The document discusses Navaratri, a Hindu festival celebrated over nine nights. It provides several stories and beliefs about why Navaratri is celebrated, including the war between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. It also mentions the story of Uma becoming Sati. The document discusses the various forms and celebrations of Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswathi during Navaratri across different parts of India. It includes photos of Golu displays and recipes for special Navaratri foods. It concludes with a Navaratri-themed crossword and quiz about the festival.

1. Fest In - Vol 5 RC Zenith

2. Voice Of Editor
As a fest-In editor, sorry learner, I would like to wish my Rotary Family Apy Navarathri.
We are coming up with our 5th volume ‘Navarathri’ edition. To talk about this edition
we are having more than one story why we are celebrating Navarathri. Few stories are
really surprising and new to me, even for many. Here I like to thank my co-editor and the
‘fest-In’ chairman Rtr. Premalatha for allowing me to learn new myths, scenes, stories
and histories. As a reader we might skip things and shift to our interested area in any of
the magazine, but as an editor I suppose to go through each and every line of ‘fest-In’.
So there is no way to leaving things and shift to my interested area. I personally request
rotaractors to go through each and every topic of ‘fest-In’ especially “Idhu Namma Area”
to taste the full essence.
Regards,
Rtr.Saravanan,
‘fest-In’-Editor.
IPP Speaks
Dear Rotaractors,
Warm Rotaract Greetings,
It gives me immense pleasure to pen my message for fest - In magazine, that to on
the Navarathri edition. Navarathri is one of my favourite festival for the Golu special,
Dhandiya nights, n those yummy sundals (he he).
First I would like to congratulate Rtr. Premalatha and the team for bringing such wonderful
magazine. Its not just an easy task to bring out a magazine, as i have expierence on it.
And I thank Rtr. Premalatha for giving me an opportunity to design this edition after a
long gap. Not only designing, i also enjoyed the myths about navarathri. Topics like idhu
namma area, kitchen zone, find out and G.K adds colors to the magazine. On behalf of
fest In team, I thank Rtr. Subbalakshmi, Rtr. Meena, Shanmugam and Sriram for sharing
their Golu Pictures.
Regards,
Rtr. IPP Swathi Sujir,
Rotaract Club of Zenith
sponsored by
Rotary Club of Madras North East,
Rotary International District 3230.
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3. accumulated power and the weapons
Navaratri given by the gods, Goddess Durga set her
Navaratri is celebrating with fun and trail to defeat Mahishasura. To accomplish
religious fervor by Hindus across India. the task, she fought against Mahishasura
There are many stories (belief) why we are in the war which extended for nine days.
celebrating Navaratri every year. After fighting hard with him for nine days,
Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura on the
War against Mahishasura tenth day. Consequently, she lifted the
According to a very popular legend, tyranny of the demon off the innocent lives
on earth and restored the swarglok to the
devatas (Gods). Therefore, Navaratri is
celebrated to commemorate her victory
over the demon, which symbolizes the
victory of the good over the evil. The nine
nights of Navratri symbolize the nine nights
of the war between Goddess Durga and
Mahishasura.
Uma became Sati
According to the story of Hindu mythology,
King Daksha of Himalayas was blessed with
a beautiful and virtuous daughter, named
Uma. She wished to marry Lord Shiva. In
order to tie the wedding knot with Lord
Shiva Uma worshipped him and pleased
him. Consequently, Lord Shiva married
Uma. One fine day, Uma, now the consort of
Lord Shiva, wished to take part in a Yagna
conducted by her father. Since her father
Mahishasura, the mighty demon worshipped was not in good terms with him, Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva and obtained invincible power. refused her to witness the Yagna. Without
Soon, he started killing the innocent lives listening to Lord Shiva Uma alone witnessed
on earth and set out to win the seven Yagna. When she turned up to the Yagna,
lokas. He acquired the swarglokas. Nobody her father (King Daksha) insulted Lord Shiva
could save the living creatures from his by his words. Uma was unable to withstand
tyranny. Even the three mighty gods of the the insult and she got angry and decided to
Hindu Trinity - Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu end her life by jumping into the agni kund
and Lord Shiva were unable to defeat (Fire). Soon after doing this, she was united
him. Therefore, all the gods, including the with the eternity. Therefore, Uma came to
Hindu Trinity, united their supreme powers be known as Sati. Sati was reborn again.
and created a divine named Ma Shakti or In the second birth, Sati married Lord
Durga, the Warrior Goddess. With all the Shiva and the divine couple lived happily,
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4. thereafter. It’s a belief that Sati will visit her who witnessed puja.
native place and stay with her parents. This
occasion is celebrating as Navarathri.
