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| Color of the day: Blue
Incense of the day: Cedar While Jewish brothers and sisters observe Rosh Hashanah, Hindus around the world celebrate Navaratri beginning today until October 1. Navaratri is one of the longest popular festivals in India. It signifies the progress of a spiritual aspirant in three stages personified by the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Navaratri translated loosely means "Nine Nights." Each three-day sequence is allocated for worshipping each of the three goddesses. The tenth day culminates as Vijaya-Dashami or "the tenth day of spiritual victory." Durga is worshipped during the first three days as the aspect of Shakti, which banishes negative inclinations. Lakshmi is next prayed to as divine mother who not only bestows peace, wealth, and abundance, but who also sees to the needs of mortals in accordance with individual karmas. Saraswati is invoked during the last three days of Navaratri. She is the goddess of knowledge, patron of the arts, studies, and music, among other qualities. Saraswati illumines supreme truth and removes inner ignorance. This basic worship ritual is an alternative for those in the West who may also wish to observe Navaratri. Find or download pictures of Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Prepare the altar and make offerings of flowers, fruit, milk, sweets, rosewater, incense, and tea lights. Pray to or meditate on each goddess for each consequent three days. Advanced pratitioners may fast, chant mantras, and recite hymms sacred to Devi in her different forms from holy texts. On Vijaya-Dashami, the tenth day, Saraswati is invoked for blessings. Other devotees may decide to worship Durga to mark her victory over the ledgendary demon Mahishasura. |
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