Navratri Masti

Navratri- the festival of nine divine nights will start on Friday, the 8th of October and will continue for 9 days until Saturday, the 16th of October. Different people have different plans for this Navratri. Here are plans of some of the youngsters of Lucknow.

Fast and feast are an inevitable part of this festival. Anjali Tripathi, a management student asserts that she will keep her fast all the nine days and she has also learnt some new falahaari recipes for the same.

Rashi Prakash, a budding architect, shares that the mere mention of Navratri reminds her of variousfalahaari delicacies like sabutdana cutlets, kutu ke pakode, kutu ki poorie, lauki ki lauj and pepper-potato prepared by her mother. Since many restaurants like Classic Sweets, Ritz Continental, Moti Mahal also offer falahaari thals, she also plans to try them out.

There is a special reason to rejoice for all the young girls in Navratri due to the ritual of “Kanjak”.

 Ishita Agarwal, a 5^th class student chirps that she love the festival of Navratri due to the ritual of ‘Kanjak Devis’ which acts as a source of income for all young girls. “I spend the collected money on buying toy sword, bow and arrow, eatables and other items from Durga Puja mela in Aashiana colony.” She chips in.

There is also a tradition of playing ‘Dandiya’ during Navratri. “Dandiya night” or “Dandiya party” are gaining a lot of popularity among youngsters now a days.

Mohit Dixit, an aspiring actor, said enthusiastically that he has organized a ‘dandiya’ party at his own residence and invited all his friends and cousins for the same. He has also brought a special ‘dandiya’ outfit from Ahmedabad.

While Mohit is only concerned with masti associated with the festival, there are some who are devotional and are concerned about rituals.

Ayushi Singhal, a 2^nd year engineering student stated that she would sow barley seeds on the first day of this festival in a pot and water it for nine days at the end of which the seeds sprout. This pot is worshipped throughout the nine days. She said that this custom is known as ‘Khetri’ and is significant of prosperity and abundance.

Anchal Agarwal, a student of class XII believes that worshipping mother Goddess during these nine divine days is must. “I will visit the famous ‘Kali Ji’ temple of Chowk all the nine days” she declares.

Apart from fast, feast and ritual, Ramleela is also an important part of the Navaratri festival and is performed in many parts of the city. Fares are also organized at some places during Navratri, especially on the tenth day of navaratri festival.

Gauri Gupta, a high-school student stated that this year she has planned to watch Ram Leela, which is staged at Aishbagh Ram-Leela Ground every year.

She also loves to see the burning of giant effigies of Ravana, Meghnada and Kumbhkarna at the tenth day (Dussehra). “I will also visit the Aishbagh fare this year.” She announced excitedly.

Anubhuti Jain, a school teacher said that she will help her Aunt in putting a stall of handicraft items in Durga Puja mela in Aashiana Colony. “I also like to see the beautiful Durga pandal set over there and I will definitely watch and participate in the various cultural programs held over there.” She proclaims.