Dasara / Devi Navaratri

Introduction

Dasara – also called Devi Navaratri or Sharannavaratri – is the great autumn festival of the Divine Mother. For nine nights, beginning on Ashwayuja Shukla Pratipada, the Goddess is worshipped in her many forms, and on the tenth day, Vijayadashami, devotees celebrate the victory of good over evil. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Dasara brings the grand celebrations of Sri Kanaka Durga on Indrakeeladri at Vijayawada, the Saraswati puja on Moola nakshatram, Ayudha puja, and the Jammi puja on Vijayadashami evening. In Telangana, the same nine days are also the season of the flower festival Bathukamma.

Significance and Legend

According to tradition, the buffalo-demon Mahishasura had become so powerful that the gods could not defeat him. From their combined energies arose the Goddess Durga, who fought him for nine days and slew him on the tenth – which is why she is honoured as Mahishasuramardini, and why the tenth day is called Vijaya (victory) Dashami. Vijayadashami is also remembered as the day of Lord Rama's victory over Ravana.

The Mahabharata gives Dasara one of its most loved customs: during their year in hiding, the Pandavas had hidden their weapons in a shami (jammi) tree, and at the end of their exile they recovered them and went on to victory. That is why the jammi tree is worshipped on Vijayadashami.

How it is Celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

• Sri Kanaka Durga, Vijayawada: on Indrakeeladri hill above the Krishna, the Goddess is adorned in a different form (alankaram) on each day of the festival – such as Sri Bala Tripura Sundari, Sri Gayatri, Sri Annapurna, Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari, Sri Saraswati on Moola nakshatram, Sri Mahalakshmi, Sri Durga, Sri Mahishasuramardini and, on Vijayadashami, Sri Rajarajeswari. The order of the alankarams is announced by the temple each year. Lakhs of devotees climb the hill, and the festival ends with the Teppotsavam, when the Goddess is taken on the Krishna river on a swan-shaped float (Hamsa vahanam).
• Kalasha sthapana: many families begin the festival by installing a kalasham and worshipping the Goddess daily with Lalita Sahasranamam, Durga Saptashati or Devi stotras.
• Saraswati puja: on Moola nakshatram, considered the birth star of Goddess Saraswati, books and instruments are placed before her and worshipped; many parents choose this day for their children's Aksharabhyasam.
• Ayudha puja: on Maha Navami, tools, machines, vehicles and instruments of one's work are cleaned, decorated and worshipped, in gratitude for one's livelihood.
• Bommala koluvu: some families arrange displays of dolls on tiered steps during the Navaratri days.
• Vijayadashami evening: families gather at a jammi tree for the Jammi puja, then exchange jammi leaves as "gold" with elders and friends and embrace – the much-loved Alai Balai of Telangana. Spotting the Palapitta (Indian roller) on Dasara is considered very auspicious in Telangana.

Rituals and Puja

• Navaratri puja: daily worship of the Goddess with kumkuma archana, the recitation of Lalita Sahasranamam and Devi stotras, and a lamp kept burning through the festival in many homes.
• Durgashtami and Maha Navami: special worship of the Goddess as Durga and Mahishasuramardini; Ayudha puja on Maha Navami.
• Jammi puja: on Vijayadashami evening, the jammi tree is worshipped with turmeric, kumkum and flowers, and the traditional verse beginning "Shami shamayate papam" is recited; the leaves are then taken home and shared.
• New beginnings: Vijayadashami is considered one of the most auspicious days of the year to begin learning, new work or a new venture.

Foods and Offerings

• Each day the Goddess is offered naivedyam such as pulihora, chakkera pongali, payasam and garelu, shared afterwards as prasadam.
• On Vijayadashami, families come together for a festive meal after the Jammi puja.

Temples Known for this Festival

• Sri Kanaka Durga Temple (Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam), Indrakeeladri, Vijayawada – the Dasara Sharannavaratri Mahotsavams, with a different alankaram of the Goddess each day and the Teppotsavam on the Krishna on Vijayadashami.
• Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Srisailam – the Dasara Mahotsavams, with the Navadurga alankarams of Goddess Bhramaramba, daily vahana sevas, and the Shami puja and Teppotsavam on Vijayadashami.
• Sri Gnana Saraswathi Temple, Basara – tens of thousands of devotees on Moola nakshatram, when many families perform their children's Aksharabhyasam before the Goddess of learning.
• Sri Jogulamba Temple, Alampur – Dasara Navaratri celebrations at this Shakti Peetha.

The Navaratri and Vijayadashami dates are shown in the festival dates above. Dasara follows the Telugu panchang: Navaratri begins on Ashwayuja Shukla Pratipada, and Vijayadashami falls on Ashwayuja Shukla Dashami. Where a date is not yet listed, please follow the Telugu panchang and the temple's announcement for that year.