Navaratri Pooja 2020 materialised at Ambalavattam Temple as is customary each year. The celebrations started on 17 October and ended on 26 October 2020. We took care to follow the protocols so as to ensure safety during the pandemic.

Navaratri devotes three days each to the worship of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The tenth day is Vijayadashami, the day of Victory.

First Three Days of Navaratri Pooja 2020

In the morning of 17 October, Muralidharan Shanty performed Guru Pooja. This was followed by Ganapathi Homam in the temple. Devotees from the neighbourhood attended the ceremonies.

On Day 1, Durga Devi is worshipped as the wife of Shiva. Devotees see her as riding Nandi, the bull, and with a trishul in her right hand and a lotus in the left.

On day 2, devotees worship the Goddess as Brahmaharini and on Day 3 as Chandrakanta.

Days 4 to 6 of Navaratri Pooja 2020

The festival marks the victory of good over evil when Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura. The nine days are dedicated to Durga Devi and her nine Avatars. Day 4 is for the worship of Kushmanda, the creative power of the universe. She has eight arms and sits on a tiger.

Day 5 marks the worship of Skandamata, the mother of Skanda (or Kathikeya).  She rides a lion, has four arms and holds her baby on her lap.

Katyayani is the sixth aspect of Navadurga. She is a warrior goddess and one of the most violent forms of Devi.

Days 7 to 9

Kalaratri is the seventh of the nine forms of the Goddess Durga. The seventh day of Navaratri Pooja is dedicated to her.  Mahagauri symbolises intelligence and peace and gets the pride of place on the eighth day. Navami marks the end of the nine days of Navarari.  The final day of Navratri is for Goddess Siddhidhatri. She is  a four-armed deity sitting on a lotus, holding a mace, discus and a book and lotus in her hands. This form of Goddess Durga signifies perfection.

Covid 19 Pandemic

Kerala Government had imposed Section 144 in the state, prohibiting the assembly of 4 or more persons. Besides public transport was not fully functional. Restaurants and hotels had not entirely  opened. Consequently most family members were not able to travel to Tellicherry for Navaratri Pooja 2020 in October.

Acknowledgements

Babuattan and Nisha Umanath rate a round of applause for travelling to Thalassery for Navaratri Pooja 2020.

All the family members who made handsome donations  this year earn sincere thanks.

Photos and videos in the post are from WhatsApp. I have carried out editing of the images.

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