Dussehra significance, navarathri celebrations

Dussehra or navarathri is celebrated for nine days, as the name nava suggests nine. It is also called by the name sharnnavarathri. This festival symbolises victory of good over evil.

This festival celebrated in remembrance of killing of demons by different incarnations of Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is worshipped in West Bengal and in South India nine days of navarathri is celebrated to worship nine incarnations of Goddess.

It is celebrated with different rituals in different parts of India. Dandiya and garba dance are the part of dussehra celebration in North India. Whereas gombe habba is unique tradition followed in South India during navarathri celebration.

Mythological significance of Dussehra

Goddess incarnation Brahmi, maaheshwari, vaishnavi, vaaraahi, naarasihmi, kaumari, indrani, shivaduthi, chamunda came to earth on each day one by one as a saviour and killed demons who are torturing innocent people. Mahishasura was among them who was torturing innocent people was killed by Goddess Durga.

Another legend says that Lord rama worshipped Durga for nine days to gain strength to fight against ravana. Rama killed ravana on last day and it is called vijayadashami which is celebrated as victory of good over evil. As a whole, navarathri is the festival to worship the Goddess durga who is the god of strength.

It is believed that Arjuna secretly kept his weapons in shami tree. In remembrance to this a ritual followed to worship shami vruksha on the last day of dasara.

Navarathri celebrations in Mysore

In south India, navarathri celebrations is famous in Mysore where it is called Dasara mahothsava. Navarathri was celebrated in a grand way king Mummadi krishna Odeyar of Mysore kingdom. It dates back to 1799 and King Odeyar started navarathri celebrations in his kingdom. This was called nadahabba or janapada parva in his period.

This celebration continued till date from generation to generation. Many rituals followed till date which was used to be followed in King's period. Tourists gather in Mysore during dasara mahothsava to take a glimpse of jambu savari and other celebrations in Mysore palace. In Karnataka it is considered as nadahabba and it is celebrated in a grand way.

The navarathri rituals in Mysore palace continued till today by family members of King Odeyar. The nine day dasara mahothsava and jambu savari which is eye catching which takes place till today. It is one of the main event in Mysore navarathri celebrations.

In Mysore it is also tradition during navarathri, doll decoration called gombe habba or gombe kurisuvudu. Each and everyhouse hold has collection of dolls which are arranged and worshipped during navarathri.

Jambu Savari

Jambu Savari is the famous procession which takes place every year in Mysore during Dasara mahothsava. It is world wide famous procession takes place during navarathri in which tourist gather in Mysor to take part in this famous procession. Goddess chamundeshwari statue in gold howdah which is placed on an elephant and this procession starts from Mysore palace and continues through the city towards banni mantapa.

This is the last day of dasara and also ending of the dasara festival celebration. Thousands of enthusiasts walk in this procession and many elephants take part in this procession.

Dussehra celebration in North India

People follow different rituals on each day of dussehra. On first day of dussehra, they put a kalash for pooja and this is worshipped each day by chanting bhajans and songs on devi Durga matha. Special food is prepared each day for naivedya to offer Goddess Durga.

They invite girls for kanya pooja and they serve food to them and take blessings from them. The effigies of Ravana is carried in procession and burnt on bonfires in the evening. They perform ramlila from Ramayan epic as part of dussehra celebrations.

Durga pooja in West Bengal

Goddess Durga is worshipped in West Bengal during navarathri festival with great devotion. Durga idols are brought to home and are decorated with beautiful coloured clothes,vermilion, jewels and flowers. They offer special sweets to God and chant bhajans on Durga.

Large Durga idols are kept in big pandals and it is open to public and they visit and offer pooja. After nine day celebration, procession of Durga idol is held and finally visarjan of Goddess, that is immersion of statue of Durga in water is performed.

Dandia and garba dance

Dandia and garba dance which is called dandia raas and garba raas are folk dances in which people participate as part of dussehra celebrations. Dandia raas is played with two wooden sticks with different steps for music as partricipants form a circle and perform with wearing colourful clothes.

Garba dance is also performed during dussehra with different steps and wearing colourful clothes. These dance are suitable for children to elders and they enjoy performing this dandia and garba raas.

Navarathri celebrations in South India

Navarathri is celebrated in temples as well as in houses. It starts from first day of shukla paksha of chaithra month bases on lunar calendar. Chaithra month new moon day or amavasya special pooja is held in devi temples where Goddess in special alankara and it is the beginning of navarathri celebrations. Special abhisheka and other rituals are conducted on that day. Kalasha sthapana is performed on first day. Chandisapthashatipata, narayanahrudaya pata, lakshmihrudaya pata, parayana is done everyday.

On sapthami day Goddess sharada is worshipped. On that day religious books, study books are worshipped. On dashami day vehicles and other metal instruments used for the purpose of agriculture are worshipped.

Every one decorate their house with mango leaves thorana and flower garlands. Main entrance of the house and pooja room is decorated with thorana and flowers. Entrance is decorated with beautiful rangloli and they wear new cloth for pooja and special festival food is prepared and offered to god as naivedya.

These decorations made during navarathri brings positive vibration in and around the house. People feel relaxed and come out of daily stress which is due to modern day hectic schedules.

Importance of colour on navarathri days

Each day of navarathri symbolises the importance of each incarnation of Goddess and each day has its own importance. Goddess is worshipped according to rituals with offering special naivedya which is different on each day. Different colour cloth is worn by ladies on navarathri days to please the Goddess.

On first navarathri yellow colour cloth is special which is worn to please Goddess parvathi. Special naivedya is prepared of same colour. In many temples devi alankara comprises the same colour.

On second day Devi brahmacharini is worshipped and green colour cloth is worn to please her. On third day ash colour is chosen to please god. Saffron colour is the special colour of fourth day. White colour which symbolises the purity is the colour on fifth day. On sixth day red colour which pleases the god kathyayani and on seventh day it is blue colour. On eighth day it is pink colour and ninth day violet colour cloth is worn to please the goddess.

Gombe habba

Gombe habba or gombe kurisuvudu is special and unique tradition followed in Karnataka, that too in Mysore during dasara festival. During nine day dasara celebrations many household arrange dolls in a custom way and worship dolls. Dolls of gods and goddesses like krishna, rama, shiva, ganesha, saraswathi, gowri, chamundi, durga and other king, queen dolls.

They arrange the dolls on a platform where it is of many steps. This platform of wood is formed and a white cloth is covered on it. On this platform wooden couples called pattada gombe is placed. Miniature dolls are arranged in the first step. Scenes from ramayana, mahabharatha period are created placing dolls which are decorated kings and queens accordingly.

Dolls are mainly decorated with silk cloth, hair is dressed and dolls are decorated with jewels as king and queen. They also decorate with artificial lights and earthen lamps. It is very pretty to see gombe collection in every house. Children usually visit many houses to see the arrangement of dolls.These dolls are bought and collected in every house over a period of time. People who follow this custom have the habit of collecting dolls every year.

Rangoli or Kolam art

During dasara celebrations, it is a tradition to create rangoli or kolam which is an art of drawing mandalas or some patterns or some designs with dots. For this rangoli , rice flour, rangoli colours, chalk, different colour of flowers are used. These are drawn in front of main entrance of the houses, pooja room and in temples also. The beautiful designs of rangoli art makes the festival more vibrant.

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The opinions expressed herein are authors personal opinions and do not represent any one's view in anyway, do not use this information to diagnose or treat your problem without consulting your physician. Remedies here mentioned are used for ages may not be clinically proven.

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