NAVRATRI (DURGA PUJA) IN Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Navratri (Durga puja) follows the ritual of worshipping the Goddess Durga, the female form in Shakti. In India, this Hindu festival is observed in most of the regions of the country during September and October, in the month of Ashwin according to Hindu calendar. Transcending all communal boundaries, people of all races, cultures, religions, castes, creeds take part in the enjoyment and programmes related to Navratri (Durga puja).
The Navratri (Durga puja) festival is a ten-day event, of which the last five mark the popular practices. The Navratri (Durga puja) begins with Mahalaya, a day where Shakta Hindus remember the loved ones who have died, as well the advent of Durga. The next most significant day of Durga Navratri (Durga puja) celebrations is the sixth day, called Shashthi where the local community welcome the goddess and festive celebrations are inaugurated. On the seventh day (Saptami), eighth (Ashtami) and ninth (Navami), the goddess along with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya are revered and Navratri (Durga puja) mark the main Puja (worship) with recitation of the scriptures, the legends of Durga in Devi Mahatmya and social visits by families to elaborately decorated and lighted up temples and Navratri (Durga puja) pandals .
The Navratri (Durga puja) is in part, a post-monsoon harvest festival observed on the same days in Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, as those in its other traditions. The practice of including a bundle of nine different plants, called navapattrika, as nature's symbolism of Durga of Navratri (Durga puja), is a testament practice to its agricultural importance. The typically selected plants include not only representative important crops, but also non-crops. According to David Kinsley, a professor of Religious Studies specializing on Hindu goddesses, this probably signifies the Hindu belief that the goddess is "not merely the power inherent in the growth of crops but the power inherent in all vegetation"
The Navratri (Durga puja) festival is a major social and public event in eastern and northeastern states of India, where it dominates the religious life, with temporary stage (Navratri (Durga puja) pandal) built in community squares, roadside shrines and large Durga temples. However, it is also observed by some Shakta Hindus as a private, home based festival
Navratri (Durga puja) is famous as a Bengali festival, called ‘Sharodotsav’, which is celebrated in a grand way for the last four days before and including Dushera,Navratri (Durga puja) is also celebrated by Gujarati people for nine day before Dushera, called ‘Navaratri’. Along with these, Bommai Golu in Tamil Nadu, Kullu Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh, Mysore Dushera is Karnataka, Bommala Koluvu in Andhra Pradesh –all these festivals are actually the different forms of Navratri (Durga puja).
The demographic character of Andaman and Nicobar Islands shows that the population of the Bengalese are more than any other. That’s so why Navratri (Durga puja) in Andaman receives a special treatment and organised in pompous way. There are more than one Bengali clubs which arrange grand programmes for Navratri (Durga puja) . Besides them, Tamilians, Keralites, Maharastrians and people from other region of mainland India, living there, participate in the arrangement and enjoyment.The islands of festival, Andaman, is more populated and inhabited than Nicobar, the Navratri (Durga puja) is celebrated in different locations of Andaman only, especially in Port Blair. Junglighat, Atul Smriti, MES Haddo, Marine etc in Port Blair execute the festival in their own various ways. Along with these places, people in Rangat Bazaar, Chouldari Village, Bakultala, Kerala Samajam etc. observe Navratri (Durga puja) festival too.
The islands are decorated with ribbons, pandals, lights, flowers and other decorative things. Everyone goes out to visit the Navratri (Durga puja) pandals, taste foods of different cuisine, enjoy the Navratri (Durga puja) festive mode floating in the air and all of these looks so colourful and happy. The enthusiasm in this Indian archipelago for Navratri (Durga puja) celebration is nothing less than that in the Indian peninsula.
Navratri (Durga puja) follows the ritual of worshipping the Goddess Durga, the female form in Shakti. In India, this Hindu festival is observed in most of the regions of the country during September and October, in the month of Ashwin according to Hindu calendar. Transcending all communal boundaries, people of all races, cultures, religions, castes, creeds take part in the enjoyment and programmes related to Navratri (Durga puja).
