butterflyuk

Last year I mentioned a Hindu Nine Day Dancing festival when I saw an English lady who was all done up in the Indian costume travelling on the train to go to the festival. This year the festival has started already. Unfortunately I haven’t found anyone to go with till now but two lots of friends are going with me tomorrow and the day after. Cool. If it was up to me I would go every day. I love dancing and I love meeting people.

It is called Navratri. Navratri means nine nights. It is a nine nights’ festival of worship, dance and music. It is celebrated to worship Goddess Durga who is believed to exist in many forms. People think Hindus have many Gods. I don’t believe that is correct. God is one but there are many different forms, reincarnations of the God. The different Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism represent different times, different functions and different reasons, different manifestations of the one Supreme power called God.  People also have a misunderstanding that women are given insignificant place in the East. To the contrary Hinduism recognizes that Divine entity contains both masculine and feminine attributes. Therefore without giving proper honour to the female the religion is incomplete and hence there are Gods and Goddesses.

These Nine days are divided into three parts and are devoted to Durga (Goddess of Valour), Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth and Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge).

Over the nine days all over Gujarat, the state in the North West, in the street, in the social groups, in schools, specially arranged halls, in temples or even in houses Garbas are played.

Garbo is a name given to a particular dance originated in Gujarat state of India. Garbo is also a name given to the round earthen pot normally used to carry water but in Navratri the pot is made having holes all around it. Candles made of cotton buds and Ghee (clarified butter/oil) are lit inside the pot which gives light through the holes. It portrays the human body with inner light of God within. This Garbo pot is put in the centre and the ladies dance around it. This indicates the never-ending cycle of life according to Hindu religion - that is creation, maintenance and destruction.

There is another dance which is performed by using two sticks and that is called Raas or Dandya. That is performed in a pair and at all levels of society by men and women. This dance is associated with Lord Krishna and also with the harvest and crops – the agricultural functions.

It is said that over the nine days different forms of the Goddess killed the evil men

On the tenth day of the festival, Vijya dasmi or Dassera, effigies of Ravana is burnt to signify the victory of Lord Rama or winning of good over evil. Dassera is also believed to be auspicious for launching new activities or beginning of learning.

People also observe fasting over these days.

Well I will not be fasting but I will definitely enjoy the dancing. Next year I will plan to spend these days in India so that I can experience the festival completely.