Nine-Day / Navratra - Worship for Devi Durga in India

[Guest guest]

Apr 1, 2006: The navratras in March-April bring the beginning of

spring and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India.

Ramnavmi or Lord Rama's birthday falls on the 9th day of the bright

fortnight of Chaitra (the months of March-April).

 

The nine-day long "Navratras", regarded as one of the holiest for

people in northern India, commenced here on Thursday, amidst

celebrations in all major temples.

 

Processions and musical programs mark the festival, and they

symbolize the triumph of good over the evil. Commemorated by all in

Northern India, it is celebrated to Goddess Durga and ahead of

Ramnavami, which falls on the last day of "Navratras".

 

"Navratras" have various names and style of celebrations in

different parts of the country. For Bengalis in West Bengal, the

festival is celebrated as "Durga Puja" while in the rest of the

country, it is known as "Navratri".

 

In New Delhi, devotees queued up outside the early in the morning

to pay their obeisance to Goddess Vaishno on the first day. One of

her forms is "Durga", the Goddess of power. Durga stands

for "shakti" or power. In this form the Goddess is depicted as

riding a raging holding weapons in her hands.

 

The devotees said that the festival signifies the worship of

strength.

 

"Navratri is celebrated because it is worship of "shakti" or

strength and also purifies our soul through fasting, and gives a new

direction to our lives," said Mahaveer Prasad Dimri, a priest.

 

In Katra, near Jammu, thousands of people gathered at "Ban Ganga"

temple, which is on the way to the revered hilltop shrine

of "Vaishno Devi". Devotees looked happy with the arrangements made

for the occasion.

 

In Maharashtra, people celebrated the day with "Gudi Padwa"

festivities. Gudi Padwa is considered as Hindu New Year. An

essential part of Gudi Padwa is the specially decorated sticks

called "Gudis", which symbolise nature's bounty.

 

In Mumbai, a huge procession was taken out with wearing traditional

dresses and participating in tableaus.

 

"Today, we are celebrating "Gudi Padwa". This is the first day of

New Year and we pray that the New Year is full of peace and

prosperity. We distribute sweets amongst neighbours," said Anekha

Nirgun, a resident.

 

In Andhra Pradesh, the day is celebrated as "Ugadi". On this day, it

is the practice among the rural folk to eat what is called "Ugadi

Pacchadi" (Ugadi chutney).

 

This chutney is made from Neem (Margosa) , mango juice, honey, sugar

and other ingredients.

 

Chait, the first month of the Hindu, corresponds to March-April of

the Gregorian calendar. The Hindu calendar has 12 months and most of

the months are named after various seasons and astrological signs.

 

SOURCE: International Reporter

URL: http://internationalreporter.com/news/read.php?id=1058

[Guest guest]

Namaskar,

 

I was intrigued by the chutney and found this on the web:

 

http://www.ammas.com/a1/advisors/index.cfm?r=va&qid=76956&cid=26562

Ugadi Pacchadi (Telugu New Year preparation)

 

'Ugadi' is telugu new year day. Starting a new year by offering to god

and then eating 'Ugadi Pacchadi', 'Panchanga Sravanam - yearly

forecast' etc are all part of New Year day celebrations. This

preparation contains all 3 tastes - sweet,sour and bitter in equal

proportions. It conveys a wish that the new year should contain all

emotions.(isn't it a fact that all emotions in balanced amounts make a

meaningful life !) Or in offering such a dish to God one prays for

such a balanced life in the New Year.

Preparation time ([days] hrs:min): 00:00

Cooking time ([days] hrs:min): 00:00

No. of servings: 1

List of ingredients:

 

* 1/4 cup neem flower petals

* 1/4 cup jaggery (crushed)

* 1 cup thin tamarind extract

* 1/4 cup mango pieces (chopped)

* 1 for taste salt

* 1 medium green chilli chopped (optional)

* 1/2 medium banana mashed (optional)

 

 

Enjoy!

