Navratri: Do's and Don'ts

The approaching Navratri festival has ignited a surge of festive fervor among Hindu worshippers all around the world, as they eagerly anticipate commemorating this significant event with immense excitement and unwavering zeal.

To commence the Navratri festival, Hindu devotees express their devotion by worshiping the idol of the goddess Durga either at their homes or at beautifully adorned temples.

Huge idols of the goddess Durga are erected in themed puja pandals (sacrilegious tents), which are a major public attraction on the occasion.

On each day of the festival, devotees worship one incarnation of the goddess.

The nine incarnations of Goddess Durga include Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.

1. Worship Goddess Durga daily: Visit temples or puja pandals, light oil lamps, offer flowers and perform aarti. Offering water to the goddess is considered very auspicious during Navratri.

2. ‘Shringar’ or adornment of the Goddess: As a mark of respect to the Goddess, devotees decorate the Goddess with flowers, garlands, clothes, bangles, etc.

3. Light Akhand Jyoti (oil lamp): People light akhand jyoti that keeps burning throughout the nine days. Lightening akhand Jyoti is said to be very auspicious.

4. Devotees adorn themselves in traditional Indian attire during Navratri, embracing the elegance of a nine-yard saree, kurta pajama, or dhoti kurta. They even select the nine significant colors of Navratri, believed to be the goddess's favorites in her various divine manifestations.

5. Fasting plays a crucial role in Navratri, as it holds immense importance in bringing about a profound internal and physical transformation by purifying the body through detoxification.

Some people observe fasts (Vrat) only on the first and last day of Navratri.

However, many faithfully continue fasting throughout the entire festival, abstaining from consuming grains, liquor, and non-vegetarian food.

During the fasting period, devotees consume fruits, milk, yogurt, and Navratra special vegetarian delicacies made with rock salt.

Some famous Navratri recipes include potatoes, arbi (taro), sabudana (sago) dessert, bread made from kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour) or singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour).

6. Pandal hopping, performing dhunuhi dance, garba and dandiya: Devotees visit large Durga Puja pandals built around different themes. These pandals buzz with excitement as devotees come dressed up to worship the goddess and also perform the traditional 'dhunuchi dance' in front of the idol.

Special fairs (mela) are organised in different communities where people feast and also perform 'garba' and 'dandiya' folk dances.

7. Perform Kanya puja: On the eighth or ninth day of Navratri, also known as Ashtami or Navami, devotees perform Kanya Puja (feeding of young girls) at home. Devotees wash the feet of young girls, perform puja rituals and serve them special delicacies. It is said that the worship of nine girls represents nine forms of Goddess Durga.

1. Avoid consumption of garlic and onion.

2. Avoid consumption of alcohol.

3. Avoid consumption of meat and poultry.

4. Avoid shaving and cutting hair during.