The Story of Navratri

The sky shook in the presence of her arrival and the whole earth was in awe of her aura and beauty that combined to give everyone a vision that was unforgettable. When Durga came down she meant business. The Demon had to be taught a lesson, her children needed to be avenged. The Goddess set to battle and vanquished the demon Mahishasura and brought glory to the people of the world. The whole world rejoiced, there was a burst of colours,a shower of flowers rained down from heaven, everyone was relieved. The beginning of a new era dawned. Shakti was revered by all, she was the embodiment of power, courage and most of all, life itself. Navratri was born to celebrate the victory that Goddess Durga had brought to all beings that inhabited this universe.

Nava meaning nine and Ratri meaning night brings us to nine nights of being festive, prayers, colours, food and frolic and an absolute celebration of good triumphing over evil. While some regions of India celebrate the Triumph of Rama’s victory over Ravana as the main reason behind Navratri, the major theme of Navratri is of Good triumphing over Evil and the invocation of positive energies into our lives through prayers, rituals & celebrating the divine spirit. Navratri consists of nine nights and ten days where the womenfolk observe fasting and indulge in offerings to Goddess Durga through distribution of food, performing rituals to the deities and entertaining families through dance and music. Each day is dedicated to a deity and the rituals that follow will be matched with it. A ritual that is both fun and inculcates a sense of culture and gathering together is the Dhandiya dance form that is performed during the night to rejoice and rejuvenate. While this is a practice only  in some regions of India, it is a tradition that is becoming popular and followed by huge gatherings all over the world. 

The ninth day is called Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja as the day is to pay respect to all the tools that we use in our lives, including our minds. It is an old joke that Saraswati Pooja Day is the one most loved by children as parents never ask them to study on that day.  Then comes the tenth and last day of Navratri which is called Vijaya Dasami  as it signifies the actual day of triumph and is believed to be a wonderful day for new beginnings. This day is considered auspicious for all those attempting to start fresh, be it children going to school or learning a new art form, new business ventures and just about any event that requires great energy. Navratri is like a nine-day carnival that houses good food, good vibes and a wonderful occasion to meet and greet good people. This Navratri, Aha Bazaar brings home closer like never before. Get ready to be amazed as we bring to you a tradition that is an integral part of Navratri. Aha Bazaar bring you Navratri Bazaar to enthrall you like never before…