The Devout Celebrate Navratri And How!
After two years of lockdowns and losses, the devout are revering the Devi, in all her glory, again. Here go a few versions of those celebrating Navratri as they talk to The Draft
The long-awaited Navratri festival is here again. And, the devout couldn't be happier. This year, for the first time after the COVID pandemic, they're bringing Devi home again and worshipping her just the way they want to.
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| CVTL Manasvini |
I just can’t wait for the Navratri festivities to begin. It’s the best time of the year when I get the opportunity to do what I love the most ... dress up and dance like there’s no tomorrow. I get together with my besties and go for dandiya nights for all the nine nights and binge on Navratri delicacies
— CVTL Manasvini
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| Suman Manjrekar with daughter Namita |
I have been celebrating Navratri rituals for more than 30 years now. Every year, I do the ghatasthapana when I sow the saat dhaan in a copper container and water it daily. They say, the taller the shoots grow, the more prosperity is in store for you. I also observe a strict fast for all the nine days of Navratri when I consume only fruits and water.
I am a working woman and have to go to work also. It's difficult to manage but I simply surrender to Maa and tell her 'tu hi mujhe himmat dena, tu hi sab sambhal lena'. Why, my 11-year-old daughter Namita, on her side, helps me with the rituals, puja, etc. and insists she won’t eat her 'favourite food' - fish - during the Navratri period. It's Devi Maa's blessings that have helped me wade through all the crises in life
— Suman Manjrekar and Namita
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| Smita Raje |
Every Navratri, like everyone else, I too would keep a very strict fast for the entire nine nights. However, because I started to develop severe gastric issues and began falling sick, I was forced to stop strict fasting during Navratri. So, since then, now for the last 12 years, instead of fasting, as a sacrifice, I don’t wear any footwear for the entire nine-day period when I have to travel to work daily even use public transport
— Smita Raje
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| Sushma Rao and husband |
This year, Navratri is special for us. The last two years have been very trying for the entire world. And, after tackling a host of problems on all fronts, we look forward to celebrating the festival with all and wish health and prosperity for everyone
— Sushma Rao and husband
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| Sushma Mane and daughter |
We are very happy as a family as we will be doing the celebrations after two years of suffering losses on the work as well as health front due to the COVID lockdowns. I will do the ghatasthapana and perform the Devi Puja, complete with accompanying rituals, for the entire nine-day period of the Navratri festival
— Sushma Mane and daughter Pratiksha
Click here to download PDF of the Navratri 2022 Special 'Devi Dhamaka'
