Navaratri
or the ‘Festival of nights’, is celebrated
to honour Goddesses beginning on the 9th day of the
Virgo or Kanya(Hindu Calendar). Total worship lasts
for 9 nights 10 days, out of which the first 3 are devoted
to Durga( the Goddess of power), the next 3 to the Laxmi(the
Goddess of Wealth) and the final 3 to Saraswati(the
Goddess of Knowledge).
The idols of the
Goddesses are created, worshipped and then immersed
in the sea or a lake. On the 10th day the elders put
red tika(mixture of rice grains, yogurt and vermilion
powder) on the forehead of the young ones. Along with
juniors also receive jamara ( barley sapling) from the
elders. Jamara is planted on the first day of the 10
days of Dashain, in the prayer room of house holds celebrating
Dashain.
Dashain is the
celebration of the victory of Goddess Durga(Kali) over
the demon in the form of buffalo named Mahishasura.
It took the Goddess 9 days and nights to annihilate
the demon. Dashain is another name for Navaratri festival
which is celebrated all across Nepal and some states
of India as well.
Dashain
is also celebrated as the victory of Lord Rama over
the 10 headed Demon King Ravana of Sri Lanka. Rama symbolizes
the best in humanity while Ravana represents evil forces.
Dashain in Sanskrit also means taking away 10 sins.
The 10 heads of Ravana represent these 10 sins and Rama
destroyed each one of them.
|
