Morning Aarti at Jhandewala Devi Temple
Celebrating the Seventh Day of Shardiya Navaratri
In New Delhi, the Jhandewala Devi Temple hosted a special morning aarti on the seventh day of Shardiya Navaratri. This day is dedicated to worshipping Mata Kaalratri, one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
About Navaratri
Navaratri, meaning ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, is a festival where devotees honor the nine incarnations of Maa Durga. During these nine days, people engage in fasting, reciting shlokas, wearing new clothes, offering bhog, and cleaning their homes to seek the goddess’s blessings.
Celebrations Across India
Navaratri is celebrated with great devotion across India. In North India, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, the festival includes Ramlila performances, which are dramatic re-enactments of the Ramayana. The festival concludes with Vijayadashami, where effigies of King Ravana are burned.
Significance of Shardiya Navaratri
Among the four Navratris observed annually, Shardiya Navaratri and Chaitra Navaratri are the most widely celebrated, aligning with seasonal changes.
Doubts Revealed
Jhandewala Devi Temple -: Jhandewala Devi Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in New Delhi, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Jhandewali Mata, a form of the goddess Durga.
Shardiya Navaratri -: Shardiya Navaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated in the autumn season. It is one of the most important Navaratris and is dedicated to worshipping the nine forms of Goddess Durga over nine days.
Mata Kaalratri -: Mata Kaalratri is one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. She is worshipped on the seventh day of Navaratri and is known for her power to destroy evil and darkness.
Aarti -: Aarti is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, where light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to deities. It is usually performed with songs and prayers.
Ramlila -: Ramlila is a traditional performance of the Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic. It is especially popular in North India during Navaratri, depicting the life of Lord Rama.
Vijayadashami -: Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is a Hindu festival that marks the end of Navaratri. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, symbolized by Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana.
Chaitra Navaratri -: Chaitra Navaratri is another Navaratri festival celebrated in the spring season. Like Shardiya Navaratri, it involves worshipping the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