The Navratri (Durga puja) festival is a ten-day event, of which the last five mark the popular practices. The Navratri (Durga puja) begins with Mahalaya, a day where Shakta Hindus remember the loved ones who have died, as well the advent of Durga. The next most significant day of Durga Navratri (Durga puja) celebrations is the sixth day, called Shashthi where the local community welcome the goddess and festive celebrations are inaugurated. On the seventh day (Saptami), eighth (Ashtami) and ninth (Navami), the goddess along with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya are revered and Navratri (Durga puja) mark the main Puja (worship) with recitation of the scriptures, the legends of Durga in Devi Mahatmya and social visits by families to elaborately decorated and lighted up temples and Navratri (Durga puja) pandals .
The Navratri (Durga puja) is in part, a post-monsoon harvest festival observed on the same days in Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, as those in its other traditions. The practice of including a bundle of nine different plants, called navapattrika, as nature's symbolism of Durga of Navratri (Durga puja), is a testament practice to its agricultural importance. The typically selected plants include not only representative important crops, but also non-crops. According to David Kinsley, a professor of Religious Studies specializing on Hindu goddesses, this probably signifies the Hindu belief that the goddess is "not merely the power inherent in the growth of crops but the power inherent in all vegetation"
The Navratri (Durga puja) festival is a major social and public event in eastern and northeastern states of India, where it dominates the religious life, with temporary stage (Navratri (Durga puja) pandal) built in community squares, roadside shrines and large Durga temples. However, it is also observed by some Shakta Hindus as a private, home based festival
Navratri (Durga puja) is famous as a Bengali festival, called ‘Sharodotsav’, which is celebrated in a grand way for the last four days before and including Dushera,Navratri (Durga puja) is also celebrated by Gujarati people for nine day before Dushera, called ‘Navaratri’. Along with these, Bommai Golu in Tamil Nadu, Kullu Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh, Mysore Dushera is Karnataka, Bommala Koluvu in Andhra Pradesh –all these festivals are actually the different forms of Navratri (Durga puja).
The demographic character of Andaman and Nicobar Islands shows that the population of the Bengalese are more than any other. That’s so why Navratri (Durga puja) in Andaman receives a special treatment and organised in pompous way. There are more than one Bengali clubs which arrange grand programmes for Navratri (Durga puja) . Besides them, Tamilians, Keralites, Maharastrians and people from other region of mainland India, living there, participate in the arrangement and enjoyment.The islands of festival, Andaman, is more populated and inhabited than Nicobar, the Navratri (Durga puja) is celebrated in different locations of Andaman only, especially in Port Blair. Junglighat, Atul Smriti, MES Haddo, Marine etc in Port Blair execute the festival in their own various ways. Along with these places, people in Rangat Bazaar, Chouldari Village, Bakultala, Kerala Samajam etc. observe Navratri (Durga puja) festival too.
The islands are decorated with ribbons, pandals, lights, flowers and other decorative things. Everyone goes out to visit the Navratri (Durga puja) pandals, taste foods of different cuisine, enjoy the Navratri (Durga puja) festive mode floating in the air and all of these looks so colourful and happy. The enthusiasm in this Indian archipelago for Navratri (Durga puja) celebration is nothing less than that in the Indian peninsula.
A&N Police Initiates Special Drive During Durga Puja.
It has been experienced in the past that on the occasions of Navratri (Durga puja) Festival which is celebrated in these Islands with great enthusiasm by public for many days a large number of devotees and spectators come-out on roads and visit various Navratri (Durga puja) Pandals. Due to heavy rush everywhere in the Port Blair City and adjoining areas, roads are overcrowded with pedestrians and vehicles. As such the chances of accidents increase.
Reviewed by RAJ ROCK
on
September 07, 2017
Rating:
No comments: