Info for vrat in Navratras???

patialahill

Hi all,

Can anybody help me in giving me details of 'vrat' ritual in Navratra? Being non-hindu, I have a keen desire to know about this 'vrat' ritual.

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PatialaHill

Aishah

I wouldn't mind knowing either - I have gathered it goes for 9 days, is currently on now, every night there is stick dancing in areas around the city cordoned off with bright decorations, and some kind of fasting is going on at the same time. But full details I am unsure of. Also, the temple on the hill is putting its music on so the whole of Jaisalmer can be woken up at 4.45a.m. daily! Music quite nice but would like it turned down... I do manage to go back to sleep.

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shashank.aggarwal

vrat means fast...everyone has different way of doing it...some people only have water for entire duration of navratris..

Some people will have a meal a day, but not based on wheat OR rice OR common salt..its entirely based on sweet...

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Aishah

thanks Shashank for explanation; and also interesting that there is no set type of fast and you could still have something in the day unlike Ramadan where no water or food passes your lips between sunrise or sunset. This latter fast I find unhealthy, especially in very hot months - and it is also extremely difficult when you are working at the same time. The lack of water in hot times I think makes 'the brain go down'...

kpnuts

I thought this was the time when boys meet girls All there to show off their moves, forget fasting, just dont eat meat or drink (the strong stuff!)
Over the years here in London we have had many Gujarati community organising navratri in school halls or town halls i have noticed there are many different people wanting to attend, i remember it was free to go to these dances and some now are charging as much as £10 per night per person! to keep some unwanted guests out.(unwanted- those boys from other community that are there to chase Gujrati girls, and create trouble, some come drunk!)
So to see Navratri in its true form, go to a small village in Gujrat where the traditional way still exists.. mostly every where else the gujraties have discovered Mikes and speakers but dont know how to use the mixing desk. It is just a loud bang with no space to move. I gave up years ago.

shashank.aggarwal

Well not all people keep a fast, my mom at this age and medical reasons cannot fast for entire duration of 9 days. She fats on first and last Navratra...

In the fast she eats only 1 meal in a day, that is not based on wheat/rice. There is floors by name of Kuttu Atta, Singhara Atta etc. The food is made out of that...like Chapatis, Pranthas, Puris OR Pakodas. They do not consume common salt, there is a salt by name of Lahori (From lahore) Or rock salt..I am not sure what is it..

The rest of the days she skips a meal everyday as a token..

Whereas my aunt, she fasts for all nine days..

And for people who do not actually fast they avoid Non-Veg food, Liquor, onion and garlic..depends on your personal feelings and sentiments..

Aishah

They seem to do it traditionally here too - around different communities you will see small gatherings, mainly younger people doing the dancing, and the older ones looking on. They get out on the back streets where it widens out a bit and when it is quieter at night. They also put decorations up on wires to make a kind of open glittery canopy to dance beneath. Probably a time where girls meet boys or the other way around, but very conservative here with a lot of parents, aunts, uncles observing the activities!

shashank.aggarwal

This might be Dandiya you are talking about...its more common in Gujarat and surrounding areas...especially western region...In Delhi it takes place in corporates and some up market colonies..

Delhi has its own way of evening celebrations. We have Ram-Leela, in it local people portray 'Ramayana' on stage for evenings of 9 days. There are thousands of such large and small gatherings in Delhi..

Just try and venture in Old Delhi after 4 pm on Dussehra Evening. You will know what humanity and religion is all about. there are some very famous Dussehra events, burning of effigee, spectacular fireworks etc and Delhi has several amazing one of these celebrations...however Old Delhi has couple of best and oldest..

Its so very crowded, but its the best time to devour the street food, look at masses have fun...

Aishah

Shashank - it could be, they do it for the 9 days of Navratra - Now I understand, Navratra refers to the fasting, and Dandiya to the dancing? Learning all the time my vocabulary as you can see!

rushie82

I highly recommend United Way of Baroda garba in Baroda, Gujarat. Very good lovely traditional music, very beautiful lovey girls wearing traditional dress (lot of time backless and sleeveless) and very energetic and entertaining dance with very graceful rhythmic movements. Once u get into grove of music u cant stop. its very good.

Aishah

Laughed at your 'United Way of Baroda'!! rushie82 - dancing would
be great!

Ann

Hello patialahill,

As said by Shashank, navratri Vrat has either first and last day fast or 9 days fast. In fast people used to have one time meal which can be a proper vegetarian meal without onion or "falar" means no anaaaj which consist of Kuttu Aata's roti, aaloo ki sabji without masala only with special salt knows as "sandha namak". You can have fruits without salt in between time also.

At the last day in navratris i.e. asthmi or navmi, just call nine girls along with a boy. Serve Prasad to them & give whatever gifts like bindis, bangles etc to them along with some money. This is all in navratris Vrat.

This is for them who don't know why we serve nine girls along with a boy. Nine girls as there are Nine Devis of Maa Durga.

For more infomation visit: http://www.indif.com/nri/festivals/navratri.asp

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Aishah

Ann - I never knew about the 9 girls and 1 boy thing - very interesting, thank you.

shashank.aggarwal

The girls are called Kanjak..and boy is called....errr....emmmm...lemm e ask my mom !!

Ann

Hi Shashank, The boy symbolist Ganesh Deva. We always pray to Ganesh (Agradev) first & then any other God according to Hinduism. So when we feed these kanchak, we first feed to Boy & then to girls.