Ahmedabad: Sharad Navaratri is predominantly a Hindu festival that is celebrated over the course of nine days and nights, in hour of the Hindu goddess Durga and her nine incarnations. The Sharad Navaratri is observed annually during the September-October months and depicts the onset of autumn season in India.
Each day of the nine-night long festival is dedicated to an incarnation of Goddess Durga, who is an epitome of a warrior goddess. Durga is worshipped during Navaratri as a symbol of good triumphing over the evil. Sharad Navaratri began on Monday, September 26, 2022, and will end with Vijaydashami or Dusshera on Wednesday, October 05, 2022.
Every year, Durga Puja is observed from the sixth day onwards. Several households across the country observe a Maha aarti on the eighth day, also known as Mahashtami.
Every evening, huge prayers are organised before people begin dancing around the altar during navaratri. On Monday, October 03, 2022, a unique Maha aarti was organised in Gandhinagar to celebrate the Mahashtami day.
The Gandhinagar Cultural Forum had organised a Maha aarti on Monday that included lighting more than 35 thousand lamps. The lamps were placed in a manner that they formed a huge replica of lord Ardhanareshwar.
The capital city of Gujarat was a sight to behold as lamps were placed in a large barren ground as they formed a clear head of the deity, with the noticeable features including the crescent moon, the dreadlocks in a bun, and a snake wrapped around the neck. The image was created with the lord in closed eyelids.
The forum has been organising the Maha aarti, which is followed by the tradition of distributing the Maha Prasad, in the capital. The tradition of Mahaarti is being followed religiously each year since the last 25 years. However, this year saw a footfall of thousands of devotees.
The eighth day of Navaratri celebrates goddess Mahagauri, who symbolises peace and intellect. It is believed that when Kaalraatri bathed in the Ganges, she gained a warmer complexion.
Goddess Mahagauri, one of the incarnations of Durga, is worshipped on Maha ashtami, a significant day for Hindus where people offer grandiose prayers. The eighth day also indicates the last day of fasting for most. The colour pink is associated with the day as it symbolises optimism.
(Avya Mathur)