{"id":11802,"date":"2012-10-22T06:44:25","date_gmt":"2012-10-22T10:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=11802"},"modified":"2012-10-23T00:04:54","modified_gmt":"2012-10-23T04:04:54","slug":"navarathri-nine-nights-of-worship-for-three-divine-goddesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=11802","title":{"rendered":"Navarathri: Nine Nights of Worship for Three Divine Goddesses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Text and Pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cN<\/strong>avaraathri\u201d or nine nights as it is known, refers to one of the important festivals celebrated by the Hindus since time immemorial. The festival is celebrated from16th to 24th October.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Celebration of courage, wealth and wisdom<\/p>\n

The festival is dedicated to three Goddesses ~ Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy respectively. Mother Goddess is invoked as a powerful force as Goddess Durga is celebrated for three consecutive nights for her courage and valour, while she is adored as Goddess Lakshmi for the next three nights for granting the boon of wealth and bounty.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

During the final three days, she is worshipped as Goddess Saraswathy for her innate wisdom and for bestowing the gift of learning.<\/p>\n

This year, only eight days are dedicated to the Goddesses , three for Goddess Durga, three for Goddess Lakshmi and two for Goddess Saraswathy according to the Tamil Almanac.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaraswathy Poojas\u201d are held at many places including schools, houses and temples. Books, and professional tools are kept in front of the Goddess Saraswathy statues to invoke blessings.<\/p>\n

\u201cKolu\u201d is a traditional display of idols and statues associated with worship. An array of idols and statues are beautifully displayed on a nine- step rack like a dais. \u201cVadai\u201d, sweetened rice flakes and tempered chick peas are offered to the Goddess during the \u201cNavaraathri\u201d festival.<\/p>\n

Legend has it that a demon king known as \u201cMahisaasuran\u201d has been causing untold hardships to the \u201cThevars\u201d. Ill treated \u201cThevars\u201d complained to the Mother Goddess. She assured to bring an end to the evil spirit. Then, Mother Goddess commenced a fast for ten consecutive days, and at the end of the tenth day, she destroyed the demon king \u201cMahisaasuran\u201d. The Mother Goddess thereafter became known as \u201cMahisaasura Marthini.<\/p>\n

\u201cNavaraathri\u201d is celebrated in praise of the divine spirit of the Mother Goddess\u201d, says Nagarajah Kurrukkal ,the Chief Priest of Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar, popularly known as the New Kathiresan temple, in Bambalapitty.<\/p>\n

Tots are taught how to write their first words on \u201cVijayathasami\u201d day, which falls on the day after of \u201cSaraswathy Pooja\u201d. \u201cVijayathasami\u201d is an auspicious day to initiate learning for children. The first letters are either drawn on rice, which is often the practice or paddy with the right index finger.<\/p>\n

Temples, houses, schools and business premises are decorated with colourful fresh flower garlands alongwith many traditional decorations. Devotees partake of vegetarian meals during the \u201cNavaraathri\u201d festival and throng the temple at twilight. Cultural events are held at dusk fall to celebrate the spirit of the three goddesses.<\/p>\n

The \u201cNavaraathri\u201d is also a celebration of courage and valour, the defeating of evil and negativity, not just externally, but within each individual.<\/p>\n

These photos were captured at a \u201cNavaraathri\u201d celebrations at Saiva Mangaiya Kazhagam in Wellawatte.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Kolam” ~ traditional design made with coloured rice<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

via PassionParade<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Kuththu Vilakku” ~ Traditional lamp is lit during the festival<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Beautifully decorated “Kolu” for “Navaraathri” festival is on display<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Traditional welcome to celebrate the Goddess<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s a rare occasion women are allowed to perform Hindu religious rituals <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sweetened rice flakes, tempered chick peas and “Vadai” traditionally offered on a fresh banana leaf<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Decorated deities on display<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Students and teachers take part in special religious rituals<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sweetened rice flakes traditionally offered on a fresh banana leaf<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Traditional worship to invoke blessings<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tempered chick peas traditionally offered on a fresh banana leaf<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Enchanting decorations for the celebration<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Traditionally offered “Vadai” on a fresh banana leaf<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Singing of devotional songs dedicated to the goddesses<\/p>\n

Related: <\/em><\/p>\n

Navarathri Songs by Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyaar:<\/strong> <\/p>\n

[mp3 Audio ~ click on play]<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/object><\/p>\n

Om Sakthi Om ~ by D.K. Pattammal and Nithyasree Mahadevan<\/p>\n

<\/object><\/p>\n

Vellai Thamarai Poovil Iruppal ~ by K.J. Yesudas<\/p>\n

<\/object><\/p>\n

Ujjayani Nithyakalyani ~ Sudha Ragunathan<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Portrait of Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyaar at Bharathy Public Library in Uyarappulam,Aanaikkottai,Jaffna District – pic by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai<\/a><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Text and Pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai \u201cNavaraathri\u201d or nine nights as it is known, refers to one of the important festivals celebrated by the Hindus since time immemorial. The festival is celebrated from16th to 24th October. Celebration of courage, wealth and wisdom The festival is dedicated to three Goddesses ~ Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy respectively. …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Navarathri: Nine Nights of Worship for Three Divine Goddesses’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11802"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11802"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11852,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11802\/revisions\/11852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}