FESTIVALS
Asian Voice - Saturday 13th October 2012
27
Navratri festivals unite generations and communities all across Britain The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit and is celebrated wherever Indians are settled. The festival is celebrated all over India, especially Gujarat during September-November, depending on the lunar Hindu calendar. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshipped. The 10th day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussera." There is of course several religious interpretations in Hinduism which link Navratri to different gods and goddesses. However for some Asians who have grown up in the UK or who do not practice Hinduism, Navratri has become much less of a religious event. People go to garba as a part of the Indian culture. It is the one time that people can come together as a community and can share something of the culture.
Navaratri is actually celebrated five times a year. They are Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri, and the Paush/Magha Navaratri. Of these, Sharada Navaratri is the most important of the Navaratris. It is simply called Maha Navaratri (the Great Navratri) and is celebrated in the month of Ashvina. Also known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September–October). Sharad Navaratri commences on
Mata ki aarti Jaya Aadya Shakti Ma Jaya Aadya Shakti Akhand Brhamand Dipavya Panave Pragatya Ma Om Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Dwitiya Mehsarup Shivshakti Janu a Shivshakti Janu rahma Ganapti Gaye rahma Ganapti Gaye ardayi Har Ma m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Trutiya Tran Sarup Tribhuvan Ma Betha a Tribhuvan Ma Betha aya Thaki Karveli aya Thaki Karveli tarvenima m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Chouthe Chatura Malaxmi Ma achrachal Vyapya a Sachrachal Vyapya har Bhuja Cho Disha har Bhuja Cho Disha ragtya Dakshin Ma m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Panchame Panchrushi Panchami Gunpadma a Panchami Gunpadma anchtatv Tya Soshiye anchtatv Tya Soshiye anchetatvo Ma m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Shashthi Tu Narayani Mahishasur Maryo
Navaratri Mahotstsav programme
the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of the lunar month Aswayuja/Asvina. This year it starts on 16 October 2012 and ends on 23 October 2012 with Vijayadashami celebrated on 24 October 2012. The festivities take the form of traditional folk dances called garba and dandyaraas. Garba is generally performed in concentric circles, where the dances become more intricate as one moves closer to the centre. Dandya-raas is often performed later in the night using decorative sticks which are hit against each other, following the beats or rhythms of traditional songs. In both instances, people dress up in nice colourful and traditional clothes, as they glide past each other This Year Navratri: 16 to 23 October 2012 Dussera: 24 October 2012 in gold and silver jewellery. The huge concentric circles grow and twist together, bound by the steady beat of a tabla drum. Feet and arms move quickly as the dancers a Mahishasur Maryo arnari Na Rupe arnari Na Rupe yapaya Saghale Ma m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Saptami Sapt Patal Sandhya Savitri a Sandhya Savitri au Ganga Gayatri au Ganga Gayatri auri Geeta Ma m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Ashthmi Ashtha Bhujao Ayi Ananda a Ayi Ananda univar Munivar Janamya univar Munivar Janamya ev Daityoma m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Navmi Navkul Nag Seve Navadurga a Seve Navadurga avratri Na Pujan hivratri Na Archan idha Har Brahma m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Dashmi Dash Avtaar Jay Vijyalaxmi a Jay Vijyalaxmi ame Ravan Marya ame Ravan Marya avan Maryo Ma m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Ekadashi Agiyar Tatyanikama a Tatyanikama aldurga Kalika aldurga Kalika hama Ne Vama m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Barase Kala Rup Bahuchar Amba
gracefully complete the circles around a central alter. The excitement grows faster and louder, the dancers laugh and clap through the final exhausting moments until the
