Navratri 2022
- How Is Navratri Celebrated In Different Parts of India?
- The NINE DEVIS of NAVRATRI
- 9 Flowers that are auspicious for the 9 Devis of Navratri.....
- THE 9 COLOURS OF NAVRATRI
- Navratri Rangolis – 2022
- Navratri - Recipes
- NAVRATRI – ART
- The Reason behind celebrating Sarawati Puja..
- Objectives behind celebrating Dussera
In North India, Navratri is seen as the victory of Lord Rama over the evil king Ravana. Figurines of Ravana and his younger brother (Kumbakharna) are burnt to celebrate the triumph of good over evil (this year it will typically be done on October 5th). For nine days, pujas, yagnas, dancing, and more are all done. Giving gifts on Navratri is very common in Northern India. For example, sweets, house decor, and clothes are given to people.
In South India, Navratri is a time to invite friends to look at the “Golu.” Golu dolls are small dolls and sculptures, and golu is a display of these figurines and usually has nine steps. It is very beautiful to look at; at times, they narrate a story in Hinduism. They also have the goddesses Saraswathi, Lakshmi, and Parvati on the golu. In Karnataka, Navratri is known as Dasari, and Yakshagana (a traditional theater form that features stories from the Puranas – religious Hindu texts) is performed over the course of the nine nights of the festival. The worship of instruments, also known as Ayudha Puja, is done in numerous parts of South India (this year, it will be on October 4th). Books, musical instruments, cars, and much more are worshiped in celebration of Goddess Saraswathi.
Courtesy: Google Images
In East India, the last five days of Navratri celebrate Goddess Durga. She is shown riding on a lion (signifying power and “dharma” – righteousness) and holding numerous weapons in her hands (symbolizing the necessity for us to fight our inner demons). Life-size clay idols of Goddess Durga will be created this year on Durgashtami (which will be October 3rd this year). Bengali saris are also worn during this time by women, and they are very exquisite.
In West India, there are numerous ways to celebrate Navratri. In Gujarat, Garba and Dandiya are danced. Garba is graceful, and women dance around a pot with a lamp inside (which symbolizes life inside of a womb, since Garba means womb). Dandiya is a form of dance where men and women in pairs hold sticks known as dandiyas (which have a small bell tied to the end so that when the sticks hit each other, they make a sound). It begins slowly but progresses into an incredibly fast dance. The complex part? It might be individually practiced, but you must work with your partner to hit the dandiyas together at the right time. These dances are very unique to the culture and to the celebration of Navratri in this region.
Courtesy: Google Images
Works Cited:
https://www.artofliving.org/navratri/different-ways-of-celebrating-navratri-across-india
By: Ahana Raghavan
For Gurukulam The Shloka Learning Centre
Maa Shailaputri is one of the avatars of Durga devi and she is celebrated on the first day of Navratri. People worship her wearing yellow dress with the flower Hibiscus. Though she loves yellow, she generally draped in grey saree. She is known as the most powerful form of goddess Durga.
Maa Brahmacharini is worshiped with the flower Jasmine and her saree colour is orange. She is the second form of Maa Durga. People worship her wearing green colour attires. She is mostly offered sugar from her devotees.
Maa Chandraghanta is commonly known for her positivity and is worshiped on the third day. The flower she admires the most is Lotus. She draped with white saree which represents peace and brave. She is offered kheer, prasad etc. Her speciality is internal strength.
Maa Kushmanda’s favourite flower is Jasmine. She is the fourth avatar of maa Durga. She’s offered halwa, curd and her dress colour’s red. But her devotees wear orange attires. She is known for her silent smile.
We are blessed by Maa Skandamata on the fifth day of Navratri. Her cherished flower is a Lotus and she draped in blue saree and devotees will wear white to worship her. She is the mother of Skanda and is offered some bananas. She blesses her devotees with salvation and power.
