Durga Puja/Navratri starts tomorrow!
Whenever I say this to my friends, I am asked questions about Navratri, its meaning, why observe a ‘fast’, what does the ‘fasting consist of’. Well, Navratri is a fast observed and celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs for Nine Days until Dusshera (I will do a separate post about it).
For these Nine days starting tomorrow, I give up meat, fish, eggs, cheese and eat vegetarian (except some fruits and vegetables like lentils,aubergines, garlic, oranges, lemons etc.) I also eat homemade foods rather than fast foods (great for me 😌)
I stay away from things like explicit content (you get the gist of it)
Durga Puja/Navratri celebrates Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura (a shape shifting demon) to restore Dharma - good over evil.
Mahishasura received a boon/blessing that no man, demigod or God could kill him. During a battle between Devas (deities) and demons, the Devas were defeated.
Then, Durga came riding on her lion, fierce and powerful with her Trishula (trident), Chakra (discus), Shankha (conch shell), Arrow and destroyed him.
Goddess Durga represents the strength of a woman - she did what no man could do.
During Navratri, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs worship and remember Durga in all her forms (predominantly nine)
There is also chanting,singing, dancing for example, in Gujarat people do Garba (look at the song Nagada Sang Dhol on YouTube), in Kolkata people go to Pandals and perform Dhunuchi Aarti (there are also videos on YouTube)
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#durga #durgamaa #durgapuja #durgapujo #navratri #hinduism #hindu #hindufestival #hindufestivals #hinducelebration #fasting #mahishasura #mahishasuramardini #religiousfestival #dusshera #religion #garba #dhunuchi #brownculture #browntimes #thatmauritiangirl #desi #southasia
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