Navratri celebration

What is the story of Navratri?

In ancient time there was a demon named Mahishasur( Buffalo demon) who was undefeated by many gods and goddesses. So all the gods and goddesses prayed to goddess Durga for 9 days. As she has 9 different forms and all of them have some special powers. On the last day(9th day) goddess was happy and appeared in front of them and agreed to fight Mahishasur. On the 10th day, the goddess fought against him and killed the demon. ( So according to my grandmother if one does pooja during Navratri their wish will be granted).

On the 10th day of Durga pooja (Navratri), Lord Ram defeated Ravan and killed him. It's a symbol of victory of good over evil. To celebrate that every year people do Ravan dehen(burning of demon) in the northern part of India.

Why is Navratri celebrated?

Festival of Navratri is full of lights, joy and festivity. Hindus celebrate this with devotion and enthusiasm throughout India. The celebration is carried on for around 9 days.

It means nine nights and so the tenth day Goddess Durga, who is worshipped throughout the nine days, is immersed in holy water after pooja. Each and everyday has its importance and meaning. People worship Goddess in three forms and try to enhance their physical, mental and spiritual practice in these nine days.

Navratri festival is celebrated twice a year, though the one that is celebrated in September or October is well-known and celebrated with extreme passion and fervour.

Some Hindus believe that every night one form of Goddess is worshipped while some believe that three forms of Goddess are worshipped and they are the trinity of God. The celebration varies from one state to another although the dedication and devotion remains the same all over India.

Why do people fast on Navratri?

NAVRATRI SPECIAL :

Navratri special: Navratri is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated twice in a year.

In the eastern state of West Bengal, the festival takes the shape of Durga Puja, when the devotees of the deity celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

In north India, Maharashtra and Gujarat, people observe a seven day fast during Navratri and break their fast on Navami ,the nine day of the festival by worship young girls.

On the festive occasion of Navratri, fast is observed by people for seven or eight days, depending upon when they want to conduct the Kanchika Pujan ,when young girls are worshiped.

People from all over the world celebrate Navratri special with passion, intensity and enthusiasm. While some people take participate in the celebrations for religious reasons but others look to give their body a much needed lose weight.

If you plan to fast this Navratri special then make sure that it is done the healthy way. It can help you lose weight, wash your mind and will leave you feeling great!

Many Tips to follow to make fasting in good health –
1. Keep yourself happy, making your cheeks rosy and eyes bright. Drink lots of water max to max 2 litter par day and liquid like lemon water, coconut water, Energy drink, green tea, and buttermilk.

2. Eat minimum meals and do not get hungry yourself. This will help keep blood sugar levels and stop you from feeling faint and low.

3. Amaranth , one of the most promising unexploited food and folder crops. It is the best protein origin you can take during fasting. Make amaranth porridge with milk or cook it asnamkeen dalia with lots of vegetables.

4. Combine high carbohydrates food like sabudana and potetos which is mostly used in fasting with other stringy vegetables like bottle guard spinach, capsicum, tomatoes, cabbage, etc. Also try to roast, grill or bake vegetables instead of deep-frying them.

5. Samak rice are very easy to digest and can be applied in any kind of quantity.

6. Control those evil sugar strong desire by eating a lot of dates, samak rice kheer, apple kheer and fruits raita.

7. Try and eat healthy snacking and don’t overeat onnamkeens packets as they are high in salt and fat content.

8. Instead, pick for roasted makhana, mix of nuts like almonds/ raisins/ walnut / baked chips, roasted peanuts, etc.

9. Change sugar with honey or jaggery.

10. Use skimmed milk instead of full cream milk.

The well-balanced Diat you can have during fasting:-
1.) Breakfast options (choose any one) –

Fruits shake with wet almonds

Fruits with cream off milk
Amaranth porridge with nuts

2.) Mid-morning options (choose any one) –

Green tea with water
Lemon water with fruits
Coconut water with fruits

3.) Lunch options (choose any one) –

Baked sabudana tikkis with veggies and curd

Grilled Vadas with mint spicy chutney
Kuttu chapatti with vegetables and salad with raita
Samak rice with vegetables and salad

4.) Post Lunch –

Drink a cup of hot green tea

5.) Evening time –

Green tea with baked chips or roasted makhana or baked namkeen
6.) Dinner (choose any one) –

Paneer tikka with vegetables
Milk with fruits
A bowl of vegetables and salad

Pumpkin and bottle gourd soup with vegetables

Here is the collection of Farali recipes which you can have during fasting.All fruits and foodstuff made of fruits are eaten during the seven days.The devotees, who have took fast, would get up early in the morning, take bath and worship to the maa durga.

People follow a specific diet for Navratri special, if they haven’t observed a nirahar means water-less fast. Special in Gujarati people may not eat onion, garlic, wheat, rice, vegetables etc.

They take beverages like tea, coffee and milk, on Navratri. Dishes made of sago, potato and Singhare ka atta ,kuttu ka atta is generally consumed by the people, when they observe fast on Navratri.

Sendha namak as rock salt is used instead of common salt, for cooking on the festival. All fruits and foodstuff made of fruits are eaten during the seven days.

Here is the Gujrati farali recipes..

