Page 22 - Masala Lite Issue 166 October 2024

22 SPILL THE CHAI
POWER AND

PROTECTION

To fast or not to fast?
Community members reveal their
Navratri traditions, and how strictly
they follow them in this day and age.

BY JASNAM SACHATHEP

avratri, one of the most significant Hindu festivals, is in honour of the

goddess Durga, who represents power and protection, and is seen as a
major Hindu goddess. The word Navratri, in Sanskrit, literally translates into
“nava” meaning nine and “ratri” meaning nights. The holiday spans a period of nine Navratri is such a wonderful festival that not only brings people together during the
nights and 10 days, and is traditionally celebrated with fasting (eating vegetarian, ceremony, but starting the preparation itself brings peace and joy to everyone. Every
abstaining from alcohol, and in some cases, only eating rotis made from a certain caste in India observes this celebration, and even Chinese, Thai and other foreigners are
type of flour, and avoiding onion and garlic), as well as various pujas and celebrations also curious and participate. As the dates for Navratri gets closer, the excitement and

depending on the community. As with many other religious festivals, celebrations happiness is beautiful, and I feel like Mata is already here, and is blessing everyone in
vary depending on individuals’ cultural background, and in modern times, the extent the house. We look forward to doing the paath every day and when it starts, it takes
that people follow these traditions may depend on their travel plans, how easily me to another world. I feel sad when it all comes to an end, but I know Ma is always
they can access vegetarian food, their health, and more. With Shardiya Navratri with us, protecting us, and her blessings are always there.
coming up on 3-12 October, we’ve asked people from the community what their
celebrations are, and how strictly they follow the fast this time of year.
RAKSHET SACHDEV, 34
ANISHA SACHDEV, 45
I’ve basically been celebrating Navratri since
I was born, as it’s a family celebration. I’ve
Growing up in Kobe, Japan, we celebrated kept it up even though I don’t live at home
Navratri a little differently than we do anymore. We don’t really do anything

in Bangkok. In Kobe, we would go to our special – when I was home we would go to
friend’s homes daily for prayers during the the mandir during the festival at least once
nine days. There, we would sing bhajans and as a family. I remember being really excited
everyone would bring prashad, and food about it because the chai and peanuts were
and tea would be served after the prayers. always delicious there. Then we’d all have
However, in Bangkok I would just visit the poori chole on the last day for breakfast all
temple and on the day of Durga Ashtmi we together after doing aarti.
would make poori channa and halwa in our
homes, perform a puja and send prashad Being in the UK now and surrounded by
to our family and friends’ homes. large Gujarati communities, I try to go to
a garba each year, as it’s a great thing to
Culturally, I’m Hindu/Sikh and grew up in experience. Then of course, I Uber eats in
a strict household where I followed all the poori chole on the morning of the last day, because some traditions you just can’t break.
traditions and performed all the important ceremonies with my family. I’m still following I do go full lacto-vegetarian, so I don’t eat meat and eggs, but still have dairy. And yes, I
these practices today even after being married, as that is how I was raised and shaped try not to drink alcohol during that time, too! It’s more about the self-discipline – sure,
by my parents and grandparents. Thus, I’m very strict during the Navratri festival and some days I may slip, especially if I’m travelling, but I try to find alternatives where I can.

I do not make any exceptions when I travel or during any events. I keep vegetarian and Usually if I’m on holiday during Navratri, I may not keep the fast, just to try the food of

don’t consume any alcohol during this time period. Personally, I don’t think it’s difficult the culture I’m in.

at all to eat out during Navratri as twice a week I’m vegetarian anyhow, and I enjoy

eating vegetarian food regardless. I personally don’t feel like it’s hard to go out during those days. It’s so easy to find vegetarian
and vegan options (albeit they may not always be the best!) And going to parties and
Celebrations mean a lot to me as it’s the time of the year when all friends and family get events and not drinking has never been an issue, so I try to not let it impact me.
together and feast on delectable refreshments, exchange gifts, wear traditional attire,
decorate our homes, and dance and sing the night away. This creates lasting memories
which brings family and friends together. These are the moments that I love about my DR. PREETHA PEDDI, 28
culture which keeps me humble, appreciative, and proud of where I come from.
In Telangana, India, we have a special type of
Navratri celebration called ‘Bathukamma,’
ANONYMOUS, 57
during which we bring the mother goddess
‘back to life.’ It goes on for nine days, during
I have been following Navratri for at least
which a symbol of the goddess is made with
the last 20 years. I am a vegetarian, but
flowers, and arranged in steps like a cone on

for the complete nine days we don’t cook
a brass or steel plate, in seven concentric
non-veg at home. I do paath and aarti daily
layers similar to an Indian temple’s gopuram.
during Navratri. We do travel when it’s
Each day of the nine days constitutes a
necessary, otherwise we avoid it. It hasn’t
special importance to devis, during which a
been hard to go out at all; we have a lovely

special type of prashad is made and offered
variety of vegetarian food in Bangkok and
to the goddess and everyone in the house.
during the Navratri that comes in October,
Although it is a family celebration, it is
which coincides with the Thai jae festival,
mostly women-centric.
there are more options which aren’t around
the whole year. It is like a treat for everyone. During the festival, the women of the
Many who observe Navratri, both male household eat only after the morning puja
and female, don’t cut their hair or nails and prashad offering to the goddess. During

during this time, and many men do not the nine days, we are strictly vegetarian, with
shave during the nine days. During this time, many of us also look forward to garba, some days requiring no garlic and no onion.
a Gujarati folk dance in which special costumes are worn, and which revolves around There is absolutely no consumption of alcohol as well. During Navratri, we don’t go to
the nine goddesses. On the eighth day, prashad, which includes puri with chole, halwa, funerals or visit houses or families where there has been a recent death in the last nine
and kheer, is fed to nine girls, preferably under the age of 12, known as kanyas, who are days. If a woman is menstruating, she stays away from touching things in the house except
considered the nine forms of mata duga. They are given clothes, cash, and goodie bags her personal belongings as everything in the house is considered holy those nine days.
before they go home.
MASAL A LITE ISSUE 166 - OCTOBER 2024