Worshipped in myriad manifests, Goddesses in India are considered as supreme feminine power and are therefore fittingly celebrated through festivals. As a “Mother” associated with piety and virtues, she is regarded as a creator of universe and devotees pay obeisance, love and gratitude all through the year with colourful fervour and pomp, says Kriti Kalra.
Devi is the Sanskrit word for goddess, and it refers to the supreme feminine power or Shakti in Hinduism. Devi is worshipped in various forms, names and aspects, reflecting the diversity and richness of the culture of the region.
Devi is revered as the mother of the universe, the source of all creation, the protector of all beings and the destroyer of all evil. She is also associated with various attributes, such as wisdom, wealth, beauty, strength, compassion and grace. So, Devi is celebrated in many festivals across India, where her devotees express their deep love, gratitude and devotion to her.
The nine forms
Navaratri, meaning nine nights, is a festival that honours the nine forms of Goddess Durga who represents the feminine energy or Shakti. It is celebrated twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn. The autumn festival is also known as Sharad Navaratri or Mahanavaratri, which is the most widely celebrated one.
During this festival, people worship Goddess Durga and her different aspects, such as Saraswati (the goddess of wisdom and arts), Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and prosperity), and Kali (the goddess of power and destruction). Each day is devoted to a different form of the goddess. Intricate rituals, lively processions and exuberant dances characterise Navaratri.
The festival culminates on the tenth day with the celebration of Dusshera or Vijayadashami, which means “the victory of the tenth day”. The tenth day commemorates the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura, who had terrorised gods and humans. It also commemorates the victory of Lord Ram over Ravan, who had abducted his wife Sita.
Additionally, Durga Puja is a festival that celebrates the worship of Goddess Durga in her warrior form. It is mainly celebrated by Bengali Hindus and by Shakta Hindus outside of eastern and north-eastern states of India. It is observed in late September or early October, coinciding with Sharad Navaratri.
The Durga Puja rituals involve the installation of clay idols of Durga in homes and public places, which are adorned with flowers, jewellery and clothes. The idols depict Durga slaying Mahishasura with her ten arms holding various weapons. The idols are accompanied by her four children – Ganesha (the elephant-headed god of wisdom), Kartikeya (the god of war), Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) and Saraswati (the goddess of learning).
The idols are worshipped for five days with elaborate rituals, music, dance, art and cultural programs. On the last day, the idols are immersed in water with a grand procession, bidding farewell to Maa Durga until next year.
Fierce and festive
Kali Puja, on the other hand, is a festival that honours Goddess Kali, who is considered to be the most fierce and powerful form of Devi. She is depicted as a dark-skinned woman with four arms holding a sword, a severed head, a trident and a bowl. She wears a garland of skulls and a skirt of severed arms. She stands on the chest of her consort Shiva, who lies on a cremation ground.
Kali Puja is celebrated on the new moon night of Kartik month (October-November), coinciding with Diwali in some regions. The devotees offer sweets, fruits, flowers, incense and lamps to Kali. They seek her blessings for protection from evil forces and liberation from ignorance.
Lakshmi Puja is another festival that worships Goddess Lakshmi, who is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is depicted with four arms holding a lotus flower, a conch shell and a pot of gold. People celebrate Lakshmi Puja in different ways across India, depending on their region, culture and tradition.
However, some common elements of the celebration include cleaning and decorating the house with rangoli, arranging flowers, lighting lamps and candles to welcome the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Other preparations include preparing a special altar or mandap for the goddess where her idol or image is placed along with other items such as coins, rice, fruits, flowers, incense and lamps.
Often devotees also perform a ritual or puja to invoke and worship the goddess, where hymns, mantras and prayers are recited and offerings are made to her. Some people also worship Lord Ganesha, god of wisdom and success, along with Lakshmi. The festival is complete with a feast of delicious food and delicacies prepared for the occasion.
Pure and blissful
Gangaur is a festival celebrated in Rajasthan and some parts of Gujarat, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. It is dedicated to the goddess Gauri, who represents purity and marital bliss. The festival is celebrated by women who fast and pray for the long life and prosperity of their husbands. It is celebrated usually for 18 days, and on the last day, women dress up in their finest traditional clothes and jewellery and carry idols of Gauri in a procession to immerse them in water.
Observed on the first day of the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra, Gangaur celebrations comprise buying of earthen pots called kunda that are then decorated or painted in the traditional Rajasthani style known as maandna. Married women are given gifts from their parents or matrimonial home as a custom that are sent on the second last day of the festival. Women colour their hands and feet with beautiful and intricate mehndi or henna designs during Gangaur.
The festival of Bonalu, celebrated primarily in Telangana, is a unique tribute to the Mother Goddess, particularly the goddess Mahakali. Women offer cooked rice, jaggery and curd in earthen pots to the goddess, symbolising the nurturing aspect of motherhood.
Celebrated during the Ashaad month of the Hindu calendar that falls in July or August, Bonalu – meaning ‘meal’ in Telugu – involves prayers and puja for goddess Yellamma on the first and last festival day. Goddess Kali in her various forms such as Nookalamma, Yellamma, Ankalamma, Mysamma, etc., is worshipped during this festival.
The procession during Bonalu is characteristically marked by the performance of the Pothuraju – considered to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The performance is done by a man with turmeric on the body, wearing just a skirt-like dhoti and bells in the ankles performing to the sound of the drums played during the procession.
Goddess of knowledge
Vasant Panchami marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated in various parts of India. It is dedicated to the goddess Saraswati, who represents knowledge, wisdom and learning. The festival is celebrated by wearing yellow clothes, offering prayers to Saraswati even flying kites. In some parts of India, it is also celebrated as the birthday of the god of love, Kamadev.
In Tamil Nadu, Navaratri is celebrated with a unique twist. Known as Golu or Kolu, it involves arranging an eclectic display of dolls and figurines, showcasing various deities, mythological characters and everyday life. This ritual is an opportunity for families to impart cultural and spiritual values to the younger generation.
In Kerala, Attukal Pongala holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. Thousands of women gather to prepare a special offering, Pongala, for Goddess Attukalamma. The act of cooking the offering on open fires is considered highly auspicious and it is believed that the goddess herself partakes in the feast.