• Sabudana Khichdi
• Mandvi Paak
• Singhoda ni Kheer
• Moriyaani Khichadi
• Dudhi no halvo
• Suran Bataka ni khichadi
• Potato Rosti
• Potato Wafers
• Farali Batata vada

South indian navaratri festival recipes..

• Medu Vada
• Rice Payasam
• Carrot Payasam
• Lemon Rice
• Besan Ladoo
• Vermiceli Kheer
• Udipi Sambar
• Drumstick Rasam
• Idli recipe

Why colors of 9 days in navratri changes every year?

1st Day - Yellow color to represent personification of Goddess Shailaputri.

2nd Day - Green color to represent personification of Goddess Brahmacharani

3rd Day - Grey color to represent personification of Goddess Chandraghanta

4th Day - Orange color to represent personification of Goddess Kushmanda

5th Day - White color to represent personification of Goddess Skandamata

6th Day - Red color to represent personification of Goddess Katyayani

7th Day - Royal Blue color to represent personification of Goddess Kali

8th Day - Pink color to represent personification of Goddess Mahagauri

9th Day - Purple color to represent personification of Goddess Siddhidatri

Colors will remain same but the order of the color changes, the order varies depending on the day Navratri fall.

What makes Navratri festival special?

Dresses During Navratri

People tend to wear traditional dresses during the Navratri season. In Gujarat and western part of India, play Garba and dandiya.

Wearing traditional dresses like Chaniya Choli which are available extensively in the market during these days. In Bengal, do Durga Puja with wearing traditional Bengali Saree.

Now day’s people, especially youths tend to celebrate the festival by wearing nine different colors on nine days. Since each nine-day signifies a different form of Goddess Durga.

Above are the colors that can be worn during Navratri season reflecting each form of Goddess.

What are the best gifts for Navratri?

Navratri signifies the worship of Goddess Durga, The prominent story associated with Navratri is the battle that took place between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. Which culminates in the fight of good over evil. Dasshera/Navratri is also the time when Rama kills Ravana and is widely believed that the fight happens during these ten days. Hence Ram Leela(the traditional performance of Ramayana) celebrations happen during this time. We bring to you the most amazing and unique gifts to be shared with your loved ones during Navratri.

This year Navratri begins on 10th October 2018 and ends on 18th October 2018.

Each state in India celebrates Navratri-the nine sacred nights in its own way. The festivities begin well in advance. Durga Puja is the most popular festival in West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar. While the rituals entail ten days of fast, feast and worship. It is also a time for a reunion, rejuvenation and to celebrate traditions and customs. The celebration begins with the installation of Pandals, lighting and clay figurines of Goddess Durga. A vast range of craftsmanship goes into making the Durga puja a grand success. One cannot miss a trip to Kolkatta during Durga puja.

Gujrat celebrates Navratri with the sounds of Dandiya sticks and dhol which is heard all the nine days. Traditional dances like Dandiya and Garbha is performed in the evening by men, women, and children.

You are invited to a Garbha/Dandia night and you are wondering what to wear??.. Look no further. Chaniya choli or ghagra choli is just the perfect dress for the occasion for Ladies and girls. Kurta pajama for the men and boys.

These dresses are heavily embellished with mirrors, beads, shells, etc. It is one perfect attire for girls to get dressed on Navratri. Wear traditional chuddas, necklaces, nose ring, or a kamarbandh, with the chaniya choli for the perfect attire.

Kamarbandh

Gurjari is a renowned brand for oxidized jewelry. Kamarbandh or a waist chain goes well with your chaniya choli.

Bangles :

This ornate bangles set by Bindhani is the right pick for you when you would like to dress up for Dandiya or garbha dance.

Navratri golu:

Just like other states Tamilnadu, Karnataka, and Andhra have their unique way of celebrating Navaratri

The Navratri golu/Gombe habba is decorated by constructing wide tiers or steps in even number, greatest being seven. Variety of dolls get displayed artistically and arranged beautifully on the steps.

Golu festival lasts for nine days with arti, prayers Prasad daily in the mornings and evenings. During these nine days, women get invited and offered haldi kumkum with betel leaves, nuts, and fruits. The women along with their daughters dress in their ethnic best to visit relatives and friends who have Golu at their homes. Visit us at https://www.giftingtrends.net/pr... for further ideas.

Dasavataram :

The Golu today has grown to be something more of just dolls being collected lovingly over the years and being transferred through generations. It has become a nice platform for a novel interpretation of Indian Mythology, day-to-day life, and other interesting themes. The dasavataram dolls are made of clay and painted with natural dyes.

Fruit and coconut

Return gifts :

Gifts would be a part of the kolu ceremony, where young girls would be given sweets and snacks along with some knick-knacks. They would be simple gifts like hair bands, hair clips, pencils, and pens or small bags to all the kids who come for the kolu. Given below are some beautiful potli bags and drawstring jute pouches. We can add some gifts in them for giveaways.

Let’s celebrate Navratri is a lovely book authored by Ajanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar. It is a great book to teach our kids about Indian culture and its diversity. It explains 3 different Navratri traditions from Bengali, Gujarati to Tamil.

Kids will learn about history, food, language and cultural elements of Navratri… all while making new best friends!

Would highly recommend this book for return gifts during Navratri.