New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared on X a ‘garba’ song he wrote as a tribute to Goddess Durga.

“It is the auspicious time of Navratri and people are celebrating in different ways, united by their devotion to Maa Durga. In this spirit of reverence and joy, here is Aavati Kalay, a Garba I wrote as a tribute to Her power and grace. May Her blessings always remain upon us,” he wrote on X.

It is the auspicious time of Navratri and people are celebrating in different ways, united by their devotion to Maa Durga. In this spirit of reverence and joy, here is #AavatiKalay, a Garba I wrote as a tribute to Her power and grace. May Her blessings always remain upon us. pic.twitter.com/IcMydoXWoR

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2024

He thanked Purva Mantri, whom he lauded as a talented upcoming singer, for singing the garba song and presenting such a melodious rendition of it.

Garba is a traditional Gujarati dance which is especially performed during the Navaratri festival. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A group of twenty artists have camped in New Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park and are busy creating idols of Goddess Durga. The idols, made with clay, will be immersed in the river Yamuna on the tenth day of the festival celebrated as victory of good over evil as Goddess Durga killed the demon King Mahishasur. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that the goddess visits the Earth during this time to bless her devotees.

Preparations for the ten-day festival begins months in advance. Funds are collected with corporate sponsorships and donations to help build pandals around contemporary themes and engage priests and artisans.

Durga Puja, is celebrated from 6 days in some parts of the country, to 10 days in others. In most of Northern India, the festival is celebrated as Navratri (nine nights). Regardless of these variations, the last four days of Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijay Dashami, are particularly important and accordingly celebrated with much splendor around the country.

The goddess, known to Hindus as the ‘destroyer of evil’, is characterised by her ten arms in which she carries various weapons while sitting on a lion. Also known as Bhavani, Amba, Chandika, Gauri, Parvati, Mahishasuramardini, Durga is the ‘Mother goddess’ and the ‘Protector of the Righteous’ to Hindu devotees.

In most parts of the country, the festival commemorates the victory of the goddess over a demon called Mahishasura. As told by Hindu mythology, the demon was set out to wage war against the gods and it was up to Goddess Durga to slay him and protect earth. She began her battle against the demon on the seventh day of Navratri, known as Maha Saptami and slayed him by the final day of Vijay Dashami.

The festival is celebrated with song and dance, fasting followed by feasts, elaborate decorations and pujas or grand ceremonies at temples and religious recitals. In some parts of the country young girls dress up as the goddess and participate in various rituals at temples and homes.