Significance of Navaratri

Navaratri is beginning tomorrow. I got this mail regarding the significance of Navaratri. Sharing it.

Navratri, Navaratri or Navaratra is a festival of worship and dance. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit; Nava - Nine and Ratri - nights. The festival is celebrated for nine nights twice every year during mid-March and the beginning of October, although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the Hindu lunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a day less depending on the calendar.

The nine days represent the nine months spent by the baby in the mother’s womb. It represents the evolution of the consciousness toa heightened awareness.

In life, there are positive and negative qualities that affect us. Navaratri represents how the negativity can be conquered by the inherent positive qualities in an individual so that one emerges as a divine being.

Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses. On the first three days, the goddess is invoked as a powerful spiritual force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.

During the next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth.

The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the wife of Brahma as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence, the worship for nine nights.

During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. A period of introspection and purification, Navaratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures.

On the tenth day of October Navratri, the holiday of Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.

In our Art of Living Bangalore Ashram, when such a celebration happens, it is done for the benefit of all of humanity. It is done with an intention that all the people should be happy; there should be good rainfall, prosperity in the country and so on. Many 'homas' are conducted with the chanting of 'mantras' creating an atmosphere of positivity and celebration.

Garba during Navaratri
A Hindu religious, traditional festival of goddess of power - Amba or Durga for the first nine nights of the month Ashwin of the Vikram year. The word Garba comes from the sanskrit word Garbha deep. The closest meaning of Garbha in the English language is "inside" or "womb", as inside of an earthen pot which people still use to store drinking water. The word Deep means lamp (diya), a burning cotton wick in oil in a small earthen vessel. People in western India do
Ghat Sthapana, which is an earthen pot with holes in it, and decorated with colors, patterns, mirrors, etc, with a diya inside.

Traditionally, Navratri was celebrated by Hindu women only, in the honor of goddess Amba/Durga. Amba/Durga is believed to be a Shakti, originating from Lord Shankara.

Women would put this Garbha deep in the center, as a symbol of shakti/goddess. And at the rhythm of prayers/bhajanas they will be dancing with clapping in concentric circles around the Garbha Deep or Garbo. Although dandiya raas is also somewhat associated with garba, it is originating from a totally different root. Dandiya raas was traditionally performed by men only.

This dance/art originated in western part of Gujarat state in India. The dandiya is actually a pair of bamboo or any wooden sticks of the length 1.5 to 2 feet (45 to 60 cm). Men would hold these sticks in hand, and start with a circular formation. Traditionally, this was a pseudo practice of the sword fight with footwork, you can call it as in poomse in Tae Kwon Do or Kata in Karate. And that is the reason it was performed by men only. It is a highly energetic sort of exercise. You will still find these traditional movements and forms of Dandiya raas in Saurashtra (Western Gujarat). This was an excellent social tradition of incorporating goddess with an art of
swords and also with entertainment, when there were many invasions happening on small kingdoms and almost every man in society was responsible for his region's and community's safety.

Significance of 9 Nights
1st - 3rd day of Navratri
On the first day of the Navaratras, a small bed of mud is prepared in the puja room and barley seeds are sown on it. These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy.

4th - 6th day of Navratri
During these days, Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity is worshipped.

7th - 8th day of Navratri
These final days belong to Saraswati Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This in turn will free us from all earthly bondage. But on the 8th day of this colourful festival,
yagna (holy fire) is performed.

Mallik's comments

During the presentation of the 20-20 final, the first few words said by the Pakistan captain showed how narrow minded they are. These were his exact words

“First of all I want to say something over here. I want to thank you back home Pakistan and wherever Muslims live all around the world. I'm sorry, we didn't win, but promise, we gave our 100%. And I want to thank my teammates. They gave their 100%, I want to thank them."

Beware Mr.Mallik, not all Muslims living around the world were praying for your team's victory. There were two in the Indian team and many more in India praying for an Indian win.

I wondering if no one noticed his words, but found this article.

Anyway, re-reading HP n DH.

100 not out

My hundredth post.

Its been a great journey so far. And I have enjoyed every bit of it. Writing has been my love for quite some time and this blog has given me a platform for the same.

Yeahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

Misbah's mistake

Got this hilarious forward...

T20 FINAL - MISBAH'S MISTAKE!!

MISBAH THOUGHT HE WAS SENDING THE BALL TO A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS NO ONE.

HE DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE IS A MALLU IN EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD!!!

World T20 Champions INDIA

India won the final but just. It could have gone either way. I think India were lucky to win. But its a win nevertheless. And India are the champions...

The game was swinging like a pendulum. When it started India lost 2 quick wickets and Pakistan were on top. Then the partnership of 64 between Gambhir and Yuvraj, and India were sneaking back, but the quick wickets of Dhoni and Yuvraj, and Pakistan were back. The last 2 overs India did get some quick runs, but a target of 158 for Pakistan was very much get-able. By the end of Indian innings, Pakistan were surely on the top.

In the second innings the pendulum swung like it was possessed. India had a dream start with a wicket in first over. But Sreesanth gave away the advantage with the 21 run over. RP again got it India's way with Akmal's wicket. But Nazir carried on. Then the brilliant throw for Nazir's wicket and India were back. Some smart captaincy, good bowling by Pathan and reckless batting by Pakistan and the pendulum stayed in India's court till the 16th over. Then Misbah decided to win the match single handed. Harbhajan and Sreesanth were the sufferers of this decision. But Sreesanth did get a wicket and Pakistan were 8 down. RP bowled another great over with a wicket. Joginder was given the last over 13 to get from 6, 1 wicket remaining. Wide first ball, 12 to get from six. Dot next ball, 12 to get from 5. Misbah swung his bat, 6 second ball. Pakistan were on the brink of victory. 1 wicket to get. Then Misbah goofed up and gave the cup to India in a platter. He tried to scoop the ball over the keeper, but ended up giving a catch to Sreesanth. India are the champions.




And the winning moment...

Saas Bahu out, reality show in...

Its finally happening. The TRPs of Kyuki has fallen and it isn't the numero uno show for 4th week in running. Its Sa Re Ga Ma Pa which is ruling the roost. Check out this article.
Finally!!!!!!!!!

The Dream Final

The dream final is here - India vs Pakistan. The dream will be complete when India wins. The Indians are on a roll but so are the Pakistanis. Both of them have a illustrious list of 'Teams defeated to reach final'. As always, India's batting and Pakistan's bowling are the highlights. This doesn't take anything away from India's current bowling attack or Pakistan's batsman, but its just that we are know for our batting and they for bowling.

So, the peak hour traffic jams will be shifted to 4pm from the usual 7pm. The movie halls, malls and roads will wear a deserted look. And every Indian will be offering prayers to their choicest Gods.

Go India...Chakde India...

Sixy Yuvi

Yuvraj Singh extracted sweet revenge for the five sixes with six sixes. Its a nice watch...

Heyy Babyy...huh

I know men too have emotions. You don't have to make an excuse for a movie to prove it. But director Sajid Khan felt otherwise. His only intention, according to me, was to prove just that.

Three men, Aroush (Akshay), Tanmay (Ritesh) and Al (Fardeen) live like there is no tomorrow. But there life takes a u turn when a baby lands at there doorstep. They don't know who the father is and make a list of all women they slept with in the past year. They don't care for the baby and drop the baby at a church. But their conscience pricks and they go back to see that the baby is seriously ill. They rescue the baby from there, a miracle saves the baby and turns the 3 men into dotting fathers. Out goes daaru and in comes doodh. Then when they are really attached to the baby, bang comes baby's mom Esha(Vidya Balan) and takes her away. The 3 men try different antics to get the baby back. And oh ya...Aroush is the actual father of the baby.

The story line seems ok, but the direction isn't. Sajid Khan makes his actors do the same antics that he does on the small screen. The songs are fine and enjoyable.

The best thing about the movie is Ritesh's Marathi. I loved the way he sprinkles Marathi inbetween dialogues.

Not recommended for a second watch.

SRK's bod

SRK's newly acquired abs is the talk of the town. Honestly he looks more like a devil than anything great. There are somethings that are better not opened and one of them is SRK's shirt.