Section 2.1: Festivals and Celebration (2)

Question 1

Why are festivals important?

Answer 1

Festivals act as reminders of spiritual aspirations, are highlights of the religious year for communities, they bring people together and tend to mark changes to seasons and years.

Question 2

What is Navaratri?

Answer 2

Navaratri, literally ‘nine nights’ or ‘nine days’, is a Hindu festival that marks the beginning of autumn during the start of the month of Ashwin, the seventh month in the calendar.

Question 3

What does Navaratri symbolise?

Answer 3

Navaratri symbolises the victory of the forces of good over evil and the awesome power of the Mother Goddess to protect people from harm. Evil can be overcome through the power of good and the power of shakti.

Question 4

What is shakti?

Answer 4

Shakti - the feminine aspect of God - is the force of power which breathes life and energy into the natural world.

Question 5

Who is Parvati?

Answer 5

Parvati is the consort or wife of Shiva and reveals the kind and gentle personality of the goddess and the finest qualities of the loyal and loving wife. She is always at the side of Shiva and holds a lotus in her hand, as well as the mudra offering protection or gifts.

Question 6

How is Parvati commemorated during Navaratri?

Answer 6

In household shrines, small murtis of the goddess Parvati are placed on beds of rice in a copper dish. Garlands of flowers are hung over the murtis each day. Oil lamps are lit and kept burning over the nine days and nights. Folk dances, known as garba, take place every night around the murtis.

Question 7

What are the danga ras dances said to represent?

Answer 7

Danga ras dances, or ‘stick dances’, are said to represent the gopis who danced around Krishna.

Question 8

What is offered to the Goddess during Navaratri?

Answer 8

Fruit and food are offered to the Goddess and then shared as prasad with others at the end of the festival.

Question 9

What do women do during Navaratri? Why?

Answer 9

Many women fast during the festivities as they believe that it is an auspicious period.

Question 10

What does the festival of Navaratri mark?

Answer 10

The festival marks the nine days Rama fought Ravanna with the blessings of Durga. Rama finally defeated Ravanna on the tenth day, known as Duserrah. Another interpretation is that the celebration marks the time that Durga fought the buffalo demon, Mahisha.

Question 11

Who is days one to three of Navaratri dedicated to?

Answer 11

These are dedicated to Durga and are known as Durga Puja.

Question 12

Who is Durga?

Answer 12

She is the goddess who is worshiped by those seeking protection, and freedom from illness and difficulties. Durga has the power to remove and destroy all our vices, shortcomings and difficulties.

Question 13

What does Durga represent?

Answer 13

Durga represents the warring aspect of Parvati and the Goddess. She is commonly depicted in stone killing the buffalo demon, Mahisha.

Question 14

What happens on days one to three of Navaratri in Bengal?

Answer 14

In Bengal, a large clay image of Durga with the eight arms holding different weapons and atop a tiger, is installed on a dais and puja is offered by worshippers. At the end of the festival, the image is processed through towns and then thrown into the water.

Question 15

Who is days four to six of Navaratri dedicated to?

Answer 15

These are devoted to Lakshmi. She is worshipped in the hope that she can give prosperity and can bestow wealth and financial gain to worshippers.

Question 16

Who is days seven to nine of Navaratri dedicated to?

Answer 16

The last three days are devoted to Saraswati, the consort of Brahma. She is the goddess of knowledge and is worshipped so that she can bring wisdom and success to worshippers.

Question 17

What does the final day of Navaratri celebrate?

Answer 17

It celebrates the victory over demons. These demons vary, depending on the culture and location where Navaratri is being celebrated. It often celebrates the events of the two great epics: the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

Question 18

How are Navaratri celebrations different in north India?

Answer 18

In north India, the exploits of Rama’s battles against Ravanna are celebrated with fireworks. Figures of Ravanna are created from paper and bamboo canes, and are then blown up in these displays. Duserrah thus symbolises the defeat of Ravanna.

Question 19

How are Navaratri celebrations different in Gujarat?

Answer 19

In Gujarat, in the west of India, Mataji - the Mother Goddess - is worshipped during Navaratri and Duserrah. Women paint pots in bright colours, fill the pots with water. The pots represent change and the lamps that are lit by the pots represent Brahman’s eternal light and nature.