Ayudha Puja
The ninth day of Navaratri is also called as
Konjam Ramayanam Ayudha Puja. The Ayudha Puja is a worship
Lord Rama, who wanted to rescue his wife of whatever implements one may use in
Sita Devi from the demon King Ravana who their livelihood. On the preceding evening,
abducts her to his place. To free Sita Devi it is traditional to place these implements
from Ravana he was in need of enough on an altar to the Divine. Children
power to defeat him. So, he worshipped traditionally place their study books and
goddess Durga in nine different forms for writing implements on the altar. On this
nine days. At end of the day he got enough day, no work or study is done, that one
power to defeat Ravana. Tenth day Rama might spend the day in contemplation of
killed Ravana. As a note of remembering the Divine.
it first nine days we are celebrating as
Navarathri and tenth day we are celebrating
Dussehra
as Vijayadashmi.
Navaratri and Dussehra is celebrated
throughout the country at the same
Ten days time, with varying rituals, but with great
First 3 days for Durga who gives us enthusiasm and energy as it marks the
courage, power and energy.Next 3 days for end of scorching summer and the start
Lakshmi Mata who gives us Wealth, Peace of winter season. The tenth day after
and Prosperity.Next 3 days for Saraswathi Navaratri is called Dussehra. On this day,
who gives us Knowledge and Wise. Last in the northern side of India, people burn
day i.e.10th day is celebrating as dussehra effigies of Ravana, marks the victory of
Lord Rama over Ravana. This day is also
Saraswthi puja called “Vijayadashmi” i.e. day of victory.
The Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped According to Scriptures, by worshipping
as the Goddess of Learning, the deity of the ‘Shakti’ on these nine-days the
Gayathri, the fountain of fine arts and householders attain the threefold power i.e.
science, and the symbol of supreme physical, mental and spiritual, which helps
vedantic knowledge. In a well-decorated him to progress in life without any difficulty.
room, books and grandhas (holy books) VijayaDashami is considered to be an
are tastefully arranged with a picture or an auspicious day for the Indian householder,
image of Goddess Saraswathi in front of it. protects and preserves ‘Shakti’ (power) on
Sometimes weapons and implements are this day. The ‘Ramlila’ - an enactment of the
kept by the side of books and garandhas. life of Lord Rama, is held during the nine
Then a Puja is performed to Saraswathi. days preceding Dussehra. On the tenth
Fruits, beaten rice, roasted paddy (malar), day (Dussehra or Vijay Dasami), larger
jaggery etc, are offered to her. These than life effigies of Ravana, his son and
offerings will be distributed to the people brother - Meghnadh and Kumbhakarna are
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5. set to fire. The theatrical enactment of this Goddess Durga.
dramatic encounter is held throughout the In Gujarath, gujarathis perform songs and
country in which every section of people dance - Dandiya Raas (dance by women)
participates enthusiastically. In burning the and Garba Raas (dance by men) during
effigies the people are asked to burn the their worships. In Dandiya Raas women
evil within them, and thus follow the path place an earthen pot in the center and they
of truth and goodness, bearing in mind dance around it. The pot is considered as
the instance of Ravana, who despite all his goddess durga. Sometimes durga idols
might and majesty was destroyed for his also placed instead of the pot.
evil ways.
We Indians believe that anything which South india
started on the day of vijayadashmi will be
end with success. So that students start
their new courses on studies in this day and
people use their implements and read the
books which are placed before the goddess
on the day of saraswathi pooja, on this day.
Celebrations
North India In Maharashtra, people worshipped goddess
durga on all the nine days and the tenth day
they worshipped saraswathi. They keep
their books and implements before the
image or idol of goddess saraswathi. This
day is also considered auspicious to begin
any new thing or to buy new ornaments.
Kerala, they start the formal education on
these nine days and they celebrate the
saraswathi pooja on the ninth day.
Bommai kolu is arranged in Tamilnadu,
Karnataka, and Andhra Pradhesh. They
The devotees fast for the nine days and
believe that goddess durga, lakshmi, and
worshipped goddess durga. In Bengal the
saraswathi give their presence in the form
bengalis worshipped a large idols of durga,
of kolu. Traditionally they arrange kolu
perform songs and dance and the tenth
in 3 steps upto 11 steps. They follow a
day the idol will immerse into water. They
traditional way to arrange the dolls or kolu
celebrate kannya pooja on the tenth day;
bommais. Usually this order is followed,
people worship pre-pubescent young girls,
from the top in first step idols of god and
known as ‘kanyas’, as the embodiments of
goddess (Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Bhrama,
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6. Saraswathi, Durga, Lakshmi, Muruga) are are placed. After this animals and birds are
placed. In second step they place avatars of placed in the next step. Reptiles, plants,
god (Dhasavatar, Ashtalakshmi). Third step water and the things which are made by
is for saints, yogis (munivargal). Followed man (shops, villages, cities, parks etc.) are
by this, in the next step human being dolls placed followed by the animal and bird’s dolls.