Maa Katyayani blesses us with intelligence and power. She is dressed in yellow attire on the sixth day. She is offered coconut, rice ,honey etc. She is also known as ‘The Slayer of demon Mahishasura’.
Maa Kaalratri is the goddess who killed Shumbha, Nishumbha and a few more demons and grant devotees with freedom and happiness. Her offerings are jaggery and water. She adorned with a green saree on the seventh day and devotees will wear blue to worship her.
Maa Mahagauri’s worshipped on eighth day, draped in peacock green. Her offerings are poori, halwa etc. This is the day where Saraswathi Mata puja is done and all devotees will wear pink on this day. She purifies her devotees’ hearts.
Maa Siddhidathri is the ninth and last form of Navadurgas draped in purple colour saree. She has the power to fulfil any desire. Maha Navami pooja and Kanya pooja has done on this day. She loves the night-blooming jasmine the most.
By – Jaichitra Rajesh, Age 10
For Gurukulam The Shloka Learning Centre
As we know, Navratri, one of the biggest Hindu festivals is just a few days ahead, we are here to tell which flowers you can offer to Goddess Durga.
- Hibiscus : The first day of Navratri is dedicated to Shailaputri, the first form of Goddess Durga. In order to worship Shailaputri, you can offer ghee to the deity along with hibiscus flowers. Shailputri is very fond of these two items.
- Shevanti (Chrysanthemums): The second day of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini. One can worship Goddess Brahmacharini with sweet food and Shevanti flowers. She blesses her devotees with a long, peaceful and pure life.
- Lotus: On the third day of Navratri, the Chandraghanta is worshipped with full rituals and devotion. Offering milk sweets, milk and lotus flowers to the Goddess can bless you with a happy and long life.
- Jasmine: On the fourth day of Navratri, Devi Kushmanda is worshipped by offering Jasmine flowers. Therefore, offering Jasmine flowers to the Goddess can bring you her blessings in the form of intellect, strength and power.
- Yellow Flowers: Skandamata is worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri. Offering her yellow flowers such as yellow rose can bring god luck and peace in your life. To keep problems at bay, you can offer her bananas along with the flowers as a part of the rituals. This will help you in gaining her blessings in the form of health and a life full of contentment.
- Marigold: Marigolds are favourite flowers of the Katyayani form of Goddess Durga. In case, if you are unable to find marigold flowers, then you can also offer yellow jasmine to Goddess Katyayani along with honey as her bhog.
- Krishna Kamal (Passiflora): Kalaratri is the seventh form of Goddess Durga and offering Krishna Kamal flowers to this deity can help you in seeking her blessings. You can also offer jaggery as a bhog to the deity to become fearless and stress-free in your life.
- Mogra (Arabian Jasmine): On the eighth day of Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshipped in her Mahagauri form. Devotees should worship Mahagauri by offering her mogra flowers, also known as Arabian Jasmine.
- Champa: Goddess Siddhidhatri, the ninth manifestation of Goddess Durga blesses her devotees with divine knowledge, energy, strength and wisdom. She is fond of Champa flowers and therefore, offering these flowers to the Goddess can be fruitful for you.
——–It is not that you can’t worship the Goddess if you don’t have the above-mentioned flowers. It’s just that the Goddess is fond of these flowers and thus offering these can benefit you in many ways———
By – SIRIGOWRI
For Gurukulam the Shloka Learning Centre
Navratri is a nine-day Hindu celebration, each day hasits own special colour which represents an avatar of Durga. Here is the information you need to know about the nine days of Navratri.
DAY 1
On the first day of Navratri we pray to goddess Shaliputri. The colour of this day is orange and the significance is energy, happiness and sacrifice.
DAY 2
On the second day of Navratri we worship Bramhacharini who represents the colour white and signifies purity, peace, and innocence.
DAY 3
On the third day we pray to Goddess Chanraghanta who represents the colour red and signifies fierceness and beauty.
