Growing up in the north of India, the Navratris have been an integral part of me, especially the the Sharadiya Navratris as they brought along my favourite festival of Durga Poojo (pooja). As child I would often wonder how the roasted chicken and butter chicken feasting Punjabis changed all of a sudden and turned to fasting! The men even turned teetotallers(spent much time in Jammu and the Punjabi infested areas of Lucknow, Delhi).
The women folk in the north would wake up early morning , worship the Goddess Durga and sow barley in earthen pots . These pots would be taken care of for 8-9 days. It is said that barley is the first crop that grew after creation of this Earth and that the colour of your barley predicts your future, the good that it will bring to you. The barley plants would be immersed in a water body later.
Not to forget the Golu that were put up by moms of my school friends who had roots in the south of India. Most of them were already vegetarians. The Golu in every home was different with different statues, family souvenirs, figurines all on display and decorated so well. They also drew the kollam, the design on floors, very similar to the alpana of Bengal using different colours.
A complete vegetarian diet is followed by all, without onions and garlic. Many fast and do not consume any grains like rice or wheat. Fruits , potatoes, tapioca pearls(sabudana), buckwheat, and others are had alongwith milk and curd. It is a complete detoxification for all during the autumn. Of course we also have the Chaitra Navratris falling around March-April every year. The rituals followed are similar.
When I got married, I was in a dilemma. I had never fasted before! What now? Thankfully Mummy, my mom-in-law said we have just two fasts to keep, joda vrat that either was kept by a person for two days or just a day of fasting by two people. Happily I would fast with Mummy. There were times when I wasn't able to, then Mummy would fast for two days and similarly I would take over when she wasn't well. Till this day I remember the dry potatoes and singhare ki roti that she made, all in ghee. We didn't even follow elaborate rituals, not even the sowing of barley.
Let me not forget Auntyji( lovingly known as Rama ki mummy, Rama her eldest daughter), our neighbours. The family fasted all eight days and aunty is an amazing cook. The delicacies and savouries she sent down made me always look forward to Navratris post marriage.
We finish of the Navratris on the 9th day, when poori, halwa, kaale chane, alu ki sabzi would be prepared. Small girls were invited home, their feet washed, tika was applied on their forehead and were offered whatever was cooked at home as prashad. They are taken as the Goddess herself. They are showered with gifts and their laughter would usher in the festivities to be followed throughout the winter months. I so miss those days! Now I fast alone, now that Mummy isn't here anymore. But yes this year the hubby fasted with me.
Now the tricky part of maintaining the balance between the Punju household and the Bong me. The choice of a foodie husband helped. So I was never ever stopped from Durga Pujas. Durga Pujas are magnanimous. For every Bengali everything else stops for four days. All they do is worshipping Maa Durga, dressing up in their finest, and pandal hopping. They just entertain themselves through various art forms like ballet, music, dance-drama, theatre, recitation, drawing and more. And they eat!! Eat like crazy 😊 I still wonder how the north of our country turns vegetarian and the East turns carnivorous at the same time!
All I can say is our Goddess knows her people and their choices, and she happily adjusts and accepts what we offer. And me a lucky girl who has learned to strike a balance well and is having the best of both worlds.
©®Madhumita