 

prainbow

 

 

 

, "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta

wrote:

>

> Apr 1, 2006: The navratras in March-April bring the beginning of

> spring and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India.

> Ramnavmi or Lord Rama's birthday falls on the 9th day of the bright

> fortnight of Chaitra (the months of March-April).

>

> The nine-day long "Navratras", regarded as one of the holiest for

> people in northern India, commenced here on Thursday, amidst

> celebrations in all major temples.

>

> Processions and musical programs mark the festival, and they

> symbolize the triumph of good over the evil. Commemorated by all in

> Northern India, it is celebrated to Goddess Durga and ahead of

> Ramnavami, which falls on the last day of "Navratras".

>

> "Navratras" have various names and style of celebrations in

> different parts of the country. For Bengalis in West Bengal, the

> festival is celebrated as "Durga Puja" while in the rest of the

> country, it is known as "Navratri".

>

> In New Delhi, devotees queued up outside the early in the morning

> to pay their obeisance to Goddess Vaishno on the first day. One of

> her forms is "Durga", the Goddess of power. Durga stands

> for "shakti" or power. In this form the Goddess is depicted as

> riding a raging holding weapons in her hands.

>

> The devotees said that the festival signifies the worship of

> strength.

>

> "Navratri is celebrated because it is worship of "shakti" or

> strength and also purifies our soul through fasting, and gives a new

> direction to our lives," said Mahaveer Prasad Dimri, a priest.

>

> In Katra, near Jammu, thousands of people gathered at "Ban Ganga"

> temple, which is on the way to the revered hilltop shrine

> of "Vaishno Devi". Devotees looked happy with the arrangements made

> for the occasion.

>

> In Maharashtra, people celebrated the day with "Gudi Padwa"

> festivities. Gudi Padwa is considered as Hindu New Year. An

> essential part of Gudi Padwa is the specially decorated sticks

> called "Gudis", which symbolise nature's bounty.

>

> In Mumbai, a huge procession was taken out with wearing traditional

> dresses and participating in tableaus.

>

> "Today, we are celebrating "Gudi Padwa". This is the first day of

> New Year and we pray that the New Year is full of peace and

> prosperity. We distribute sweets amongst neighbours," said Anekha

> Nirgun, a resident.

>

> In Andhra Pradesh, the day is celebrated as "Ugadi". On this day, it

> is the practice among the rural folk to eat what is called "Ugadi

> Pacchadi" (Ugadi chutney).

>

> This chutney is made from Neem (Margosa) , mango juice, honey, sugar

> and other ingredients.

>

> Chait, the first month of the Hindu, corresponds to March-April of

> the Gregorian calendar. The Hindu calendar has 12 months and most of

> the months are named after various seasons and astrological signs.

>

> SOURCE: International Reporter

> URL: http://internationalreporter.com/news/read.php?id=1058

>

[Guest guest]

Help!

does anyone know the difference between "thin tamarind extract" and

"tamarind concentrate" which was the only thing I could find at my

local Indian grocery store.

 

Your help is appreciated.

 

Namaste,

 

prainbow

 

, "prainbow61"

<paulie-rainbow wrote:

>

> Namaskar,

>

> I was intrigued by the chutney and found this on the web:

>

> http://www.ammas.com/a1/advisors/index.cfm?r=va&qid=76956&cid=26562

> Ugadi Pacchadi (Telugu New Year preparation)

>

> 'Ugadi' is telugu new year day. Starting a new year by offering to god

> and then eating 'Ugadi Pacchadi', 'Panchanga Sravanam - yearly

> forecast' etc are all part of New Year day celebrations. This

> preparation contains all 3 tastes - sweet,sour and bitter in equal

> proportions. It conveys a wish that the new year should contain all

> emotions.(isn't it a fact that all emotions in balanced amounts make a

> meaningful life !) Or in offering such a dish to God one prays for

> such a balanced life in the New Year.