DAY 4
On the fourth day we worship Goddess Kushmanda who symbolises the colour royal blue and signifies health and wealth.
DAY 5
On the fifth day we pray to Goddess Skandmata who represents the colour yellow and signifies joy, happiness and brightness
DAY 6
On the sixth day of Navaratri we pray to Goddess Katyayan symbolises the colour green and signifies new beginnings and growth.
DAY 7
On day seven we pray to Goddess Kalaratri who represents the colour grey and signifies good deeds and destroyer of all bad deeds.
DAY 8
On day eight we welcome Goddess Mahagauri who represesent the colour purple and signifies peace, suffer relief.
DAY 9
Last but not least is day 9 where we worship Goddess Sidhidatri who represents the colour peacock green and signifies supernatural power meditative ability and awarder.
By – Vamika Ramamoorthy (9 years old)
For Gurukulam The Shloka Learning Centre
Navratri Rangolis – 2022
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
By – Ayush
For Gurukulam The Shloka Learning Centre
My sister and I love festivals, especially Ganesha Chathurthi.We have heard a lot about Navarathri celebrations, though we do not celebrate it at our home.
We enjoy the Dasara holidays that we get during Navratri festival. My mom has told us about the Navratri festival and last year we even wrote about Goddesses that we pray to during the festivals at Gurukulam. During this time, we learnt about specialities and various poojas performed during Navratri.
Though we do not keep Golu at home, my mom makes different kinds of Sundal and she gives us to munch as an evening snack. She says it’s a healthy snack and should be eaten during the festival. So I took her help to get the recipes of nine different Sundal to share it here this time.
Green peas sundal:
Ingredients :
1 Cup dried Green peas –Mustard – Curry leaves – Urad dal for tempering – Grated coconut – Sundal mix powder – Salt to taste
Method –
- Soak the Dried Green peas overnight
- Pressure cook for 2-3 whistles with water added to green peas just as much immersed and with salt.
- Drain the excess water.
- In a pan for tempering, add some Oil, mustard seeds to splutter, add urad dal, and then curry leaves.
- Add the cooked green peas , and then add the Sundal mix powder, grated coconut and saute for a couple of minutes.
Green peas Sundal is ready to be served.
Green gram sundal:
Ingredients :
1 Cup dried Green Green gram – Mustard – Curry leaves –
Urad dal for tempering – Grated coconut – Jaggery powder 4
TBSP – Salt to taste
Method –
- Soak the Dried Green gram overnight
- Pressure cook for 1 whistle with water added to green gram just as much immersed.
- Drain the excess water.
- Add the cooked green Gram in a pan,add jaggery powder, add in grated coconut , cardamom and saute for a couple of minutes.
- In a pan for tempering, add some Oil, mustard seeds to splutter, add urad dal, and then curry leaves. Add this mix to the Green gram.
Green gram sweet Sundal is ready to be served.
White Channa sundal
Ingredients –
1 Cup Channa (Kondai kadalai )- Mustard – Curry leaves – Urad dal for tempering – Grated coconut – Sundal mix powder – Salt to taste
Method –
- Soak the Channa overnight.
- Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles with water added to Channa just as much immersed and with salt.
- Drain the excess water.
- In a pan for tempering, add some Oil, mustard seeds to splutter, add urad dal, and then curry leaves.
- Add the cooked Channa , and then add the Sundal mix powder, grated coconut and saute for a couple of minutes.
White Channa Sundal is ready to be served.
Sweet corn sundal
Ingredients –
1 Cup Sweet corn – Mustard – Curry leaves – Urad dal for
Tempering – Grated coconut – Sundal mix powder – Salt to
Taste
Method –
- Pressure cook the sweet corn for 4-5 whistles with water and with salt.
- Drain the excess water.
- In a pan for tempering, add some Oil, mustard seeds to
splutter, add urad dal, and then curry leaves.
