Things I miss about my Navratri celebrations at home !

Navratri is the beginning of the festival season for all of us. Each of the nine days is dedicated to different Avatars of Goddess Durga.Festivities start with Navratri to Dussera & continue till Diwali.

Food for fasting
Sabudana khicdi

Starting from the first day, when everyone at home would be fasting & kids used to get leverage. Fasting for us meant eating loads more yummy food. Sabudana khicdi, kuttu pakode, potato chips,halwa-poori – top ones I could think right now. In my family the fasting is done for first seven days & Asthmi(eighth day) is Kanya Pujan.

Navratri Food
Food for fasting

My nephew is participating in Ramleela celebrations this time. He reminded me of my childhood celebrations. Everyone practising different roles &ย fight to get selected as Ram, Sita or Hanuman for skits held in the society.We used to collect funds from people living in the colony. Small Ravana replicas were created by all kids in the block & burnt in the evening. Over the course of nine-day different parts of Ramayana are enacted. Huge processions passing through the streets with children dressed as different Gods & Goddesses. Am I the only one getting nostalgic? Or you too are missing those carefree celebrations ?

Ramleela celebrations
Ramleela celebration
Girls worshipped for KanyaPujan
Kanya Pujan

As a child, I used to wait eagerly for the Asthmi/ Navmi (9th day). Girls would be dressed up in the best clothes & visit nearby home for the Kanya Pujan. Being treated as a Devi & worshipped is an amazing feeling. Also, there used to be one boy whom we would all tease.For a little kid that is a special privilege. We were fed halwa-poori-chana & given small gifts. Mothers were fed up by the end of the day, cause they were not even aware of our whereabouts throughout the day. Just thinking about it now & I am craving to relive all those moments again.

We celebrate the tenth day (Dussera) to mark the victory of good over evil – Lord Ram over Ravana. Evenings were spent in visiting different pandals & watching Ravanaย being burnt to signify the victory. I used to accompany my Grandpa & would constantly nag him for buying him different toys at the mela shops.

Ravana Effigy
Ravana Effigy

Dussera is known as Durga Puja in West Bengal, wherein pristine life-size crafted idols of Goddess Durga are installed in pandals. The idols are immersed in water on the last day. In later years, we had started witnessing this culture even in Lucknow. Adding up to the variety of celebration ๐Ÿ™‚

A Devotee offering her prayer while Pujari deeply engrossed in performing the Maha Ashtmi Puja at a pandal in New Delhi on October 19, 2007

Thinking about Navratri & how can I miss the Dandiya – Garba sessions of Gujarat. People engrossed in the graceful dance steps. I am guilty of having injured quite a number of people with the Dandiya sticks. Dandiya nights held in school & college. Sadly,I am yet to attend any Dandiya night this year. Just close your eyes and you can hear Falguni Pathak songs in the background.

Too many things to cherish about the Navratri celebrations. I hope that you were able to recall few of your own sweet memories. Eagerly waiting to hear about how you celebrate the Navratri, any rituals close to your heart !

I am taking part in Blogchatter #DailyChallengeย this whole month. If you liked the post do shower us some love by liking, commenting, subscribing or sharing the post ๐Ÿ™‚

(All pictures sourced in from Google images & credits go to the owners)

Post Author: Dishki

18 thoughts on “Things I miss about my Navratri celebrations at home !

    uttpalkhot

    (12th October 2018 - 13:28)

    Beautifully written post. Yu have told so much about the festival which not many would know. Thanks..:)

    UK

      Dishki

      (22nd October 2018 - 20:56)

      Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚

    deepali dhabu

    (10th October 2018 - 15:07)

    I so love this festival of lights as I was born on navmi so connect with this one. durga puja , dandiya everything about this festival is amazing. Totally relate to it.

      Dishki

      (10th October 2018 - 23:50)

      Oh then you have a special bond with Navratri. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Preeti Chauhan

    (10th October 2018 - 06:21)

    I miss the Kanjaks when all of us pre puberty girls would be treated like Goddess and handed over so many gifts.

    aritrarelivingdreams

    (10th October 2018 - 06:02)

    Navratri or Durga Puja is always a source of happiness for me, more so, being from Bengal n having spent some years in Gujarat, this festival is dear to me.

    Neha

    (10th October 2018 - 05:42)

    Oh! Yeah, playing dandiya was a ritual during Navratri in our society and there was a bunch of Gujrati friends who dressed up beautifully and taught us new garba moves every year. Your post made me nostalgic

    Richa Mina

    (9th October 2018 - 16:30)

    itโ€™s like a trip down the memory lane, i could still remember when we use to go neighbours houses for halwa puri n chane on Kanya poojan. amazing post & great pics

    dew cool

    (17th October 2016 - 00:21)

    happy navratri … beautiful pics

      Dishki

      (21st October 2016 - 09:19)

      Thanks ! All pics courtesy google images ๐Ÿ™‚

    Durga Prasad Dash

    (10th October 2016 - 07:39)

    Such festivals bring life to our lives. you beautifully captured the spirit of one of the most important festivals of India.

      Dishki

      (10th October 2016 - 09:22)

      Thanks you ๐Ÿ™‚

    Nidhi D Bruce

    (7th October 2016 - 03:43)

    Awww! Nothing beats the childhood memories of festivals ๐Ÿ™‚

      Dishki

      (7th October 2016 - 09:24)

      Glad you liked it ๐Ÿ™‚

    bhashamaru

    (6th October 2016 - 15:43)

    Great blog post ๐Ÿ˜€ I can totally relate to everything you have written because I miss these things about Navratri back home too. You can check out my blog at https://bhashamaru.wordpress.com/

      Dishki

      (6th October 2016 - 22:02)

      Thanks for connecting ! ๐Ÿ™‚

    SANJAY THAMPY

    (6th October 2016 - 08:35)

    A wonderful insight. There’s so more to Narvratri than just music and Dandiya.

    You may check out my blog at http://www.yesteethatsme.com

      Dishki

      (6th October 2016 - 11:32)

      Glad you liked it ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

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