Powerful, feminine, graceful, maternal, wise, life-giving and indomitable —the many forms of Goddess Durga that are worshipped during Navratri are essentially a celebration of womanhood in all its glory. And young Hyderabadi women who look forward to this veneration of all things feminine every year, talk about how Dasara holds a special significance in their lives.
Pallavi Dharamsey, a banker, says, “Only a woman is capable of having so many facets to her nature. Apart from being a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, it is also a tribute to the various forms of the goddess. We usually celebrate the festival by playing garba and dandiya. Not only is that a way to invoke the Goddess, but it is also great fun.”
Anju Rajan, a young scientific researcher, couldn’t agree more. “In South India, three days each are dedicated to Durga (shakti), Lakshmi (prosperity) and Saraswati (knowledge). These are the most important elements in a person’s life, and these nine days are dedicated specifically to invoke these three elements in one’s life,” she says.
For the Bengali community, for whom this five-day festival takes root in the worship of nature and womanhood, it is all about celebrating the shakti incarnation of the Goddess, signifying the final triumph of good over evil. Suhita Banerjee, a business management student, says, “It is one festival that brings the whole community together to celebrate the essence of womanhood. I personally love the ritual of sindur khela that takes place on dashami (tenth day). The ritual is essentially for married women, who celebrate their marital life by sharing their happiness with the Goddess. Women play with sindoor (vermillion) after offering it to Goddess Durga. This is done just before the immersion.”
The Goddess in her myriad forms is worshipped by women in the South with much fervour. The Bathukamma festival celebrated as part of Dasara in AP is an all-woman affair too. Vyshnavi Pamidighantam, a law student, says, “When Saraswati is worshipped, we wear everything in white. On another day, the theme is blue or green, depending on the form of the Goddess we are worshipping on that day.”
Pallavi Dharamsey, a banker, says, “Only a woman is capable of having so many facets to her nature. Apart from being a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, it is also a tribute to the various forms of the goddess. We usually celebrate the festival by playing garba and dandiya. Not only is that a way to invoke the Goddess, but it is also great fun.”
Anju Rajan, a young scientific researcher, couldn’t agree more. “In South India, three days each are dedicated to Durga (shakti), Lakshmi (prosperity) and Saraswati (knowledge). These are the most important elements in a person’s life, and these nine days are dedicated specifically to invoke these three elements in one’s life,” she says.
For the Bengali community, for whom this five-day festival takes root in the worship of nature and womanhood, it is all about celebrating the shakti incarnation of the Goddess, signifying the final triumph of good over evil. Suhita Banerjee, a business management student, says, “It is one festival that brings the whole community together to celebrate the essence of womanhood. I personally love the ritual of sindur khela that takes place on dashami (tenth day). The ritual is essentially for married women, who celebrate their marital life by sharing their happiness with the Goddess. Women play with sindoor (vermillion) after offering it to Goddess Durga. This is done just before the immersion.”
The Goddess in her myriad forms is worshipped by women in the South with much fervour. The Bathukamma festival celebrated as part of Dasara in AP is an all-woman affair too. Vyshnavi Pamidighantam, a law student, says, “When Saraswati is worshipped, we wear everything in white. On another day, the theme is blue or green, depending on the form of the Goddess we are worshipping on that day.”
Festivals, Navratri, , Indian Festivals,
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