Navratri-Celebrations in parts of North India

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Navratri -- Celebrations in parts of North India

Punjabis

Navratri is a period of fasting for the Punjabi community.

Goddess Durga is worshipped during the nine days of Navratra,

a fast is observed and only phalahar (fruits) is taken till the

eighth day or Ashtami. Some Punjabis have only milk for seven

days before breaking the fast on ashtami or navami while some

have a complete meal once a day. Solemnity and piety mark

these nine days as even those Punjabis who do not keep a fast,

stop eating non-vegetarian and impure food items like onion and

garlic. On the day of ashstami there is a custom of feeding young

girls called Kanjak, who are believed to represent Durga herself.

Nine Kanjaks are fed, as there are nine avatars (forms) of the

Goddess. The fast is broken after this. At the end of the fast they

feed beggars.

 

People organize Jagrans to sing devotional songs all night in

praise of the Mother Goddess. On the tenth day, ie on Dassera,

puja is done in the morning. People wear new clothes. with a

belief that on wearing new cloths on Dusshera, one shall get 10

sets of new clothes in return! On this day all weapons, tools

pens, pencils and instruments are worshipped because they are

the means of fighting injustice ignorance and evil. Ramayana is

also enacted is dramas staged in huge pandals and maidans,

in cities, towns and villages.

 

It is supposed to be a time to stop indulging the senses and only

worship the Mother Goddess. If the family Guru is a devotee of

the Devi then Navratri is observed. But people may observe

'Ekana' -- one meal a day. Men are not supposed to shave, and

abstinence is a must. On ashtami a mela may be organised.

 

In traditional North Indian households, a pot of wheat, known as

'khetri' is kept and home and worshipped during these eight

days. It is significant of prosperity and abundance.

 

On the first day of the Navaratras, grains of barley are planted in

the puja room of the house. Every day some water is sprinkled

on it. On the tenth day, the shoots are about 3 - 5 inches in

length. After the puja, these seedlings are pulled out and given to

devotees as a blessing from god.