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Dasara is
the festival of celebrating women power. Chamundeshwari is
the personification of courage, strength and power. Praying
to her is believed to help one to be blessed with all these
qualities, especially during Dasara. When the male gods
failed to destroy the demon, it was the Devi who stood up to
the occasion.
When the demon Mahishasura asked for a boon – that his death
should be at the hands of a woman, he believed that was so
powerful that it was impossible for a mere woman to destroy
him. He received the boon and usedthis to his advantage.
When his cruelty became unbearable, |
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Chamundeshwari (Durga) was called to slay the demon. The
fight between Chamundeshwari and Mahishasura lasted for nine
days and nights. These nine days came to be called Navaratri
or Dasara.
Chamundeshwari is the personification of courage, strength,
and power and praying to the her is believed to help one to
be blessed with all these qualities, especially during
Dasara.
Entire Mysore celebrates Dasara every year. The custom of
worshipping dolls – Gombe Tottilu – is actually a symbolic
representation of a darbar or a court. Not long back women
made a huge fuss over the Gombe decoration and planned
months ahead. For many women it was an opportunity to
showcase their talent. Singing, dancing and merry making
along with showing off their skills at preparing the Gombe
Bagina was all very important.
Woman is a synonym with womb and earth. The harvest season
begins at this time and the earth is invoked to start afresh
the new harvest season and to reactivate the vigour and
fertility of the soil by performing religious rituals which
is believed to invoke the cosmic forces. Hence the
importance of Devi worship for women.
In West Bengal, Orissa and Assam, Durga Devi is worshipped
as Kali. The whole essence of the navaraathri celebration is
to remind all women that they are guardians of the family
culture and national integrity, to take lead in times of
crisis to guide the humanity towards the path of social
justice, righteousness, equality, love and divinity. |
