Puttur: Ethnic Gujarati Community Comes Together to Celebrate Navaratri

Report and Pics by Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (RD/SP)

Puttur, Sep 19: Gujarati community people, who have settled all over the country and abroad, celebrate their various festivals by strictly following the age-old traditions.  Gujarati community settled across Dakshina Kannada (DK) district is not an exception to this phenomenon. Navaratri is one such festival, which this simple and friendly community celebrates every year, without fail. 

The Gujarati community settled in the taluk, has been celebrating Navaratri since the past one decade, at Kotecha Auditorium, here.  It is also significant to note that more than ninety community families that have settled in the taluk, take part in the annual Navaratri celebrations by arriving in the town from different places like Uppinangady, Moodbidri, Beltangady, Vittal, Panemangalur, Karkala and Mangalore. 

Colourful Navaratri celebrations:

‘Mrattika Kalasha’ along with the portraits of Goddesses Mahalaxmi and Durga, is installed in a decorated pandal, duly performing all the religious rites, on the first day of Navaratri.  Meanwhile, ‘Garbi’ the portraits of Goddesses Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, Saraswati and Ambe are placed in four directions.

After the Kalasha and portraits are installed in the pandal, puja and Vedic rituals are held for nine days.  Meanwhile, the prasadam is distributed on every night, after all the families offer Aarati to Garbi installed in the auditorium.  Soon after the distribution of prasadam, all the community members, regardless of their age, join in the 'Garba' dance, moving around the Garbi, as the music blares in the background.  After the Garba dance, they join in Dandia, Disco Dandia and Bangra dances.  The viewers get mesmerized by the skillful dance of every member of Gujarati family.  The dance that begins at 9 pm goes on up to late night and concludes with ‘Duvarati’.

The free food offering is made after the ‘Havanastami puja’, on the eighth day of Navaratri.  The grand celebration of Navaratri Utsav concludes with the immersion of ‘Mratika Kalasha’.

Gujarati community is known for the friendly behaviour of its members, who welcome their friends and well-wishers and invite them to join in the festivities including the dance.  The brotherly love and friendship of Gujarati community have indeed made a positive impact on the local community.