NAVRATRI - NINE NIGHTS OF GODDESS DURGA

The state of Gujarat offers the tourists a golden opportunity to explore the beauty of the culture and tradition of the western part of the Indian subcontinent. Festivals form an integral part of the Gujarati culture. The wide plethora of colorful festivals takes one on a multihued and ennobling odyssey of the glorious state of Gujarat. This state prefers to celebrate all the religious festivals with equal amount of pomp and grandeur. But the quintessential Gujarati spirit and rhythm is to be found in all the festivals. People of all hues, shades and denominations venture outside their homes to immerse themselves completely in the festive spirit.

Religious Festivals Navaratri
The celebration of Navaratri in Gujarat is universally Navaratri - Garba believed to be the celebration of good over evil and the restoration of the general order of things. Navaratri, the `festival of nine nights` is celebrated in the state of Gujarat after Dussehra. This festival forms a special feature of Gujarat and during this auspicious occasion both males and females assemble in the squares and temples of their individual villages and indulges themselves in complete merriment. `Garba` is a special feature if the Navaratri festival in this state. The festival comes to an end on the day of Dussehra when the artisans worship their instruments, the peasants worship their ploughs, students worship their books and warriors worship their weapons.

Navaratri in 2008 is on Tuesday, the 30th of September.
Navaratri in 2009 is on Saturday, the 19th of September.
Navaratri in 2010 is on Friday, the 8th of October.

Kumari is playful and innocent form of Durga it is innocent and lovable. Trimurti is the giver of good children. Kalyani is giver of good education and reliable friendships. Rohini keeps a girl away from sinful deeds and thoughts. Kalika is the giver of courage. Chandika is the giver of wealth. Sambhavi assures success in enterprises. Durga is the annihilator of impediments. Subhadra is the giver of cherished objects.

The time of Durga Puja in West Bengal calls for huge celebrations through out the state. The Puja start on the sixth day of the Navaratri and ends in the evening of the tenth day. The celebrations start with welcoming Goddess Durga and ends with the immersion of idol of the goddess in a river or a lake. Although it is believed that the idol must be immersed in the sacred River Ganges. The preparation for the festival starts way early. Even the idol making starts a month in advance. The idols for the puja are made from clay the traditional way. During the festive days, almost every locality in the state sets up their own Pandal (tents for the puja). Special care is given to the decoration of pandal as well. The best decorations are done inside the pandal. Cultural programmes by the locales are organized on every day of the Puja. The performances carry on through out the day.

The Indian cuisines are famous for their variety and special Navratri cuisine are a part of the multitude of culinary delights. Since in most of the communities, people observe fast during Navratri and eat only one meal a day at sunset, the Navratri meal has special courses and is strictly vegetarian. Even onion and garlic are not allowed due to their foul smell. Specific ingredients and vegetables are used that may vary from region to region.

Spices are restricted to red chillies, turmeric and cumin seeds and only rock salt can be used. However, one can eat milk, curd, fruits and nuts.

Here are some of the recepies that you can use during Navratri. Great care have been taken to ensure that the ingredients being specified here are in consistency with the allowed spices for the fasts. Yet as this also varies from region to region special care should be taken.

ALOO PULAO

Ingredients:

1 cup Samwat rice (also known as Parsai ke chaawal)
2 tbsp. Ghee
1 tsp. cumin seeds
2 cloves
A tiny piece of cinnamon
2 green cardamom
1 large potato (diced in small pieces)
2 tsp. rock salt
1/2 tsp. red chilli powder
3 cup water
Green coriander to garnish

Method:

* Heat ghee in a pan
* Add cumin seeds, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon.
* When they give off fragrance, add potato and rice.
* Stir-fry to a light brown color.
* Add rock salt, chilli powder and water and boil.
* Cover the pan and let it simmer on low flame for about 15 minutes.
* Garnish with green coriander.
* Serve hot.

KACHE KELE KE KOFTE

Ingredients:

For Kofta:
6 Raw bananas
10 gm Ginger and green chilli, chopped
2 gm cumin
1 gm asafoetida
5 gm garam masala powder
Salt to taste

For Gravy:

1/4 kg beaten curd
3 gm clove
4 bay leaves
2 gm cumin
1 gm asafoetida
5 gm ginger and green chilli, chopped
25 ml oil
1.5 gm turmeric
5 gm garam masala powder
2 gm red chilli powder
50 ml water

Garnishes:

3 gm rogan
5 gm chopped corriander

Method:

* Boil and peel raw bananas and mash them.
* Add rest of the ingredients and make balls and deep fry.
* Heat oil for the gravy, add cloves, bay leaf, cumin, asafoetida, ginger and green chilli, beaten curd, turmeric, garam masala powder, red chilli powder and water to adjust the consistency.
* Adjust the seasoning.
* Add the koftas, simmer for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with rogan and chopped corriander.

SABUDANA VADA

Ingredients:

1 cup sago,
1/2 cup peanuts roasted (crushed coarsely),
1 potato (boiled, peeled and mashed),
7-8 green chillies (crushed),
Rock salt to taste, and
Oil to deep fry.

Method:

* Wash sago thoroughly and drain excess water.
* Soak it for 2-3 hours.
* Add all ingredients to it except oil.
* Mix well into a paste.
* Keep the oil in a deep frying pan to heat.
* Moist hands and make small flat.
* Slide the rounds in the heated oil on medium flame.
* Fry till they are crisp and light brown in color.
* Drain them well using a sieve type ladle.
* Makes about 10 vadas.
* Serve with peanut chutney.

Jaya aadya shakti, ma jaya aadya shakti
akhand brhamand dipavya, panave pragatya ma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

dwitiya mehsarup shivshakti janu, ma shivshakti janu
brahma ganapti gaye, brahma ganapti gaye
hardayi har ma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

trutiya tran sarup tribhuvan ma betha, ma tribhuvan ma betha
daya thaki karveli, daya thaki karveli
utarvenima
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

chouthe chatura malaxmi ma, sachrachal vyapya
char bhuja cho disha, char bhuja cho disha
pragtya dakshin ma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

panchame panchrushi panchami gunpadma, ma panchami gunpadma
panchtatv tya soshiye, panchtatv tya soshiye
panchetatvo ma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

shashthi tu narayani mahishasur maryo, ma mahishasur maryo
narnari na rupe, narnari na rupe
vyapaya saghale ma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

saptami sapt patal sandhya savitri, ma sandhya savitri
gau ganga gayatri, gau ganga gayatri
gauri geeta ma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

ashthmi ashtha bhujao ayi ananda, ma ayi ananda
sunivar munivar janamya, sunivar munivar janamya
dev daityoma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

navmi navkul nag seve navadurga, ma seve navadurga
navratri na pujan, shivratri na archan
kidha har brahma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

dashmi dash avtaar jay vijyalaxmi, ma jay vijyalaxmi
rame ravan marya, rame ravan marya
ravan maryo ma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

ekadashi agiyar tatyanikama, ma tatyanikama
kaldurga kalika, kaldurga kalika
shama ne vama
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

barase kala rup bahuchar amba ma, ma bahuchar amba ma
asur bhairav souie, kal bhairav soiye
tara chhe tuj ma
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

terase tulja rup tu tarunimata, ma tu tarunimata
brahma vishnu sadashiv, brahma vishnu sadashiv
gun tara gata
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe

shivbhakti ni aarati je koi gaye, ma je koi gaye
bhane shivannad swami, bhane shivannad swami
sukh sampati pashe,
har kaileshe jashe
ma amba dukh harashe
om jayo jayo ma jagdambe