> Preparation time ([days] hrs:min): 00:00

> Cooking time ([days] hrs:min): 00:00

> No. of servings: 1

> List of ingredients:

>

> * 1/4 cup neem flower petals

> * 1/4 cup jaggery (crushed)

> * 1 cup thin tamarind extract

> * 1/4 cup mango pieces (chopped)

> * 1 for taste salt

> * 1 medium green chilli chopped (optional)

> * 1/2 medium banana mashed (optional)

>

>

> Enjoy!

>

> prainbow

>

>

>

> , "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta@>

> wrote:

> >

> > Apr 1, 2006: The navratras in March-April bring the beginning of

> > spring and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India.

> > Ramnavmi or Lord Rama's birthday falls on the 9th day of the bright

> > fortnight of Chaitra (the months of March-April).

> >

> > The nine-day long "Navratras", regarded as one of the holiest for

> > people in northern India, commenced here on Thursday, amidst

> > celebrations in all major temples.

> >

> > Processions and musical programs mark the festival, and they

> > symbolize the triumph of good over the evil. Commemorated by all in

> > Northern India, it is celebrated to Goddess Durga and ahead of

> > Ramnavami, which falls on the last day of "Navratras".

> >

> > "Navratras" have various names and style of celebrations in

> > different parts of the country. For Bengalis in West Bengal, the

> > festival is celebrated as "Durga Puja" while in the rest of the

> > country, it is known as "Navratri".

> >

> > In New Delhi, devotees queued up outside the early in the morning

> > to pay their obeisance to Goddess Vaishno on the first day. One of

> > her forms is "Durga", the Goddess of power. Durga stands

> > for "shakti" or power. In this form the Goddess is depicted as

> > riding a raging holding weapons in her hands.

> >

> > The devotees said that the festival signifies the worship of

> > strength.

> >

> > "Navratri is celebrated because it is worship of "shakti" or

> > strength and also purifies our soul through fasting, and gives a new

> > direction to our lives," said Mahaveer Prasad Dimri, a priest.

> >

> > In Katra, near Jammu, thousands of people gathered at "Ban Ganga"

> > temple, which is on the way to the revered hilltop shrine

> > of "Vaishno Devi". Devotees looked happy with the arrangements made

> > for the occasion.

> >

> > In Maharashtra, people celebrated the day with "Gudi Padwa"

> > festivities. Gudi Padwa is considered as Hindu New Year. An

> > essential part of Gudi Padwa is the specially decorated sticks

> > called "Gudis", which symbolise nature's bounty.

> >

> > In Mumbai, a huge procession was taken out with wearing traditional

> > dresses and participating in tableaus.

> >

> > "Today, we are celebrating "Gudi Padwa". This is the first day of

> > New Year and we pray that the New Year is full of peace and

> > prosperity. We distribute sweets amongst neighbours," said Anekha

> > Nirgun, a resident.

> >

> > In Andhra Pradesh, the day is celebrated as "Ugadi". On this day, it

> > is the practice among the rural folk to eat what is called "Ugadi

> > Pacchadi" (Ugadi chutney).

> >

> > This chutney is made from Neem (Margosa) , mango juice, honey, sugar

> > and other ingredients.

> >

> > Chait, the first month of the Hindu, corresponds to March-April of

> > the Gregorian calendar. The Hindu calendar has 12 months and most of

> > the months are named after various seasons and astrological signs.

> >

> > SOURCE: International Reporter

> > URL: http://internationalreporter.com/news/read.php?id=1058

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Paulie,

 

I'm hardly an expert in Indian cooking (to say the least), but the

tamarind concentrate (Tamcon) from my local Indian store (U.S.) is

REALLY concentrated. A full cup of it (shudder) would make the

recipe inedible. I'd try maybe a half teaspoon dissolved in half a

cup of warm water, taste the results, and see if the chutney seems

balanced to you. You can add more concentrate dissolved in more

water if it seems necessary.

