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Happy Navratri To All!!
It's the beginning of a nine-day fast for Hindus (Oct 4-12).
About Navratri (The Nine Divine Nights):
"Nava-ratri" literally means "nine nights." This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter.
What's the Significance of Navratri?
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as "Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there.
Why Worship the Mother Goddess?
We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. "Why mother; why not father?", you may ask. We believe that God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute.
Why Twice a Year?
Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because:
(1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.
(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.
Why Nine Nights & Days?
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.
Wikipedia On Navratri
Navratri or Navratra is a Hindu festival of worship and dance. The word "Navratri" literally means nine nights; Nav-Nine and Ratri-nights. The festival is celebrated for nine nights every year at the beginning of October although as the dates of the festival are according to the Hindu calendar (which is based on the Moon), the festival may be held for a day more or a day less depending on the calendar.
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.
During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. A period of introspection and purification, Navaratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures.
On the tenth day, the holiday of Dussehra an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.
In Gujarat, it is celebrated quite uniquely.
Garba during Navaratri
Garba word comes from sanskrit word "Garbha Deep". the closest meaning of "Garbha" in English language is "inside", as inside of an earthen pot which people still use to store drinking water. The word "Deep" is diya, with a burning cotton wick in oil in an earthen small vessel. People in western India do Ghat Sthapana, which is an earthen pot with holes in it, and decorated with colors, patterns, mirrirs, etc, with a diya inside. Traditionally, Navratri was celebrated only by Hindu women only, in the honor of goddess Amba/Durga. Amba/Durga is a believed to be a Shakti, originating from Lord Shankara.
Women would put this "Garbha deep" in the center, as a symbol of shakti/godess. And at the rythm of prayers/bhajanas they will be dancing with clapping in concentric circles around "Garbha Deep" or "Garabo".
Though dandiya raas is also somewhat associated with garba, it is originating from a totally different root. Dandiya raas was traditionally performed by men only. This dance/art originated in western part of Guajarat state in India. The Dandiya is actually a pair of bamboo or any wooden sticks of the length 1.5 to 2 feet. Men would held this sticks in hand, and start with a circuluar formation. Traditionally, this was a psuedo practice of the swords' fight with foot work, you can call it as in poomse in Tae Kwon Do or Kata in Karate. And that is the reason it was performed by men only. It is a high energetic sort, of an exercise. You will still find this traditional movements and forms of Dandiya raas in in Saurashtra (Western Gujarat). This was an excellent social tradition of incorporating goddess with an art of swords and also with entertainment, when there were many invasions happening on small kingdoms and almost every men in society was responsible for their region's and community's safety.
Different parts of India celebrate Navratri in their own unique fashion..
In the north, its time for Ram-Leela's (the plays depicting Rama's(Good) victory over Ravana (Evil))
In the East it is celebrated as Durga Pooja..with completely different set of customs..
In the west, it is time for fun and enjoyment with dance and music.
While in the south (dravidians)
Navratri is celebrated for one day and it does not have as much significance as it has in the North.
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Posted: 2005-10-05 11:41:50
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Jews fast, also sunrise to sunset, but i think its for one day only.
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Posted: 2005-10-05 12:19:07
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Thanks for the info whiz
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Posted: 2005-10-05 12:24:00
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is it the fasting season already? well good luck, am sitting here with a bacon sandwich eggs and sasseges.........hmmmmmmm
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Posted: 2005-10-05 12:34:18
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Hmm i want to eat kfc my lil sister just came home With it. But im a vegetarian now
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Posted: 2005-10-05 12:40:00
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thats not cool.
I've starving here and you're tempting me with food (let alone pork stuffs)
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Posted: 2005-10-05 12:56:44
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Quote:
On 2005-10-05 12:56:44, amnesia wrote:
thats not cool.
I've starving here and you're tempting me with food (let alone pork stuffs)
sorry amnesia, what can i say, me love my food
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On 2005-10-05 12:40:00, Janet_k500i wrote:
Hmm i want to eat kfc my lil sister just came home With it. But im a vegetarian now
Hmmmmm.........KFC, a bit early for me yet but i might get a bucket later on in the day, thanks for the idea. but am currently in the mood for a meatball subway sandwhich.
_________________
If anybody wants to swap a psp game for Tony Hawks Underground 2:remix PM me.
[ This Message was edited by: jagger2k on 2005-10-05 12:00 ]
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Posted: 2005-10-05 12:58:08
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i want to eat kfc.
but i cant and my whole family s eatin here
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Posted: 2005-10-05 13:59:00
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Quote:
On 2005-10-05 13:59:00, Janet_k500i wrote:
i want to eat kfc.
but i cant and my whole family s eatin here
you could always lick their fingers lol.
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Posted: 2005-10-05 14:16:53
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guys is this intentional?
Because this is a cruel thing to do.
I myself have great self control but others might not take such a thing so lightly.
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Posted: 2005-10-05 15:21:07
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