Garba / Navratri is
an ancient Vedic Annual Harvest Festival symbolising the end of Kharrif &
Rabbi Season, celebrated twice in hindu months Of Aswin & Chaitra.
The name Garba originated from
Sanskrit word Garbha (Womb). Symbolising the womb of mother Earth / Prithvi
with a deep ( lamp) placed in it. During the Navratri, which literally means
Nine nights, three Primal Goddessess are
worshipped.
During the first three
nights Goddess of empowerment Shakti (Durga) is worshipped, next 3 Nights
Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi is worshipped and during the last three nights
Goddess of Wisdom Sarswati is worshipped.
During the Vedic times, Forests
were associated with Goddess Kali the wild one and the fields were associated with Goddess Gauri the demure one.
Forests, were symbolised as untamed territory & were
unploughable (ahalya).
Fields, were symbolised as Garbha that provided food to all
living beings.
In Asvin Shukla paksha when rains are weaning and crops are
ready for harvesting and when Earth is
green with vegetation, the festival was celebrated for nine nights by bringing
three elements together, Garbha [Earthen
Pot symbolising the Womb], Women and the fields.
The earthen Pot was placed in center of the field, filled
with water and crops and the women used to dance around it in circular
formation..
The Dance in circular formation symbolises Continuty of life
(Sansar) i.e Birth, Life, Death and
Rebirth. Also known as Kaal Chakra of Lord Mahadev or Mahakaal. It also
symbolises Ritu Chakra the on going cycle of seasons as well as cycle of
fortune which reminds us the bad period
will end with the good period.
During the dance the women bend down and clap to thank the Earth
and Asuras and then look upwards and clap to thank the devas or Sky Gods for
the rains which helped them to produce the food to sustain. This ritual in the modern world came to be
known as Garba the dance of Eart Womb from which crops grow for the sustainance
of the society
Sky Gods or Devas were looked as favorable to mankind as
they helped Manavas to pull out the wealth hoarded by Asuras, the subterrain
beings. Asuras who stay in Patal have
knowledge of Sanjivani Vidya the ancient science of rejuvenation which helps
them to rejuvinate the crops and any other wealth found in patal.
Goddess
Lakshmi is daughter of Pulomi who is the daughter of Brighu the Guru of
Asuras and hence Asuras are always blessed with the Wealth for which Devas
eternally fight with Asuras. Lakshmi(Wealth) always resides with Asuras in
Patala.
Navratri gives us all a very significant message,
Respect Mother
Earth, the Goddess who sustains the society.
Respect Women who
were treated as goddesses in Vedic Age for their ability to sustain life within
their body,
and to Respect Vanaspati / Vegetation which helps in sustaining life
on the Earth.
The message holds significance in modern world where we are
ruthlessly disrepecting Women, Earth and Plantation and fast moving towards
destruction.
Navratri ends with
Goddess Durga slaying Asura called Mahisha symbolising harvesting or cutting of
the crops.
