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Issue No. 4
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In this issue:

• Dassera

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The festival of Dassera

The festival of Dassera, also known as Vijayadashmi, is one of the fascinating festivals of India and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm for ten continuous days. The first nine nights are spent in the worship of goddess Durga and hence these nights are known as "Navaratri". This festival falls in the month of Ashwin (September / October). The tenth day of the Dassera day is in honour of Durga Devi.
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The tribal communities also worship Durga as the presiding deity of Navaratri. The farmers invoke her blessings because this festival coincides with the period of rest and leisure after their strenuous work in the fields. The farmers with her blessings wait with tremendous hopes for a bountiful harvest.
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The story of the creation of this goddess is also very interesting. The gods in heaven decided to create an all-powerful being to kill the demon king Mahishasur who was ready to attack them. At that very moment a stream of lightning dazzled forth from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and it turned into a beautiful, magnificent woman with ten hands. Then all the gods furnished her with their special weapons. Those weapons and armour are very artistically carved in the ancient sculptures of this goddess in Java.
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The image of Durga, the Eternal Mother destroying the demon, Mahishasur on Chamundi Hills near Mysore is symbolic of the final confrontation of the spiritual urge of man with his baser passions. This goddess Durga as Lord Shiva's Consort represents two forms of female energy - one mild and protective and the other fierce and destructive.
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Dassera festival is also known as Durgotsav and during the ten days, the many splendoured goddess Durga is worshipped in one of her many forms differently in different regions. With religious rituals and chantings of mantras followed by "KATHA" or story-telling told by Pandits who by reading passages from religious texts awaken religious fervour in the minds of the listeners.
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In Bengal and the neighbouring states of Assam and Orissa Durga devi is worshipped by name of Kali as a symbol of Shakti before whom animal sacrifices were made. Her dance of conquest is famous in our ancient texts. As per the orthodox Hindu conceptions, the personality of one deity cannot be entirely separated from that of another.
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As such in some regions all the three principal goddesses - Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped during this festival, each for 3 days of the Navaratri.
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As per our great epic Mahabharat, Pandavas after wandering in the forest for 12 years, hung their weapons on a Shami tree before entering the court of king Virat to spend the last one year in disguise.
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After the completion of that year on Vijayadashmi the day of Dassera they brought down the weapons from the Shami tree and declared their true identity. Since that day the exchange of Shami leaves on Dassera day became symbols of good, will and victory.
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The founder of the Hindu Swarajya Chatrapati Shivaji before any military expedition always invoked the blessings of Durga in the form of his goddess Bhawani.
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The Sikh guru Gobind Singh introduced the worship of Durga into his cult of the sword.
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This festival has immense mythological significance. As per Ramayan, Ram did "chandi-puja and invoked the blessings of Durga to kill Ravana, the ten-headed king of Lanka who had abducted Seeta and had charmed life.
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Durga divulged the secret to Ram how he could kill Ravana. Then after vanquishing him, Ram with Seeta and Laxman returned victorious to his kingdom of Ayodhya on Dassera day. Therefore, the festival of Durgotsava and Dassera is celebrated more in honour of Prabhu Ramchandra than Durgadevi in many regions of India and recitations from Ramayan and dances and dramas depicting the exploits of Ram assume great importance.
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These Ramlila shows are very popular in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and to an extent in Maharashtra and effigies of king Ravana, his brother, Kumbhakarna and his son, Meghnath are burnt.
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During the pre-British period, the powerful Hindu rulers used to celebrate Dassera in right royal fashion and start military expeditions on this Dassera day against their enemies or recalcitrant vassals.
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With the arrival of the British, Hindu rulers could not indulge in military activities yet Dassera was celebrated with the old pomp and pageant of full military parades of all arms in the capitals of Hindu states when the Rajas and Maharajas personally took the salute, Trumpets blared militant notes, war drums sounded their loudest and soldiers looked martial.
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The procession of Dassera taken out in Mysore is always remembered for its grandeur.
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With independence and the disappearance of princely states these ancient pageants are dying out and Dassera is becoming more democratic than regal.
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Dassera day is considered one of the most auspicious day. It is a time-honoured belief that if any new venture is started on this day, it is bound to be successful. Hence, all the undertakings be it laying-in of foundation of a new building, opening of a new commercial establishment or even initiating a child into the world of learning- are started on this day.
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Also on this day implements of agriculture, manufacturer's machines, the intellectuals' pens, the household articles, the children's school books are placed before the idol of Durga and worshipped.
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The revolutionaries who followed the "CULT OF THE BOMB" to free their motherland from the slavery of the British imperialism looked up to Durgadevi for success in their mission.
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Even to-day in free India, Durga's blessings are invoked and Dassera is celebrated all over the country. These celebrations involve inter-Asia visits to temples like Meenakshi at Madras, Kamakshi at Conjivaram, Annapurna at Benares, Mumbadevi and Mahalaxmi at Mumbai and signify the triumph of good, of piety and devotion over all the forces of evil.
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http://festivals.tajonline.com/dassera.php
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Durga Mata

