As the celebrations for the first day of Navaratri began, a large number of people in Gujarat’s Surat performed ‘Garba’ on October 15. They were seen dancing with full enthusiasm to the traditional tunes of Garba, which honours Goddess Durga during the Navaratri festival.
#WATCH | Gujarat: People perform Garba in Surat, as celebrations begin on the first day of #Navratri pic.twitter.com/uH4ebTOdc4
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended ‘Kesariya Garba’ in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar during his 3-day visit to the State. Surat District Cricket Association also organised a special ‘Bicycle Garba’ on October 15, as celebrations begin on the first day of Navaratri. In Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, people performed ‘Garba’ to mark the first day of Navaratri.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted people on the occasion of the beginning of Navaratri and wished them happiness, fortune and good health. “May Shakti Pradayini Maa Durga bring happiness, prosperity, good fortune and good health in everyone’s life. Jai Mata Di!” PM Modi posted on X in Hindi (Formerly Twitter).
देशवासियों को नवरात्रि की ढेरों शुभकामनाएं। शक्ति प्रदायिनी मां दुर्गा हर किसी के जीवन में सुख-समृद्धि, सौभाग्य और उत्तम स्वास्थ्य लेकर आएं। जय माता दी!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 15, 2023
During the nine-day Navaratri festival, devotees worship Maa Durga’s nine incarnations in order to obtain her blessings.There is a goddess manifestation linked with each day of Navaratri.
People maintain ritualistic fasts, recite shlokas dedicated to each goddess, wear new clothing, offer bhog, and clean their homes during these nine days. In their prayers, they ask the goddess for her favour in order to have prosperous, joyous, and fulfilled lives.
Over the next nine days, devotees offer their prayers to Goddess Durga and observe fasts. The festival of Navaratri honours the defeat of the demonic Mahishasura and the triumph of good over evil.
The 10th day of Sharad Navaratri is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami. Ramlila is organised extensively during Navaratri in North India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. During the Ramlila, the tale of Bhagwan Ram’s triumph over Ravana is acted out.
(with inputs from ANI)
