Navaratri & Dassera Festival
A Hindu tradition to honor women
By Heidi M. Pascual
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A special festival in the Hindu tradition that lasts nine days, Navaratri (nava means
nine, while ratri means nights), actually gives tribute to women by honoring the
Divine Mother Devi in her three divine forms -- Saraswati (goddess of learning and
speech), Lakshmi (goddess of wealth and prosperity), and Durga (goddess of
strength and courage). It is also the commemoration of the mythical battle between
Goddess Parashakthi and the demon Mahishasura that lasted nine days until the
demon was ultimately killed on the 10th day, called Vijayadasami/Dassera.
"The demon Mahishasura had a boon from Lord Brahma that only a woman could
slay him, otherwise he'd be immortal," Meena Ganesan told Asian Wisconzine. "And
Goddess Parashakthi won and got all the powers in the world."
On October 13, the Ganesans opened their home to people (mostly women), who
offered prayers before the goddesses on a setup called "Golu." The "Golu" was an
odd-numbered staircase design decorated heavily with offerings and various dolls
representing Hindu goddesses. An added display on the floor included a miniature
Madison and a "dream" about its future -- a peaceful, prosperous community with
various schools, churches, parks, homes, and a trolley system. The Madison
display was explained by Surya, the four-year old son of Meena and Arvind. On the
"Golu" was also a copper pot containing rice and lentils and a coconut on top of it.
"We traditionally put mango leaves around it," Meena explained. "It basically means
that everything should stay within the house and there should be prosperity.
After the guests paid their respects to the goddesses in the "Golu," they were treated to a
rich snack of balls of sweetened coconuts, spicy fried noodles, and garbanzo and black
peas dishes. The women and girls each received kumkum, a red powder on their
foreheads, and a small bag of gifts before they left.
"Someone told me that when women and girls visit your house in their finery, it is as if the
goddesses themselves have descended on your house to bless you," Meena said.
(Top) The Ganesan
Family: Arvind, Surya,
and Meena; (above)
Dean Lesser & Eliana
Baccas
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(Top to bottom) the "Golu"; Sima
Shah with daughters; Lady visitors at
the "Golu."