Navaratri is here and you must be already decked up with all your preparations for this most significant festival of the Hindus. As the name states, the festivity spread across 9 consecutive nights and it is celebrated in different parts of India in different ways. While many take the Navratri vrat and observe the Navratri fast to get the blessings of the feminine power, there are also many who enjoy this festival revealing with friends and family.
In Andhra Pradesh “Bathukamma Panduga” is celebrated during the Navaratri, whereas in the state of Karnataka, “NadaHabba” is celebrated during these auspicious days. In West Bengal, Durga Puja is celebrated during this time. In different forms, during Navaratri the Hindus worship the feminine power, Maa Durga, Maa Lakshmi and Maa Saraswati. So, this is a festival of feminine powers that protect the earth and the creation.
Navaratri symbolizes the victory of good over bad and during Navratri, being aware about the special significance of these nine days is important for every devotee.
Cleaning your home and giving it a fresh look just before the Navaratri is an age old custom in many Indian Hindu homes. It signifies not only the mood of the festive but is also linked with creating an ideal environment for praying the goddess and seeking her blessings. Before we get to the Navaratri special decorations for your home, first let us take a quick look at the Navratri Vrat and the Navratri fast.
The navratri vrat and the fast
A devotee observing Navratri vrat can opt for a strict fasting or a partial fasting depending on his/her feasibility and preferences. It can be observed by both males and females of any age. However, it is strictly advised that children, elders, pregnant or lactating mothers should take special care and precautions before observing the fast.
There is a wide flexibility in the number of days, a devotee performing the Navratri vrat may fast. The 9 days of Navaratri are divided as tamasic, rajasic and sattvic and three days come under each of these sections. Devotees can fast only on the first days of each of these three sections of the nine days or they can even chose to fast only on the first and the last day of the 9 days of Navratri.
Normally the people observing the vrat take an early bath during the day and perform the puja of the divine feminine power in the form of Devi Durga or Mata Rani. The puja procedure usually includes lightning of diya in front of the idol or picture of the devil and chanting mantras and slokas from the Durga Saptashati. Offering or prasadam also make an important part of the total puja procedure.
The fasting procedure
The fasting procedure during Navratri varies from state to state and also from families to families. Many devotees take only one time sattvic meal during the day and replenish the water requirements of the body with fruit or vegetable juices or only with water at other times. It is said that during this fasting, every food or liquid consumed should be taken very slowly, so that the pranic energy of the food or drink is completely absorbed by the body of the devotee.
It is said that during the fast, the devotee should consume in lesser quantities so that there is never an excess of food in the body. Devotees may break their Navratri fast on the eighth or ninth day of Navaratri and finish their vrat with Kumari Puja and Brahmin Bhojanam.
A devotee observing the Navratri Vrat is not allowed to include particular grains and flours in their meals. These flours and grains include, rice or rice flour, wheat flour, maida, besan and sooji. Oats, flaxseeds, corn flour and even use of oil that is extracted from seeds is not allowed for preparing the food for the devotees.
Vrat takers should not also include onion or garlic in their meal preparations. Consumption of lentils, legumes, common salt, turmeric, asafetida, mustard, fenugreek and non-veg foods is prohibited for the vrat observers. Coffee, alcohol and smoking should also be abandoned by the devotees during the vrat.
Navaratri decorations
When it comes to the Navaratri Decorations you can find a great many options that varies extensively from state to state and culture to culture. While at some parts of the country decorating the whole home with fresh flowers and flower garlands is a norm, in many states colorful and beautiful rangolis make the center point of Navaratri decoration. Many also prefer decorating their homes with beautiful lights and different types of other decorations that is sure to give the house a fresh look.
One thing that lies at the core of Navaratri decorations is cleanliness and hence before starting with the decorations, ensuring that every corner of your home is well cleaned, is important. People also opt for a new coat of paint for their home just before the Navaratri to ensure that their houses are clean and bright while they seek the blessings of the Devi.
Here are some of the special Navaratri decorations that you can get easily sitting right at your home and give your house a fresh look this Navratri. Read on,
Elepro Solar Light Powered Yellow LED Flower Fairy String Lights
These are unique and attractive LED candles, which look really pretty if you use them as home décor. It will not glow as bright as your original diyas will, but it will brighten up one section of your room and give it a distinctive look. There are several products to buy at the markets or even online, but getting something different than all you can easily get, is surely a much better idea to give your home a unique look. The tealight candles are meticulously picked and tested, so that it is made of good quality and is durable.
Decorated Brass Elephant Statue for Coffee Table Mantlepiece
We all tend to do slightly overboard when it comes to buying Diwali time goodies. This is a nice elephant mantelpiece which can be added to your coffee table, and enhance the look of it. This is a brass material which looks attractive and gives an ethnic feel.
Set Of 4 – Indian Brass Oil Puja Lamp
There is no joy of festivity without our pujas and religious rituals. People must add adequate stress on purchasing products related to their puja, and it goes without saying that it is the most important aspect of the celebrations. Diwali doesn’t go without oil lamps and you cannot have something as good as the brass oil lamps with safety and reasonable rate. Add these lamps to cart and decorate every corner of your home with happiness!
Royalty Lane Handmade Indian Brass Oil Lamp
If you are looking for the main lamp which you want to keep in the middle and decorate all the other around this one, you must get something like this. This product will serve you will the best flame and brighten up the entire area. It is around 2.2 inches long and fit in perfectly irrespective of the idol size. This is a special handmade brass lamp which will make your work easier and reliable.
Big Homes Handmade Colorful Plastic Acrylic Toran
Torans are wall hangings which are used in Indian houses. They are usually kept at all times, but Diwali gives you an excuse to add something slightly more beautiful and exclusive. We have a pretty toran design which can be used for your pujas this year. It looks bright and neat, and will surely make your puja place look a little more interesting than times before.