On The
Indian Cultural
Scene
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Issue No. 3
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In this issue:

• Durga Pooja

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About Goddess Durga

Durga, in Sanskrit means "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach." Goddess Durga is a form of Sakti worshiped for her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. Mother of the Universe, she represents the infinite power of the universe and is a symbol of a female dynamism.

The manifestation of Goddess Durga is said to emerge from Her formless essence and the two are inseparable. She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali.

In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya, and daughter Jyoti. Destroyer of demons, she is worshiped during an annual festival called Durga puja, especially popular among Bengalis.

Her Appearance There are endless aspects of Durga described in the Puranas and Agamas and the iconography is consequently very varied. She is usually pictured as having ten arms holding Sword, Conch, Discus, Rosary, Bell, Winecup, Shielf, Bow, Arrow, and Spear. She is most often shown riding a lion from which comes Her august name, Simhavahini, "She who stands astride the king of beasts".

She is gorgeously dressed in royal red cloth and has several ornaments decorating Her personage. Her hair is dressed up in a crown (karandamukuta) which then flows out in long luxuriant tresses that are darkly luminous and soothing to the eye.

The various tools reflects the eminent supremacy that helps in controling the universe and obey Her will. Weilding Energy Goddess Durga exists eternally, always abiding in her own sweet nature and inhabits the hearts and minds of her ecstatic devotees.

As Shakti power, she shapes, nurtures, and dissolves names and forms, while as subtle spiritual energy called Kundalini, She lights the lotuses of the seven centres of awareness in the sacred human body.

Goddess Durga killed the powerful demon Mahish and all his great commanders. When demonic forces create imbalance all gods unite becoming one divine force called Shakti or Durga.

Navratri

Navratri, the festival of nights, lasts for 9 days with three days each devoted to worship of Ma Durga, the Goddess of Valor, Ma Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Ma Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge.

During the nine days of Navratri, feasting and fasting take precedence over all normal daily activities amongst the Hindus.

Evenings give rise to the religious dances in order to worhip Goddess Durga Maa.

1st - 3rd day of Navratri: On the first day of the Navaratras, a small bed of mud is prepared in the puja room of the house and barley seeds are sown on it.

On the tenth day, the shoots are about 3 - 5 inches in length. After the puja, these seedlings are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from god.

These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy. Her various manifestations, Kumari, Parvati and Kali are all worshipped during these days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood that include the child, the young girl and the mature woman.

4th - 6th day of Navratri: During these days, Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity is worshipped.

On the fifth day which is known as Lalita Panchami, it is traditional, to gather and display all literature available in the house, light a lamp or 'diya' to invoke Saraswati Maa, the Goddess of knowledge and art.

7th - 8th day of Navratri: These final days belong to Saraswati Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This in turn will free us from all earthly bondage.

