Follow the festivity - Young World Club 
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Follow the festivity

  • POSTED ON: 12 Oct, 2018
  • TOTAL VIEWS: 1992 Views
  • POSTED BY: Bhavya Venkatesh and Jenny Varghese
  • ARTICLE POINTS: 100 Points

The festive season is upon us yet again. Be it Navaratri, Dussehra or Durga Puja, it’s the time of the year when celebrations around the country are on in full swing. Take a tour.

East: Durga Puja

Elaborately decorated pandals, loud chants, thunderous drum beats, and images of a goddess astride a lion — we’re unmistakably in the midst of Durga Puja celebrations. Marked with fervour in states such as West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Manipur, Bihar and Jharkhand, the festival celebrates the victory of goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura.

For people in these regions, it’s serious business — planning starts months in advance. No wonder then that the grandly decked puja pandals (temporary structures that line the streets) vie with each other for the best decoration. If you find yourself in Kolkata during this time of the year, it is almost customary to visit these pandals — the atmosphere is carnival-like, and you’ll have a blast for sure.

Pandals play a huge role during Durga Puja and the themes are rich and varied. Here’s a glance at some of them:

A replica of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and WizardryThe Mysuru Palace, recreated in Ranchi, JharkhandA pandal themed around Native Americans and their cultureThailand’s White Temple recreated in KolkataAn intricately designed pandal

West: Dandiya-Raas

Today, the garba and dandiya-raas may be performed around the world, but at their heart is an age-old Gujarati custom. Every night of Navaratri, people in this region dress up in vibrant clothes and sway to the music. The garba witnesses women dancing gracefully in circles around a pot containing a lamp. The dandiya-raas is a feast for the senses — even if the rhythmic sounds of the dandiya sticks striking each other don’t grow on you, the pleasant music will. If you have a penchant for dancing, make your way to Gujarat this festive season, don a traditional chaniya-choli or kediya, pick up your dandiya sticks, and make merry.

South: Kolu and Nadahabba

This region abounds in unique customs during Navaratri. Kolu, gullu, koluvu — call it what you will — but the essence is the same. People set up temporary stair-like structures in their homes and display a wide range of colourful dolls and figurines. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? To make the most of this tradition, go kolu-hopping, meet friends and family, sample delicious sundal, and go back home with quirky return gifts.

For a magnificent spectacle, visit Mysuru in Karnataka, for it’s time for the Nadahabba (state festival). With parades, processions, performances and fairs, the Mysuru Dasara is a major attraction indeed. The splendid Amba Vilas Palace is illuminated for an entire month, and is a sight to behold. For an impressive celebration that is entwined with the story of the city and its people, visit Mysuru and be a part of the jamboree.

North: Ramlila

If drama is your cup of tea, pack your bags and head to Delhi. This time of the year is marked by numerous dramatic folk re-enactments of the life of Lord Rama. On the last day, effigies of Ravana are burnt to symbolise and celebrate the victory of Rama, and the triumph of good over evil. The staging in Ramlila Maidan in Delhi is believed to the largest. In Punjab, Navaratri is a time of fasting. On the last day, nine young girls are invited into homes, worshipped, and served delicacies.

Here’s an interactive task for you.

Photos: Shanker Chakravarty, Ranjeet Kumar, Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury, Manob Chowdhury, K.R. Deepak, Wikimedia Commons, Lila Sah, PTI, Vibhav Birwatkar, G. Ramakrishna, C.V. Subrahmanyam, R. Ragu, L. Balachandar, M.A. Sriram, G.R.N. Somashekar, R.V. Moorthy