Forms of Goddess
Forms of Durga
Shailputri Brahmacharini Chandraghanta
Kushmanda Skanda Mata Kathyayani
Kalratri Maha Gauri Siddhidatri
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7. Forms of Lakshmi
Adilakshmi Dhanyalakshmi Dhairyalakshmi
Gajalakshmi Santhanalakshmi Vijayalakshmi
Vidyalakshmi Dhanalakshmi
Forms of Saraswathi
MahaSaraswati Mahaneel Mahavidya
Saraswati
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8. Gallery!
Golu @ Rtr. Meena’s Home Golu @ Rtr. Meena’s Home
Golu @ Shanmugam’s Home
Golu @ Shanmugam’s Home
Golu @ Shanmugam’s Home
Golu @ Sriram’s Home with Republic Day Theme
Golu @ Rtr. Subbalakshmi’s Home
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9. Kitchen Zone...
Here some special recipes of Navarathri for you…
Saboodana Vadaa
Ingredients: Potato - 1, boiled, peeled and mashed.
Green Chillies - 8-10 (crushed), Sago - 1 Cup,
Peanuts - 1/2 cup (roasted and crushed crudely,
Rock salt (for taste), Oil (to deep fry)
Method:
• Wash Sago and soak it for about 3 hours.
• Add all the ingredients to Sago except oil. Grind
it all into a paste.
• Heat the oil in a pan.
• Make small vadas with the paste. Slip these into the heated oil on medium flame.
• Keep frying the vadas till they turn crisp and light brown.
• Serve with badaam chutney
Aval Kesari
Ingredients: Rice Flakes (poha) - 1/2 cup, Sugar
- 1/2 cup, Ghee - 2 teaspoon, Cashews – 5nos,
Cardomom - 1/4 teaspoon, Safforn colour
Method:
• Melt some gheein a kadai
• Roast the cashews in the ghee and put aside.
• In the remaining ghee, roast the rice flakes until
golden brown.
• Pour safforn into some water and bring to a
boil. Add the flakes and allow them to get cooked for few minutes. Pour sugar and
cardomom to it.
• Keep stirring the mixture until it becomes non-sticky. If required, add some more
ghee. Add the roasted cashwes to it. Serve hot.
Sweet thukkada
Ingredients: Maida flour/All purpose flour - 1
Cup, Sugar – 1 & 1/2Cup, Cardamom powder - 1/4
teaspoon, Water - 3 Cups, Oil - For frying thukkada
Method:
• Make dough with maida flour and roll it into
small chappatis
• Cut the chappati into small pieces and deep fry
these thukadas .
• Make sugar syrup which is in one string
consistency.
• Add the thukadas and cardamom powder to the sugar syrup.
• Serve it.
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10. Idhu namma area…
Navartri Crossword:
Across:
3) Navaratri commences on this day.
4) Goddess of wealth.
7) Gujaratis celebrates Navaratri with this famous dance.
8) The festival that sees nine nights of celebrations.
Down:
1) One of the nine forms of Shakti, a prominent hindu goddess.
2) A demon whose death Navaratri commemorates.
5) The goddess of wisdom.
6) The festivals comes right after Navaratri
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11. How is Your G.K?
1) Which form of Goddess Durga is 6) Vaishno Devi shrine is situated in which
worshipped on the first day of Navratri? state?
• Brahmacharini • Uttaranchal
• Chandraghanta • Jammu and Kashmir
• Shailputri • Himachal Pradesh
• Kushmanda • Rajasthan
7) Which state celebrates ‘Bommai Kolu’
2) Who wrote the great epic Ramayana? that is the display of dolls during Navratri?
• Veda Vyasa • Tamil Nadu
• Valmiki • Assam
• Dronacharya • Maharashtra
• Vishwamitra • Himachal Pradesh
3) Garba’ is the folk dance of which state? 8) Dussehra commemorates Shri Rama’s
• Gujarat victory over whom?
• Andhra Pradesh • Surpanakha
• Maharashtra • Kumbhakarna
• Tamil Nadu • Bali
• Ravana
4) Which place of Karnataka is famous for
its elephant processions on the occasion 9) Which of these is not a form of
of Dussehra? Goddess Durga?
• Hubli • Katyayani
• Bangalore • Sita devi
• Mysore • Maha Gauri
• Mangalore • Chandraghanta
5) In the given picture, the form of Durga 10) Dussera is the state festival of which
is called… state?
• Karnataka
• Gujarat
• Andhra Pradesh
• West Bengal
• Kalaratri Collections from,
• Maha Gauri Rtr. PP Yuvabala,
• Siddhidatri Vice President,
• Skanda Mata Rotaract Club Of Zenith.
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12. Find out...
Can you find out who are the goddess and the god?
Have a blissful
Navarathri! - Zenith Family
What dance is this? One of the anti hero
character of the navartri Editors:
story…
Rtr. Premalatha,
Rtr. Saravanan
By,
Rtr.Premalatha,
‘fest-In’ Project chairman
Joint Secretary
Rotaract Club Of Zenith
Fest In - Vol 5 RC Zenith