Navratri is the Hindu festival dedicated to nine avatars of goddess Durga. Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandmata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kaalratri, Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri are the divine faces of the shakti (power) avatar ‘Durga’.

When does it fall?

It’s the only festival that falls twice a year. Whenever the winter replaces summer and vice-versa, this festival occurs. Thereby, it is observed near the autumn equinox (September-October) and spring equinox (March-April). In Hindi language, these seasons are known as Ashvin Navratri and Vasant Navratri respectively.             

How do people observe this day?

People celebrate this festival by keeping fast for eight days. The ninth day ends fasting period. All these nine days are dedicated to feminine Devi. Therefore, her nine faces are worshipped with the reverence and traditional method.

The puja-room is cleaned and decorated before the kick-starting of this festival. The worshipper anoints the images of these goddesses with vermillion & rice. Auspicious ‘Anant jyot’ (indefinite flame) is lighted that is kept illuminating for nine days. Many of them sow wheat in their houses. Within eight days, the seeds sprout and turn into seedlings. On the arrival of ninth day, worshippers dedicate them at the temple. Nine small girls and a boy are fed with halwa, poori, and chhole on this day.

Scientific reason behind Navratri celebration:

Have you ever thought why this festival falls on the changing season? It is proven scientifically true that this change influences our immunity system. It goes weak which needs recovery. Therefore, the eight days’ fasting detoxes our body. The toxin gets flushed out of the body when the body does not receive any tamsik food (spicy, non-vegetarian and toxin producing food).

Tamsik food

As said above, tamsik food is the food of the beast. Spices, non-vegetarian, garlic and onion-mixed food produces acid that causes indigestion. This indigestion leads to malfunctioning metabolism. Thereby, various diseases make us bed-ridden.

Conversely, satvik food consists of fruits, dry-fruits, coffee, tea, milk and curd. Intake of these eatables not only satiates hunger pangs but also, removes toxin from the body. Hence, it needs no medication to enhance immunity but to fasting.

Who eats what?

Since fasting is a common custom during Navratri, devotees can keep fasting partially or fully. Those who stay on nine-day fast, they munch on nothing but the food meant for vrat purpose. It includes potato chips, sabudana-kheer, fruit chat, fruits, curd and milk etc. They can have any of them once a day.

But those who prefer to keep it for two or three days, they can have regular meal. It depends on the endurance of the person whether to eat once or twice. But onion and garlic strictly are prohibited during these days.

The rock salt replaces other iodized salt in the food.

What to avoid?

Say no to non-vegetarian food, onion, garlic and alcohol. Their consumption is considered as the food of demon. This kind of food is considered as the breeder of negative approach. Its consumer develops demonic character. The short-temperedness, aggression and arrogance are a few of its negative aspects.

Shaving, cutting or trimming hair and nails are banned during these auspicious days.

Basant Panchami

When the weather takes a leap, changes takes place in the nature. This is exactly what we lovingly call transformation. The nature puts off its old weathered face. Happiness springs out of its every nook.  Trees turn green. Flowers begin to bloom. The birds seem singing the song of joy. Their melodious chirping calls the sleeping seeds to shoot out of the seeds. All in all, the entire nature seems dressed up with multiple coloured flowers and fruits.

When does Basant Panchmi fall? 

Winter says ‘goodbye’ and takes the step back from the fifth day of Magh (Hindi month). It is the very day when Hindus celebrate the festival of crop called Basant Panchmi. ‘Basant’ stands for ‘spring season’ and panchmi identifies the fifth day of Magh. Symbolizing the new beginning, it sends the message to humanity to ‘get back to square one’ and kick-start the new session of life.

Basant Panchmi is no less significant than Ganpati Visarjan. It is dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, i.e. Saraswati. In 2017, 1^st February is the day when this auspicious occasion is celebrated.

Uproot Ignorance: This day marks the end of ignorance. The darkness of illiteracy is likely to get off with the arrival of this season. The time has come for spiritual awakening. This is why people of Bengal celebrate the birthday of goddess ‘Saraswati’- the goddess of knowledge.

How do we celebrate Basant Panchmi?

It’s the most auspicious day for the students. Having taken bath, they kick start their day with the worshipping of this goddess. They drape the goddess with yellow clad. This colour is the apple of her eyes. Therefore, priests and spiritual people prefer to offer her yellow flowers and fruits to appease. In return, they seek the blessing of brilliance, intelligence and bliss.

Teachers distribute stationery, like pen, pencils and new books and copies to the students. Devotees cook ‘yellow halwa’ as the signature dish of this occasion. After Saraswati pooja, the prasadam is distributed among students and devotees.

Pitri Tarpan: This day is significant to perform a hindu ritual called ‘pitri-tarpan’. The heirs worship their ancestors on this day to respect and honour them. They recollect their presence and seek their blessings for smooth going in life.

Kite-Flying: Since ages, Hindus, Muslims & Sikhs get together and cheer the communal harmony.  In Lahore (Pakistan), commoners call it ‘Jashn-e-Bahara’. They fly kites with extreme excitement. But sadly, the government had banned this celebration six years ago. Hopefully, this ban will be lifted up this year.

For Sikhs, it’s special moment to enjoy the birthday bash of the martyr ‘Ram Singh Kuka’. He sacrificed his life for the sake of his countrymen.

Sair-E-Gul Faroshan: This festival glorifies secularism in India. People of various religions assemble for the procession. Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan is the traditional practice that has been in the trend before independence. The crowd in the zeal of this festival spins big fans of marigold flowers. Holding the idol of goddess Saraswati decorated with yellow mustard and marigold flowers and clad, devotees walk through the labyrinthine lanes of Chandni Chawk. The procession ends at Gauri-Shankar temple where the idol is placed. The entire atmosphere echoes with the mesmerizing voice of drums (dhol) and tasha (percussion).

Why do we wear yellow dress on this festival?

The colour ‘Yellow’ signifies knowledge and intellectual energy. Basant demonstrates joy and celebration. Since ages, it has been popularly defines the presence of mighty god in the form of intelligence. However, we haven’t witnessed the true face of god. This day recounts the power of almighty.

Muslims celebrate ‘Sufi Basant’

It’s all in your head if you think Basant Panchmi as the festival of Hindus only. For Muslims, it is the day of ‘Sufi Basant’.  At Ajmer Sharif mosque in Rajasthan, the muslim community also recounts the moment when their beloved saint ‘Nizamuddin Aulia’ cheered.

The death of aulia’s nephew (Taqiuddin Nooh) locked his happiness inside. He lamented profoundly. Abandoning joy, he chose sorrow and used to spend his day & night at the grave of his nephew. On hearing it, his disciple & renowned poet ‘Amir Khusro’ cracked jokes and played pranks to make him laugh. But nothing bothered him.

One day, Aulia walked through the fields where he watched women in yellow cloths. It was the season of spring. Amir Khusro wore yellow ‘ghagra’ and ‘chunni’. Veiling his face, he pretended as a woman and began singing a qawwali “Saka Basant Aayo Ri”. Watching him in the disguise, Aulia burst into rapturous laughter.

This is the reason when Muslims offer yellow mustard and marigold flowers to the Aulia’s dargah.