The most widely celebrated 9-day long Hindu festival, Navratri is celebrated to honour the goddess Durga. This festival holds great significance among people as it is associated with the blessings of Goddess Durga, which represents Shakti, the cosmic energy that animates all beings. Navratri is celebrated in four seasons but the one follows the season of autumn is considered as the most auspicious of all and it also marks the beginning of the festive season. This is also the time when Maa Durge is getting ready to enchant the Pink City in her aura. But do you know what are the 5 essentials of Navratri festival?
Let’s have a look-
Fresh Start– Navratri brings a new zeal with itself and there is a wave of new beginnings all around. Be it a new business, new home, a new car or furnishing, transforming into a new self, starting a healthy lifestyle or starting a new relation, we all wait for this time cause we know to embark on a fresh new journey with the blessings of Maa Durga will turn into a success.
Faith– Of all the stories from folklore, there’s one thing in common- the victory of good from the evil which is why we celebrate Navratri. It’s that time of the year when we finally start visiting the temples quite often to seek the blessings. It’s this time of the year when every Jaipurite takes out some time to visit Amer’s Shila Mata temple. On all these nine-day Navratra festival the Shila Devi temple at Amer Fort holds special significance. Thousands of people from Jaipur and surrounding areas come here to pay offerings to Shila Devi. It is said that Maharaja Mansingh of Jaipur brought the statue of the goddess Shila Mata from Jessore “Bangladesh” in 1604 and till date the idol is placed here and worshipped.
Fasting– We believe that fasting during Navratra is a way to get spiritually closer to the almighty. There are no fasting rules, everyone has its own reason to fast. Some fast for o it for faith, some to meet out their weight loss goals and few do it for de-toxication. Whatever your reason is fasting is something that we all believe in.
Feasting- While some people fast, some people eat all the Falahari delight during Navratra. From fruit- chaat to Saabudana Khichdi and Kuttu Ki Puri we keep all the sweet to salty options at hand. The festive season brings a new enthusiasm for the people who are fasting and who is not.
Fun Unlimited- An how can we miss the ultimate fun. People get into the mode of festivity in full swing. Adorned in glittery Gujarati and Rajasthani lehengas, playing Garba with friends, is all fun and exciting and the most vivid sight of this entire festival. Thousands of Jaipurites of all age groups can be seen stepping together on the beats of Garba & Dandiya music in many places around the city.
So, if you are in Jaipur during this season you are lucky enough to explore the city in its own uniqueness 🙂
Happy Navratri to you all!
Jaipur Beat 