The Hindu community in Sri Lanka piously celebrates the radiant festival of Navarathri, which in Sanskrit language literally translates as nine nights. This colourful Hindu festival has been celebrated for centuries. Its rituals of worship are observed for different reasons with varying forms of tradition according to each region, in the wider Asian Hindu community. This year it falls from 9- 18 of October. According to the ancient Hindu text Vaishnawa Purana, there are four seasonal Navrathri. However, in practice, it is the post-monsoon autumn festival called Sharada Navrathri which is reverently observed in honour of the divine feminine Durga (Devi).
The corresponding month in the Hindu calendar is Ashvin, which falls in the Gregorian months of September and October. In India which is the cradle of Hinduism, the Durga Pooja is synonymous with Navrathri, where goddess Durga battles and victoriously subdues the buffalo demon. The nine days are segregated into 3 main clusters to adore Malai magal, Alai Magal and Kalai magal (magal meaning daughter).
To gain insight into this magnificent nine day festival I met up with my friend Chitrakanapathi Senthuran, who is the Chief Administrator of the famous Sri Ponnambalawaneswara Kovil, located in Colombo 13 (right across the Shrine of St. Anthony). This massive temple is built out of solid blocks of granite. Senthuran went on to explain “Durga Puja festival marks the battle of goddess Durga with the deceptive and powerful buffalo demon Mahishasura and her victory. In deeper context it is the victory of good over evil. On the other side it is a harvest festival that venerates the goddess as the motherly influence that sustains all creation according to Hindu belief. The Durga Puja festival dates coincide with Vijayadashami, where the victory of Rama is exalted”.
In Indian religious culture celebrations include extravagant stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, and collective chanting of Hindu scriptures. On the final day, called the Vijayadashami, the statues are either immersed in a river, or alternatively the statue symbolizing evil is burnt with fireworks marking the termination of evil forces. The festival also starts the preparation for one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays, Diwali or Deepavali the festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after Vijayadashami.
These nine days are solemnly dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine Avatars each day is dedicated to an incarnation of the goddess. An old book in the kovil sums up the significance of each of these 9 days-
Day 1: Shailaputri
Known as Pratipada, this day is for Shailaputri (meaning “Daughter of Mountain”), also Parvathi. It is in this form that the Goddess is worshiped as the consort of Shiva; she is depicted riding Nandi the cow. The color of the day is bright crimson (red) which depicts action and vigour.
Day 2: Brahmcharini
Goddess Brahmcharini, another incarnation of Parvathi, is worshiped. In this form, Parvathi became Sati, her unmarried self. Brahmcharini is worshiped for emancipation or moksha and endowment of peace. The colour of the day is Royal Blue which depicts calmness-cum-energy.
Day 3: Chandraghanta
Tritiya commemorates Chandraghantha - the name derived from the fact that after marrying Shiva, Parvathi adorned her forehead with half-chandra( meaning moon). She is the embodiment of beauty, yellow being the colour for this day.
Day 4: Kushmunda
Goddess Kushmunda is worshiped on Chaturthi. Believed to resonate the power of the universe, Kushmunda is associated to the endowment of vegetation on earth Green colour dominates this day. She is depicted as having eight arms.
Day 5: Skandmatha
Goddess Skandamatha is worshiped on Panchami, is the mother of Karthigeya. The color grey is symbolic of the transforming strength of a mother when her child is confronted with danger. She is depicted riding a defiant lion, and safely hoding her baby.
Day 6: Katyayani
Born to a sage, Katya, is said to be an incarnation of Durga and is shown to display courage which is symbolised by shades of bright orange. Venerated as the warrior goddess, this is the most violent form of the Goddess Parvathi
Day 7: Kalratri
Considered the most ferocious form of Goddess Durga. Parvathi removed her fair skin to destroy Sumbh and Nisumbh, two demons. The hue of the day is white.
Day 8: Mahagowri
Symbolising intelligence and peace, the color associated with this day is pink which depicts optimism.
Day 9: Sidhidatri
On the last day of the festival also known as Navami, people pray to Siddhidaatri (Ardanareeswara). Sitting on a lotus, she is believed to posses all type of Siddhis. She is affectionately known as Saraswahti Devi.
Over these nine days young devotees will flock to this kovil and other kovils around the nation. The Northern Province will have many colourful poojas as entries villages collectively celebrate these nine days of devotion. Navarathri is a beautiful confluence of Hindu faith and Tamil culture. It is a time for thoughtful reflection and spiritual refinement of young minds.