- Add the cooked and separated sweet corn kernels , and then add the Sundal mix powder, grated coconut and saute for a couple of minutes.
Sweet corn Sundal is ready to be served.
Kara mani sundal
Ingredients –
1 Cup Kara Mani – Mustard – Curry leaves – Urad dal for tempering- – Grated coconut and carrot – ¼ cup together
Sundal mix powder – Salt to taste
Method –
- Soak the Kara Mani overnight.
- Pressure cook for 2 whistles with water added to Kara mani just as much immersed and with salt.
- Drain the excess water.
- In a pan for tempering, add some Oil, mustard seeds to splutter, add urad dal, and then curry leaves.
- Add the cooked kara mani , and then add the Sundal mix powder, grated coconut , carrot and saute for a couple of minutes.
Kara mani Sundal is ready to be served.
White cowpeas sundal
Ingredients –
Cup White Cowpeas – Mustard – Curry leaves – Urad dal for tempering – Grated coconut and carrot – ¼ cup together
Sundal mix powder – Salt to taste
Method –
- Soak the White cowpeas overnight.
- Pressure cook for 2 whistles with water added to cowpeas just as much immersed and with salt.
- Drain the excess water.
- In a pan for tempering, add some Oil, mustard seeds to splutter, add urad dal, and then curry leaves.
- Add the cooked cowpeas, and then add the Sundal mix powder, grated coconut , carrot and saute for a couple of minutes.
White cowpeas Sundal is ready to be served.
Black Channa sundal
Ingredients –
Cup Channa (Black Kondai kadalai ) – Mustard – Curry leaves – Urad dal for tempering – Grated coconut Sundal mix powder – Salt to taste
Method –
- Soak the Channa overnight.
- Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles with water added to Channa just as much immersed and with salt.
- Drain the excess water.
- In a pan for tempering, add some Oil, mustard seeds to splutter, add urad dal, and then curry leaves.
- Add the cooked Channa , and then add the Sundal mix powder, grated coconut and saute for a couple of minutes.
Black Channa Sundal is ready to be served.
Rajma sundal
Ingredients –
1 Cup Rajma – Mustard – Curry leaves – Urad dal for tempering – Grated coconut – Salt to taste
Method –
- Soak the Rajma overnight.
- Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles with water added to Rajma just as much immersed and with salt.
- Drain the excess water.
- In a pan for tempering, add some Oil, mustard seeds to splutter, add urad dal, and then curry leaves.
- Add the cooked Rajma , add the grated coconut and saute for a couple of minutes.
Rajma Sundal is ready to be served.
Moong dal sundal
Ingredients –
1 Cup Moong Dal – Mustard – Curry leaves – Urad dal for tempering – Grated coconut – Salt to taste
Method –
- Soak the Moong dal for 3-4 hours
- Cook them on the stove with water and salt until Moong dal gets soft but not too soft.
- Drain the excess water.
- Wash with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a pan for tempering, add some Oil, mustard seeds to splutter, add urad dal, and then curry leaves.
- Add the cooked Moong dal , add the grated coconut and saute for a couple of minutes.
Moong dal Sundal is ready to be served.
*Sundal Mix powder:
1 Tbsp Urad dal, 1Tbsp Jeera, 2 Big red chillie. Dry roast and grind to powder.
You can double/triple or adjust the spice level.
By – Harshini and Joshini
For Gurukulam The Shloka Learning Centre
By – Tejas
For Gurukulam The Shloka Learning Centre
Goddess Saraswati is the Goddess of all learning, wisdom, and speech. She is also the Goddess of the Vedas, scriptures and the arts.
Goddess Saraswati is depicted as a beautiful and modest woman dressed in pure white saree with a calm and soothing face which signifies the purity of knowledge. She is depicted with four arms, playing a Veena while sitting on a blossomed white lotus flower. She holds a rosary and a book in two of Her hands. In most images a swan and a peacock accompany Her.