 

Did you find neem flower petals??? What do they taste like?

 

, "prainbow61" <paulie-

rainbow wrote:

>

> Help!

> does anyone know the difference between "thin tamarind extract" and

> "tamarind concentrate" which was the only thing I could find at my

> local Indian grocery store.

>

> Your help is appreciated.

>

> Namaste,

>

> prainbow

>

> , "prainbow61"

> <paulie-rainbow@> wrote:

> > >

> > I was intrigued by the chutney and found this on the web:

> >

> > * 1/4 cup neem flower petals

> > * 1/4 cup jaggery (crushed)

> > * 1 cup thin tamarind extract

> > * 1/4 cup mango pieces (chopped)

> > * 1 for taste salt

> > * 1 medium green chilli chopped (optional)

> > * 1/2 medium banana mashed (optional)

> >

> >

> > Enjoy!

> >

> > prainbow

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Well, I've been experimenting.

 

I didn't find neem (or margosa) flowers, but I knew that the local

"natural foods" chain store generally carries some edible flowers, so

I substituted.

 

Then the Tamarind....I figured out that it was probably too

concentrated, but then I tried diluting it in water and it

looked...well too watery. I looked up other chutney recipes and they

aren't exactly soups. So then I decided, maybe they don't mean 1 cup,

maybe they mean 1 table spoon or something, maybe a heaping tablespoon.

 

Also, the recipe says 1 medium chili, but not what kind of chili. The

woman at the Indian grocery store thought 1 chili wasn't enough so she

threw about 4 in the bag. I chopped them up and then thought perhaps I

should saute them.

 

Also 1/4 cup of mango seemed paltry, so I just cut up 1 whole organic

mango...I only had 1 left after one of my dogs ate the other one.

 

So, altogether I've got 4 little sauted chilis, 1 organic mango, about

a cup of shredded edible flower petals, a heaping tablespoon of

tamarind extract..oh! and jaggery, I started with 1/4 cup. Then I

mixed it up and tasted it.

 

Whooo! okay, that's hot! So, I added a lot more jaggery. The recipe

suggests an optional banana and I'm on the look out for one of those,

probably pick one up at the store in a little while.

 

This is pungent. My advice, DO NOT overdo the chilis and add the

tamarind extract a little at a time.

 

However the point was to honor the Goddess and the new year, so I'll

count this a success. I think I'll make some rice.

 

Namaste,

 

prainbow

 

, "msbauju" <msbauju wrote:

>

> Paulie,

>

> I'm hardly an expert in Indian cooking (to say the least), but the

> tamarind concentrate (Tamcon) from my local Indian store (U.S.) is

> REALLY concentrated. A full cup of it (shudder) would make the

> recipe inedible. I'd try maybe a half teaspoon dissolved in half a

> cup of warm water, taste the results, and see if the chutney seems

> balanced to you. You can add more concentrate dissolved in more

> water if it seems necessary.

>

> Did you find neem flower petals??? What do they taste like?

>

> , "prainbow61" <paulie-

> rainbow@> wrote:

> >

> > Help!

> > does anyone know the difference between "thin tamarind extract" and

> > "tamarind concentrate" which was the only thing I could find at my

> > local Indian grocery store.

> >

> > Your help is appreciated.

> >

> > Namaste,

> >

> > prainbow

> >

> > , "prainbow61"

> > <paulie-rainbow@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > I was intrigued by the chutney and found this on the web:

> > >

> > > * 1/4 cup neem flower petals

> > > * 1/4 cup jaggery (crushed)

> > > * 1 cup thin tamarind extract

> > > * 1/4 cup mango pieces (chopped)

> > > * 1 for taste salt

> > > * 1 medium green chilli chopped (optional)

> > > * 1/2 medium banana mashed (optional)

> > >

> > >

> > > Enjoy!

> > >

> > > prainbow

> > >

> > >

> > >

>