music stops. A cry- “Ambe mata ki jai” rings throughout the room where the air becomes muggy and thick with sweat, perfume, aroma of diyas and incense sticks. The dances especially raas are often intense, much like ballroom dancing or latin dancing, each have defined steps with individuals adding their own style and flair. As the night draws to an end, the sound of dandya-raas sticks resonate through the room. Both old and young come together to share in dances a tradition which is revived centuries ago, thousands of miles away. Ma a Bahuchar Amba Ma sur Bhairav Souie al Bhairav Soiye ara Chhe Tuj Ma m Jayo Jayo Ma Jagdambe Terase Tulja Rup Tu Tarunimata a Tu Tarunimata rahma Vishnu Sadashiv rahma Vishnu Sadashiv un Tara Gata m 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
l 16th to 23rd Oct- Gujarat Hindu Society, South Medlin, Preston PRI 8JN- 8 to 10.30 pm. Atham Mataji Yagna will be performed at 10’o clock in morning on Monday 22nd Oct in the car park area of the Centre. Contact: 01772 253 901 l 16th to 24th Oct- Oasis Banquet wedding hall, Barking, IGII OHZ - 8 o’clock until late night by Lohana Community, East London. Sharad Poonam Garba on the 26th October. l 16th to 24th Oct- Swami Vivekanand Centre VHP, 10 Thornton Row, Thornton Heath Pond CR7 6JN by Vishwa Hindu Parishad South London. On 29th Oct, everyday at 1.30pm to 3.30pm and evening 7.30 to 10.30. Atham mataji Yagna Monday on 22nd October at Centre in morning. Contact Sri Dhirubhai Vyas: 020 8665 5502 l 16th to 23rd Oct- 8’o clock p.m till late night. By Navnat Vanik association UK. Sharad Purnima garba on 27th Oct. Contact: Kirit Bataviya 020 8445 6890 l 16th to 23rd Oct, -Pupil Centre, Orchardson Avenue, Leicester, The Peepul Centre - Go Leicestershire - E&A Details LE46DP Shruti Arts and Pupil Centre -8 pm till late night Artists Alap Desai , Bijal Parekh, Pratik Shah and Sonarupa group. Contact: 0116 261 2264 l 16th to 24th Oct, Everyday from morning 11’oclcok to noon 12’o clock will be Ramkatha and Navratri Mahotsav. This will be at D-City (Sterlight 2001) 80 Warf Street, South Leicester, LEI 2AA by Sidhashram Shakti Centre and 40th anniversary of British Ugandan Asian celebration Committee. Katha by Shamadeviji. Sharad Poonam garba will be on 30th Oct. Raas garba by Sandip Raval, Amrat Solanki and Vaishali Patel and other artists. Contact: 07947 915 334 l 16th to 24th Oct, at 8.30pm till late night, at Oshwal Mahajanwadi, 1, Campbell Road Croydon, CRO2SQ by PiJ union UK trust. Sharad Poonam garba on Saturday, 27th Oct. contact J.R Patel 01689 821 922 l 8 to 11pm on week days and 8 to 12.30pm at night during weekend- Navratri Mahotsav at Byron hall, Harrow Leisure centre, Christ Church Avenue, Harrow HA3 5BD by International Siddhashram Shakti Centre. A privilege to enjoy raas-garba with Mira Nayak, Babu Barot, Chandrakant Kamlesh Sagthiya, Raju Barot, Akash Patel and Sedrick. Sharad Poonam garba on the 30th October. Contact: 020 8426 0678. l 16th to 24th October- 8’oclcok to 11.30 night Navaratri Mahotsav at Oakington Manor school Oakington Manor Drive Wembley HA96NF. Sharad Poonam Garba on 26th October raas garba with Anand group. Contact: 020 8952 2371. l 16th Oct to 24h Oct, at 8 to 10pm by Prajapati Youth group, Hounslow at The Heathland school, Wellington road, South Hounslow TW45JD. Contact: Sharad Mistri l Navratri Raas Garba- free admission. From Tuesday, 16th October to Tuesday 23th October 2012. Raas Garba everyday from 8pm to 10pm. Sharad Poona on Monday 29th October 2012. Also, Durgastami Havan, Monday 22nd October 2012- 11am to 4pm. For more details contact Jalaram Mandir, Greenford on 020 8578 8088. l Ankur and Hindu cultural organisation presents Navratri festival of Indian Dance and Music in Liverpool. Live music and dance for 8 days. Traditional folk music by Shakti Vrund UK (Rakesh Joshi and group). Radhakrishna Temple, 235 Edge Lane, Liverpool L7 2PH- 18th to 23rd October. Time: 8pm to 11pm. Tickets are £3 per night. Contact -Jyoti Vithlani: 07886930159, Purvi Parikh: 07838146625, Rekha Kothari: 0151 428 8533, temple: 0151 263 7965. Continued on page 30