But on the 8th day of this colourful festival, yagna (holy fire) is performed. Ghee (clarified butter), kheer (rice pudding) and sesame seeds form the holy offering to Goddess Durga Maa.

Mahanavami: The festival of Navratri culminates in Mahanavami. On this day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshiper. This ritual is performed in most parts of the country.

http://www.durga-puja.org/navratri.html

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On The
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Issue No. 2
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In this issue:

• Navratri Festival

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'Flaunt that bling'
This Navratri, go all chic within a shoestring budget. Here’s what the fashion designers recommend to Nimisha Tiwari...

These Navratri nights, if you are headed to hit the dance floors doing the Garba, then here’s a quick checklist of what you can wear. Interestingly, all of this fashionable ware can fit into a small budget and yet remain high in fashion quotient.

Designer Shahid Amir says, the look this season is less flamboyant. The traditional lehenga and ghagra cholis are still going strong, however the sari and salwar kurta are making it big in an Indo-western avatar.

The loose pyjamas of the 80’s with fitted short kurtas can look really stylish and give you a comfortable feel as well. So, opt for light clothes, preferably natural fibres that breathe. Avoid very heavy ghagra-cholis and jewellery. While bright colours are still in this season, softer and natural colours are in. Earthy tones which are not the traditional reds and pinks are currently in trend.

Men, take note: Folk-headgear for men with a traditional lightweight stole and lightweight fashion jewellery can look cool. Go for the classic or embroidered mojris as well as specially crafted designer sandals for men and women.

Designer Tarana Masand gives Rajasthani embroidery a thumbs up this year. She says, on your dresses, you can make Rajasthani embroidery look slightly different by adding crystals to it. Girls can go for short cholis and play up the colours. Guys could sport some ethnic kurtas and jeans with a Bandhani duppatta.

Now, for the accessories. Girls could opt for some chunky maang teeka. There should be one important and big piece of jewellery and the rest of the look and accessories should be very subtle.

While dancing, remember to wear trendy chappals or flat sandals and avoid wearing heels.

If you are the one to go a bit adventurous then listen to what designer Madhavi Goenka suggests. She says go for some fashionable wear with a unique twist. She recommends girls to opt for funky angarakha-style tunics with crushed long skirts. And guys could sport Bandhani or even block printed kurtas with plain churidars combined with a nice dupatta or stole. Complement the clothes with trendy, big accessories.

Boys can wear balis and mock silver kadas as anklets or armlets. Girls can have some more fun by going for inexpensive yet impressive junk jewellery. Try the henna tattoos on the arms and backs. Add some silver glitter and diamontes to this. Go, have fun.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIM&login=default (BT, Mum, 4th Oct 08)

Traditional Navratri

The 9 nights festival of Navratri begins on the first day of Ashwina of the bright fortnight. Seeds are sown, sprouting is watched, the planets are consecrated, and on the 8th and 9th days, Goddess Durga, Vijayashtami and Mahanavami are worshipped.

The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are cited.

The day after Navratri i.e. the 10th day after Ashwina, is Dussera which celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. Ravana is burnt in effigy, often giant dummies of Ravana stuffed with fireworks are shot with arrows until they blow up before a large, applauding audience.

The most characteristic dances of Gujarat during Navratri are the Rasa and Garba dances which are performed at all levels of society by men and women.

The origin of the Rasa is traced back to the legends connected with the life of Lord Krishna. It is essentially associated with the agricultural rites. The Rasa is performed in Gujarat India on Navaratra; and other important festivals associated with harvest and crops. The Rasa dances of Saurashtra are closely related to agricultural functions and are for the best part grain-ritual dances.

These dances are performed only by men and are often complex circular formations to represent designs of lotus and other designs considered magical religious and auspicious.

The choreographical pattern of the dance, the floor designs made by the dancers, is similar of the paintings seen on the walls of huts. Through these designs whether on the floor or walls, through paint and colour or through dance, ritual is held and spirits are invoked. This is another aspect of the fertility cult. is mother aspect of Navratri.

