship, and receives them back from Devi on the Vijayadasami day at an auspicious moment.

In several native states this festival used to be celebrated under the sponsorship of the royal family as a state festival. As it is believed that Mahisasura had lived in Mysore the celebration of the Dasra in that state generally is on the grand scale. In Kerala, from olden times this festival was celebrated under the patronage on the Vanci (বাঞ্চি) Royal family.