Navratri Celebrations

Last night along with my friends I went to celebrate the festival of Navratri. This is a 9-day festival which celebrates the victory of good over the evil and on the 10th day which is known as Dusshera or Durga Pooja rituals are held. It also signifies that no matter how strong the evil is the good always wins over it. The demon had a boon of immortality but with a condition that only a woman can bring his end. He was over confident that no woman will ever be able to defeat him and kill him. His ego soared very high and so did his wrong doings. Where finally the lords had to come together and create a Goddess who would bring end to the demon and so did that happen. In some traditions a statue of Raavan is burned down to celebrate the victory of good over the evil.

The 9 days many people keep fast and then at the end of the day the fast is broken and every night there is a celebration with dance. It is specifically called Garba. It is just not any form of dance. This particular one is done in rhythm in a group with claps or by using sticks. This dance is a dedication to the feminine power. This festival is celebrated in different forms in different parts of India.
During the Garba, both man and woman wear very colorful clothes, there are very special attires for this dance, which is also called as ghagra choli, along with the dress the female also adorns a lot of traditional jewelry.

Here in Muscat, we do have these 9 days dance festival celebrated at various locations. It's nice to attend, it gives a feel of the home during these festival times. It's nice that this country allows other cultures to celebrate their special occasions. It also shows respect for other cultures that they have.

Last year I had not gone, but this year I made it a point to visit with my friends. It starts at around 9.30 and goes on till 12. You can walk in at any time. It's an open affair, there are no tickets or any formalities to be done. We reached by 10 and then at 11.30 left the place. Had a gala time dancing to the folk songs of Gujarat.

The place is decorated with lights.

The beauty of this festival is that even if you are alone you can walk into this place and join any group and dance along with them. Though going in your own circle is always lot of fun.

You will see how everyone has come in colorful clothes

There is a band and a DJ entertaining the crowd

I do not have the traditional clothes which are normally worn for this festival, but I wore an Indian attire to blend in

Both of us had a wonderful time

After this we were hungry so decided to go for some food. There is a Turkish restaurant next to this venue, so we went ahead there and had a sumptuous meal.

We plan to go again tonight, not for long, may be just an hour.

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