A cloth called Mata ni Pachepi, where the adventures of the seven mothers, is painted. The mother, one of the seven archetypes, is painted in the centre and she is surrounded by her devotees and Bua, the magician-priest. At the end of the month the Bua wraps the cloth around him and sings and dances with Virgin girls carrying pots of sprouted corn finally, the pot at immersed in the waters of a river. In all cases, the object is always either burnt or consigned to the waters. The Rasa follows.

The most impressive artistry of the Rasa dances of Gujarat and Saurashtra is displayed in the Dandiya Rasa by men. It is a counterpart of the Garba of the women. The dancers use sticks at the end of which tiny bells (ghungrus) are tied so that they give off a clear jingling sound when they strike one another.

This dance has a very complicated rhythm pattern and even though the dancers begin in a slow tempo, the dance develops in such manner that each person in the circle not only performs a solo dance with his own sticks, but also has a complex multiple relationship with both his partners on either side as also partners opposite him in the circles. The circle keeps breaking sometimes into two concentric circles and sometimes into three or four circles within the orbit of a larger circle.

The dancers of each concentric circle then weave patterns with each other and with members of the other circle. There is a great deal of freedom in the movements and sticks are beaten in standing, sitting or lying position. Occasionally, the men weave patterns of an intertwined rope in a circle; they lie on the floor with the two sticks being beaten above their heads and chests; sometimes instead of hands, the feet hold and strike the sticks. The Dandiya Rasa is obviously of ancient origin and of ritual significance. From what one can gather from Sanskrit dramas, it became in course of time a popular, and is mentioned in Rajshekhar's Karpur Manjari.

Each community has its distinctive dance patterns.

The Garba of Gujarat is the most popular women's folk dance of Gujarat. During Navratri, a pot is ceremoniously placed attractive designs are made on the pot and a light is placed inside. Village girls bearing pots (garbis) on their heads go from door to door and dance around the respective house.

The leader of the group sings the first line of the song while the rest repeat it in chorus, the beat being produced clapping hands or striking sticks in unison. At every step they gracefully bend sideways, the arms coming together in beautiful sweeping gestures, up and down, left and right, each movement ending in clap.

The Garba is indeed a ceremony in which everyone can take part irrespective of caste or social position. The dances are accompanied by drums (dholak) and the vocal women. The songs of the Garba are often history and melodious and have been handed down through generations. The origins of the seem to be a tribal dance revolving around a hunt; later it was transformed into an agricultural ritual dedicated to the goddess Ambika. Today it is a social dance at all levels of society. In essence, it continues to be a fertility dance.

There are variations in the garba different regions communities and dancers have involved their own style and steps. In Gujarat, as in Rajasthan, tribal, rural and urban life is interlinked. While the tribes respond to the natural environment, the forest, the sea or the desert, the agricultural community moves around the mother-goddess. She is worshipped as an icon or painted image or painted scroll or as a symbol - an earthen pot (garbi) or a bamboo or wood structure mandavi. The ritual of the Navaratra of the sowing and sprouting of corn for nine days and the climax through a variety of dances links agricultural and urban societies. Today in the cities and town the dance is a social activity and entertainment rather than religious agricultural or fertility symbol.

Ahmedabad is one of the greatest places to enjoy Navratri. All kinds of Rasa-Garbas, Dandia ras etc. are practiced in this period, feasting and fasting are important cultural aspects of this day, and various rituals are performed at temples of the 9 Goddesses of Hinduism. The atmosphere is electric and revelry is in the air. The best places to enjoy the atmosphere of Navratri in Ahmedabad.

Besides Ahmedabad, tourists can witness the Navratri celebrations at :

Baroda :110 kms from Ahmedabad, the city of Baroda is famous for the celebrations of Navratri. The Laxmi Vilas palace of Baroda, rated among the 5 grandest palaces of India, is the site for folk dances organised by the royal family of this princely city. Often there are many good hotels in Baroda.

