Dandiya beats, Durga Puja arrangements and spa bookings, Toronto too like India is abuzz with the festive season. Read on as Ramya Bajaj Maheshwary gives an insight about Navratri celebrations

Nav’ means ‘nine’ and ‘ratri’ means ‘night’. Thus, ‘Navratri’ means ‘nine nights’. These nine nights of Navratri correspond to nine forms of Goddess Durga. This is the most pious and pure time in the Hindu calendar.

Navaratri is celebrated with pomp and enthusiasm like any other festival in Toronto. Toronto has kept alive the tradition of dancing to the tunes of Garba. Committees are formed by youth, especially to celebrate this festival and fortunately the number of such committees are increasing every year.

Fifteen years old Rekha Shah, born and raised in Canada and regular visitor at Ram Mandir says, “On the night of ‘Navami’, devil was destroyed! So we celebrate Navratri” This shows that even Torontonians are very conscious and awake to preserve Indian  culture and spread the true message through any such celebrations.

Significance of Navratri:

Navratri is celebrated for nine consecutive nights in the worship of Lord Ram and Goddess Durga. It is a belief that Maa Durga, goddesses of power and vitality who is believed to have nine forms called Navadurga, takes a new form on each of the nine days to kill the demon Mahishasur. It is on the tenth day that the Goddess kills the demon and this day is celebrated as Dusshera, the victory of good over evil. There is also another legend to this, Lord Ram had killed Ravan on this day and this day is celebrated as Vijaydashami or as Dusshera. Lord Ram is said to have worshipped the goddesses, seeking her blessing in order to overpower the evil force of Ravan.

Different States and Different Traditions:

They say Gujarat does not sleep during Navratri, it is the time of great merriment. For Bengalis, it is the most auspicious period where they welcome their Goddess Durga with all grandeur. It has special significance in Mysore, South India. Mysore palace is illuminated for a whole month during Dusshera and caparisoned elephants lead a colourful procession through the gaily decorated streets of the city. In South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the festival of Navratri is celebrated in a different manner. Women adorn their houses with dolls (Bommalla Kolu), draw traditional designs or rangolis and light lamps. During this festival families gather to sing songs and depict scenes from various epics. On the 10th day, larger than life effigies of Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhakarn are set alight to celebrate victory of good over evil.

The Navratri Look:

Navratri is also the time to put together a dazzling wardrobe. Men and women in colourful ethnic garb, are a common sight. Heavy Silver Jewellery, backless mirrorwork choli’s, bandidni ghagra’s combined with heavy blouses, off-white plastic chuda’s worn till the arms: these can be seen all through this festival of dance. Women wear bright coloured Chaniya Cholis and men wear Kedias.

If you are among those who follow the western fashion trends, then you could definitely flaunt in Navratri too. Remember those spaghetti tops and cotton skirts. Preeti Jhunjhunwala, graphic designer, who enjoys garba nights, says “I go for a blend of modern cuts and traditional style, but I definitely do maintain that authenticity.” “Prints like bandhani and lehriya are going to be seen in blue, green, orange, red and mustard colours,” says Prerna Agarwal, a fashion designer from India. Gold Khadi print blouses and ghagras with plain and simple tikki work dupattas are hot picks this season. Black, maroon, red, purple and mauve shades will rule this Navratri.”

You can also raid your mom’s cupboard for antiques. They are hot and you are sure no one else will have them. Neckpieces and earrings in oxidized silver look great on a dandiya night.

So when you plan your wardrobe put in all the glamour with a mix of tradition.

Piyush Maheshwary, a regular participant in Dandiya nights says, “Festivals not only help to increase devotion, but also bond the society! For me raas garrba is a way to unwind myself and enjoy the festival thoroughly. At the same time it keeps up my tradition too.”

People in India say- Western culture has crept into the celebrations these days. But in Toronto the scenario is completely different. Toronto’s Dandiya lovers don’t want the eastern culture to be wiped out or destroying their playing mood, interest and enthusiasm.

Navratri in GTA is not merely an entertainment festival, but a social cause too as various fund raising programs and charity events are held. Toronto’s youth is quite culture oriented and mature.

So celebrate this victory of goodness with enthusiasm as Maa Durga showers all her blessing and strengths onto you and your family. And if you are thinking where to go for Dandiya this year, then you definitely need to take a look at options like the International Center, Mississauga or Sheridan College, Brampton.

By: Ramya Bajaj Maheshwary