NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 13, 2007: The festive season is well and truly here. Friday marks the beginning of the ten-day-long Navratri celebrations which willculminate with Dussehra. Literally meaning nine nights, Navratri celebrates the nine forms of Shakti–Durga, Amba, Chandi, Latika, Bhairavi, Mookambika,Sarvamangala, Bhadrakali and Annapurna. In Delhi sand most parts of north India, devotees throng temples dedicated to the divine mother on all 10 days, as the period is considered extremely auspicious. For the same reason, many make important purchases during the same time. In most households, nonvegetarian food is not cooked during the period, and even restaurants introduce special Navratri menus to cope
with the sudden dip in business. Many even fast the first seven days, breaking it on the eighth day or ashtami after worshipping young girls who supposedly symbolise the goddess herself.
Said housewife Renu Malhotra: ”We observe Navratri very strictly. We do pujas all nine days. No one touches nonvegetarian food in the house, including our dog. It is also the time to make major purchases like a vehicle or jewellery.”
In keeping with its harvest tradition, many families plant wheat in an earthen pot on the first day and light a diya which is kept burning for the next nine days. Navratri is also observed with much fanfare in western India where it is marked by night-long dancing or daandiyas. In eastern India, it is celebrated as Durga Puja.
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