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Navratra at Vaishno Devi shrine in Kashmir
by Tahir Nadeem Khan

     Katra (J-K): Devotees offered evening prayers at the famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi as the nine-day Hindu festival of "Navratri" began with religious fervour on Friday. Nestling amidst Trikuta hills in the Himalayas, the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and the base camp, the temple town of Katra in the foothills, present a festive look these days. Thousands of devotees are pouring in from across the country to undertake a pilgrimage to the shrine during the Navratra festival. Continuing for over a century, the festival was declared official by the Jammu and Kashmir Government 12 years ago, with an objective of projecting the rich culture and heritage of the region. To seek the blessings of the Divine Mother in her three manifestations of Maha Saraswati, Maha Kali and Maha Lakshmi, over 6.5 million pilgrims visit the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi every year. Chaitra Navratri is most famous in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and in other parts of North India. Temporary stalls are set up by the road side or near the temples selling traditional goods for the festival such as diyas of all sizes, coconuts, clay pottery (matkas), dupattas for women, wrist-bands, special garlands made of marigold and other flowers, beads, and agarbatti sticks. Chaitra Navratra is known by different names like Ram Navratri, Vasant Navratri, Basant Navrathri and some people also refer it as Spring Navaratras.

     The nine-day festival is celebrated twice a year - before the start of summer (Chaitra Navratra) and at the beginning of winter (Shardiya Navratra). Devotees across the country worship Hindu goddesses and hold fasts. There is a popular belief that fasting during Chaitra Navrati is to prepare the body for the ensuing summer season. Jammu and Kashmir witnesses a huge rush of devotees during Navratras as many people visit the holy shrine of Goddess Vaishnodevi. Chaitra Navratri is most famous in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and in other parts of North India. Temporary stalls are set up by the road side or near the temples selling traditional goods for the festival such as diyas of all sizes, coconuts, clay pottery (matkas), dupattas for women, wrist-bands, special garlands made of marigold and other flowers, beads, and agarbatti sticks. Chaitra Navratra is known by different names like Ram Navratri, Vasant Navratri, Basant Navrathri and some people also refer it as Spring Navaratras. This festival is supposed to mark the beginning of spring. According to the Gregorian calendar this would fall sometime at the end of March and the beginning of April.

     In Maharashtra, people celebrated the festival of 'Gudi Padwa', the Hindu New Year, with traditional fervour. An essential part of 'Gudi Padwa' is the specially decorated sticks, called "gudis", which symbolise the nature's bounty. A huge procession was taken out in Mumbai men, women and children wearing traditional dresses and participating in tableaus. It was organised in a bid to revive the festival, which has been losing some of its charm, owing to the increasing popularity of the Western New Year. "We are welcoming the Hindu New Year on Gudi Parva with much fanfare and gaiety," said Ajith Bedekar, a resident. 'Gudi Padwa' is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, and is celebrated as New Year's Day by Maharashtrians. It is the same day on which great king Shalivahana defeated Sakas in battle. This is also first day of Marathi Calendar.

      President, Vice President, PM greeted the nation on Navratra as the nation celebrated Ugadi, Chaitra and Navratra, the official beginning of summer according to the Hindu calendar on Friday. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has sent her best wishes to the people on the occasion. In her message, she said that these festivals celebrated in a wide variety of ways in different parts of the country, reflect our diversity and yet underline the unity of the nation. She further said that such festivals reinforce the common bond of togetherness of our people and ensure progress, prosperity and peace. Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have also greeted the people on the occasion.
- Mar 28, 2009