Navaratri

Navaratri literally meaning "nine nights" is one of the greatest Hindu festivals in India. It signifies the triumph of good over evil.

During this period of nine days, the feminine divinity -Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped and revered as three different manifestations of cosmic energy i.e. Shakti. The celebration commences after the Mahalaya Amavasya and culminates with Vijaya Dasami or Dassara.

The Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped in sets of three days. Thus on the first three days, Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of mother and is believed to be the destroyer of all our pains and miseries and faults.

Then in the next three days, Goddess Lakshmi, who bestows prosperity and wealth, is adored with great devotion.

In the concluding set of three days, Goddess Saraswati who blesses us with knowledge and wisdom is worshipped with great pomp and splendor. Thus to become versatile in life we worship the three Goddesses. These last three days of the Navaratri are known as Durgashtami, Mahanavami and Vijayadasami.

The people of Kerala observe Navaratri in an appropriate manner. They celebrate the Saraswati puja and Ayudha Puja .On the day of Durgashtami, a ceremonial occasion called Poojavaipu is performed in the evening and owing to this ceremony any work related to studies are suspended and books are kept away. Beaten rice, roasted paddy (malar), jaggery, fruits and so on are offered to Saraswati, while worshipping the Goddess of wisdom in the next day called Mahanavami.

After performing the Puja in the next morning of the Vijayadasami, the books and are taken away from the room and this observance is called `Puja Eduppu'.

During this period of Saraswati Puja lasting for three days in Kerala, the little children are taken to the temples where they are introduced with the alphabets before the image of Goddess of learning and speech- Saraswati. They are made to write for the first alphabets on the sand or rice and this ceremony of enlightenment of the child is known as `Ezhuthinu Iruthu' or 'Vidyarambham'. A child can start reading and writing only after this ceremony.

There are some communities which celebrate the festival on all days of Navaratri. An exhibition is arranged with the images of deities, animals and a plethora of different toys and this event is known as `Koluvaipu'.

On the tenth day of Navratri, also known as Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana is burnt and crackers are burst to celebrate the triumph of good (Rama) over evil.

Navaratri and Vijayadasami are celebrated with mouth watering sweets and cruncy snacks. Chundal, is one of the tasty snacks that is made on all of the ten days.