Poshina :180 kms from Ahmedabad, in the triballands of Sabarkanta, Poshina is where you can see the harvest celebrations of the Garasia and Bhil tribals, besides villagers of the Hindu and Jain faith. There is a heritage hotel at Poshina.

Balaram :167 kms from Ahmedabad, Balaram is a place of pilgrimage in the Arravalli hills. Between Balaram and Ambaji, tribal women dance on the days of Navratri. There is a palace resort at Balaram.

Ambaji :180 kms from Ahmedabad, Ambaji is one of the most reversed temples in Gujarat during the 9 days of Navratri. Prayers are performed and dances can be witnessed in the fore-court.

Pawagadh :Around 70 kms from Ahmedabad, the fortified hilltop temple town of Pawagadh has Kali temples worshipped by thousands of pilgrims during Navratri.

Kutch :An overnight journey from Ahmedabad, Kutch witnesses colourful tribal and rural fairs during Navratri specially on the 7th-8th days.
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http://www.ahmedabadcity.com/tourism/html/navratri.html
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On The
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Issue No. 1
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In this issue:

• Yamini Reddy - Of Moves and Moods

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Yamini Reddy - Of moves and moods
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Kaushalya Reddy and Yamini Reddy were recently in Chennai for a Kuchipudi concert. CT caught up with them
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• How do you prepare for a live concert?
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Yamini: It starts with an idea, which slowly acquires a form. We decide on the song, the choreography and the backdrop. The singers get the notations and accompanists add flavour to it. I tell them the mood of the song.
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Kaushalya: I like the modulation in songs as well as the bhavam. We have three accompanists, and we all share a certain level of comfort.
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• Did your dad want you to take up Kuchipudi as your profession?
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Yamini: My parents didn’t want me to dance. My father said that it’s a process of struggle. My mother Radha used to say that I don’t have that power within me. She sent me off to pursue MBA.
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Kaushalya: But she jumped on stage when she was a three-year-old and copied her father’s style! It so happened that the music followed her dancing.
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• You were not so inclined to music…
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Yamini: Radha amma forced me to take up music lessons. I used to get so bored that I used to pass notes to appa during the classes.
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• Who is your guru?
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Yamini: I grew up seeing my parents perform. And that’s when I knew I had to be a dancer.
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Kaushalya: My husband Raja and my sister Radha are my true gurus. Even though I am his second wife, I am more like a student to him.
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• Are you addicted to only Kuchipudi?
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Yamini: Definitely not. It’s just that we didn’t feel the need to adapt to any other form of dance. In fact, my father would jump at every opportunity to do a jive or hip hop in a pub.
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• Do you ever feel your interest in Kuchipudi becoming jaded?
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Kaushalya: I never get bored with it because we keep re-inventing themes…
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• And how do you do that?
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Kaushalya: Three years ago, Yamini adapted the Beatles’ song My Mind and performed Kuchipudi on that. George Harrison’s wife Olivia was moved to tears after seeing the performance. Again, former President Abdul Kalam had given Raja a piece of his poetry for adaptation. Raja gave it to a western playback singer. Kalam was really impressed with the outcome.
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Yamini: Our performance here had a Hindustani classical Veena Vadini Varade. We merged it with Kuchipudi.
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• Do you take artistic liberties?
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Kaushalya: No. We don’t compromise with the Kuchipudi frame. We just add different kinds of music to Kuchipudi.
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Yamini: The idea is to add influences from our times. We use props like fog machine and laser lights in our concerts.
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• Do you ever reach a level of satisfaction?
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Kaushalya: The day you are satisfied with your work, your life as an artiste is over.
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Yamini: My father is known as the ‘black Shiva’, for his Shiva’s dance has not been replicated by anyone. Though I perform the dance in most of my performances, I am still nowhere near mastering it. Every day, there is more to add to one’s performance.
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http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOICH&login=default (Chennai Edition, Page 1)
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