Question 20

How are Navaratri celebrations different in western India?

Answer 20

In western India, the story of the Pandu princes from the Mahabharata is the focus of the Duserrah celebrations. To celebrate this day, worshippers dress up in their finest clothes and go to the edges of their towns. Once there, they share leaves from a tree - this is to acknowledge the tree in the epic where weapons were stored. In doing so, they are promoting the ideal of friendship between people, regardless of varna.

Question 21

How has Navaratri had an impact on Britain?

Answer 21

Durga Puja and Navaratri are particularly influential to Hindus who hail from Gujarat. Halls are hired for dancing. In addition, effigies of Ravanna, made from bamboo and paper, are burnt or blown-up during firework displays.

Question 22

What is Diwali?

Answer 22

Diwali, meaning ‘cluster of lights’, is the festival of lights and is celebrated over five days during either the third or fourth week of October.

Question 23

When does Diwali take place?

Answer 23

It begins in the month of Asvina at the darkest point of the lunar cycle and ends in the next month, Karttik, at the beginning of the new moon. It marks the start of a new year for Hindus.

Question 24

What does Diwali commemorate?

Answer 24

It commemorates the story of Rama and Sita and their return to the city of Ayodhya after Rama’s year of exile following his victory over Ravanna. Upon their return to the city, the story says that there was no moonlight, so the citizens lit up the streets with oil lamps to celebrate his return.

Question 25

How is Diwali celebrated?

Answer 25

Clay lamps, known as divas, are placed inside and outside every home and temple, and coloured light displays are common outside Hindu houses. Firework displays are also common as pavements are covered in rangoli patterns.

Question 26

What are rangoli patterns?

Answer 26

Rangoli patterns are drawings, often of lotus flowers, illustrated with coloured sand and bright chalk.

Question 27

Who is Lakshmi?

Answer 27

The goddess of prosperity whose worship is connected to hope for financial gains and money.

Question 28

In what way is Lakshmi valued during Diwali?

Answer 28

She is said to give presents to good children and she is help to their houses by guiding lights. Gifts are exchanged between family and friends and feasts are shared. Businessmen see Diwali as a time to finalise their account books before opening new ones for the year ahead.

Question 29

What is Chopda Pujan?

Answer 29

During Diwali, a special type of puja, known as Chopda Pujan, takes place for businessmen; they worship their account books so that the gods will bless them for the year ahead and it allows them to show respect to their trade. At such ceremonies, a pujari might draw a red swastika on the cash-box of a business and presents this before Lakshmi in hope for her blessings in the year ahead.

Question 30

How is Diwali celebrated in the United Kingdom?

Answer 30

Firework displays are commonplace across the country as Transport for London offers shuttle bus services from Neasden Tube Station to the mandir every ten minutes during the evening. Celebrations are usually confined to one evening, whereas, in India, these take place over five.

Question 31

What happens on the first day of Diwali?

Answer 31

A single flame lamp is offered to Yama, the spirit of Death. The flame points towards the south, the quarter over which Yama rules.

Question 32

What happens on the second day of Diwali?

Answer 32

People rise early and have a ceremonial bath after their bodies have been rubbed with perfumed oil. After the bathing ritual, friends and neighbours enjoy specially cooked dishes for breakfast. Puja is offered to Vishnu to celebrate his victory over the demon, Naraka.

Question 33

What happens on the evening of the third day of Diwali?

Answer 33

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is worshipped. Silver coins, gold ornaments, banknotes, cheque-books and business accounts, representing Lakshmi, are offered as puja. Fireworks and oil lamps are lit, people wear new clothes and enjoy a feast after the puja.

Question 34

What happens on the fourth day of Diwali?

Answer 34

Every husband is supposed to give a present, usually a sari, to his wife, and the children get new clothes. This is a day of new beginnings, since it is considered a lucky day. Worship is offered to Vishnu to celebrate his victory over a tyrant named Bali.

Question 35

What happens on the final day of Diwali?

Answer 35

This is called ‘sister’s day’. Men visit their sister’s house, enjoy a feast and honour their sister with a present.