Mumbai: BMC to provide necessary facilities for Navratri festival, Chhat Puja

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC will provide a single window system for giving permission to Navratri festival mandals and also ensure cleanliness and other facilities at Chhat Puja sites here the civic body has saidThe BMC issued a circular on Wednesday about facilities it will provide during the nineday Navratri festival to begin on October 15 and Chhat Puja to be held next month PTI reportedThe circular was issued after a meeting was held at the BMC headquarters under the chairmanship of Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha who is also Mumbai suburban guardian ministerAs per the circular the BMC will implement a single window system for giving permission for the Navratrotsav mandals set up artificial ponds for the immersion of idols of the Goddess provide lighting and other necessary arrangements at the immersion pointsMumbai has 82 Chhat Puja sites and the civic body will ensure cleanliness and other facilities at the sitesAlso read City guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar has plans for MumbaiThe BMC will provide changing room facilities at the puja sites besides medical facilities and ambulances the circular saidAlong with civic officials the meeting was also attended by officials of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport BEST Mumbai police city traffic police and other departments concernedWhat is NavratriNavratri is a popular Hindu festival that spans nine nights and is dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga The word Navratri is a combination of two words Nav meaning nine and Ratri meaning night Navratri is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion in various parts of India and by the Hindu diaspora around the world The festival typically occurs in the Indian calendar month of Ashwin which usually falls in September or October in the Gregorian calendarHere are some key aspects of NavratriGoddess Durga Navratri celebrates the nine forms of the Hindu goddess Durga who represents the divine feminine and is considered the embodiment of power and energy Each of the nine nights is dedicated to one of her formsNine Nights and Days Navratri spans nine nights and ten days The tenth day is known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra which marks the victory of good over evil and is associated with the defeat of the demon king Ravana by Lord RamaFasting and Prayer Devotees often observe fasts during Navratri and engage in various forms of worship including singing bhajans devotional songs performing aarti ceremonial worship and reciting prayers and mantrasGarba and Dandiya In the western states of Gujarat and Rajasthan Navratri is celebrated with energetic and colorful folk dances called Garba and Dandiya Raas Participants dance in circles to traditional music while using decorative sticks DandiyasKolu In the southern state of Tamil Nadu a tradition called Kolu is followed during Navratri It involves arranging figurines and dolls in a steplike display often depicting deities historical scenes and moreCommunity and Social Gatherings Navratri is a time for communities to come together and celebrate People often gather in temples and community centers for prayers dances and cultural programsRegional Variations Navratri is celebrated with regional variations across India with different customs and traditions specific to each region For example in West Bengal it is marked by the grand festival of Durga PujaDress and Decoration People dress in traditional and colorful attire during Navratri and homes and public places are often decorated with lights flowers and colorful rangoli artistic patterns made on the groundFood Special dishes are prepared during Navratri and they are typically vegetarian as many people observe fasting during this period Common ingredients include fruits nuts and various grains With inputs from PTI