The book in the rear left hand is Vedas, which is the earliest sacred book in Hinduism.By holding Vedas in her hand, it suggests that Saraswati holds all knowledge in her hands.
The mala in Saraswati rear right hand signifies concentration, meditation, and contemplation that required for gaining union with God.
In her front hands, Saraswati plays a musical instrument called Veena. Veena is a string instrument. By playing Veena, it shows that Saraswati is the Goddess of arts, crafts and technology.
Goddess Saraswati usually uses a swan as her vehicle. It is said that the sacred swan has a sensitive beak that enables it to distinguish milk from a mixture of milk and water. And this symbolizes the power to discriminate between good and bad.
Saraswati Puja
Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of wisdom and knowledge, is worshipped on following two occasions in the year and both are known as Saraswati Puja.
- Vasant Panchami during Magh Panchami in Hindu Calendar (January/February)
This is more popular in West Bengal, Orissa and North Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh.
- Sharad Navratri during Ashwin month in Hindu Calendar (September/October)
This is more popular in South Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Here, wee focus more on Saraswati Puja during Navratri.
Adi Sakthi manifested as the Goddesses Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. The festival of Navratri honours these three Goddesses to get their blessings.
The last three days of Navratri are for the worship of Goddess Saraswati. During Navaratri, on Mahasaptami, she is worshipped in the form of a book. Through the Mantra “Om Aim SaraswatyaiSwaha”, one can connect with her and excel in the arts and sciences.
In Tamil Nadu, On the 9th day (Navami day), Saraswati puja is performed when special prayers are offered to Goddess Saraswati. Books, stationeries and musical instruments are placed in the puja pedestal and worshipped. Also, all sorts of tools are placed for the Ayudh puja. Puja performed for them on this occasion.
Students can pray to her for their success in acquiring knowledge in arts and science.Goddess Saraswati bestows right knowledge and right thinking. She helps us to do good deeds and thereby refine our base nature.
Saraswati Puja pleases the Goddess who blesses us with the treasures of knowledge and wisdom as well as proficiency in the arts.
She grants success in academics, craftsmanship and all creative endeavours.
By – Dhiya Singaravelan
Age: 9
For Gurukulam The Shloka Learning Centre
Dussera, also called Dasara or Vijayadashami, is a Hindu festival. Dussera is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Ashvina (September–October), the seventh month of the Hindu calendar, with the appearance of the full moon, an event called the “bright fortnight” (shukla paksha).
The festival symbolizes victory of good over evil i.e. Dharma (good) prevailing over Adharma (evil).
The eastern and southern states of India celebrate Dussera as the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil demon Mahishasura.
On the other hand, most northern and western states of India celebrate Dussera as Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. The festival’s name is derived from the Sanskrit words dasha (“ten”) and hara (“defeat”).
On Dussera, towering effigies of demon King Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghanad (symbolic of evil) are burnt down with fireworks thus reminding onlookers that no matter what, Good always wins over Evil. It was on the same day that Arjuna wiped out the Kuru clan, including great warriors like Bhisma, Drona, Karna, Ashwathama, on his own in the battle of Kurushetra in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
Another reference suggests this festival reminds mankind of divinity, purity and wisdom passed down by sages. The sages have taught us that good forces (Devas) combat the forces of evil (Asuras). We have to believe in Mahashakti, that protects the universe against all bad qualities and evil in mankind like arrogance, bad thoughts and untruth.
Dussera is considered as an auspicious day for starting new businesses and education.
(Image reference – Google images)
References
- https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/dussehra-festival-1570456151-1
- https://www.seniority.in/blog/significance-of-dussehra-celebration-in-india/
- https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Spiritual/2018-10-05/Purpose-of-Dashara-Or-Dasara/419289
- Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia (2022, September 5). Dussehra. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dussehra
By – Adhvik Nair (7 years) ,Mumbai
For Gurukulam The Shloka Learning Centre
