Ambaji and Pavagadh, Gujarat’s two most popular Shakti Peetha temples, are attracting several lakhs of people during Durga Navratri. During Navratri 2009, the biggest festive season of the year, on the first day of the fest, 19^th September, over 2.5 lakh of devotees visited Ambaji Temple and on 20^th September, the second day, over 4 lakh devotees thronged to the temple.

The similar crowd has been experienced in Pavagadh Mahakali Temple. On seventh and eighth day, Saptami and Ashtami, both the Shakti Peethas may experience more crowds.

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Durga Navratras 2009 in Gujarat

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It’s all set for Mega Navratri 2009 Garba festival to be commenced on September 19 in 2009. Diplomats from 84 countries will visit Gujarat to witness the grand event which will be held at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad. Gujarat government is estimated that they will spend more than 9 crore rupees for Grand Navratri 2009 Garba Festival event. Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event.

Press Trust of India reports:

• Gujarat government in partnership with industry associations has organised a grand Navratri festival to be inaugurated on September 19 in presence of foreign diplomats from 84 countries. “The Navratri Garba festival has been organised at GMDC ground here, which will be daily visited by over one lakh people,” Tourism secretary D K Rao, who is in charge of the event, said.
• According to Mr. Rao, apart from Garba and other cultural programmes, many theme pavilions on a wide range of issues like global warming, green energy among others have been set up at the venue.
• Rao added that local artistes and those from Delhi, Haryana, Manipur, Goa, Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and some others states will participate in the cultural events to be held simultaneously with the traditional street Garbas.

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9 colours of Navratri 2009 – Nine colors of dresses or saris to weear during Navaratras 2009

Navratri 2009 celebrations – Garba Raas and Dandiya by Gujarati communities in UK – Leicester, London and Birmingham

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Durga Navratri is the most celebrated festive season in Gujarat. It involves in Durga Puja along with Dus Mahavidya pooja, Dandiya and Garba dances. Rasleela is the main event during Navratri in the state of Gujarat. Gujaratis consider Navratri as their second largest festival after Sri Krishna Janmashtami. But culturally, Navratri remains on top for the people of the state, as they celebrate the festival in rocking atmosphere of Dandiya and Garba dances.

Though, Durga Navratri 2009 rituals and pujas start from 19^th September 2009, the arrangements or preparations or rehearsals for Dandiya Garba Raas have been started a month ago.

Another important aspect of Navratri celebrations in Gujarat is the concept of colours. During the festival, a particular colour of sari or dress is worn by women on particular day. The Goddess of the day and the colour of that day will change year to year.

Here you can check 9 colours of Navratri 2009 or colours of dresses or saris to wear during Navratri 2009

Though, Navratri in Gujarat is dedicated to Goddess Ambaji, also known as Ambika or Amba, Navadurga, nine aspects of Goddess Durga, are also worshipped during Navratri along with Dasamahavidya, ten Supreme Tantrik Goddesses. The nine avatars worshipped during the festival are – Amba, Tara, Shorashi (Lalita), Bhuvaneshwari, Chinnamasta, Bhairavi, Dhumavathi, Bagalamukhi and Matangi.

Durga Navratri 2009 begins with Ghatasthapana on September 19^th and ends with Vijaya Dasami or Dussehra on September 28^th. Generally, Navratras in Gujarat are dedicated to Goddess Ambamata who is known as the guardian Goddess of Gujarat. Navratri festivities conclude with Durga Visarjan on Vijaya Dashami day. Nowadays, people are prolonging the day of Visarjan for some local, regional and commercial reasons.

Various Gujarati communities all around the world have been planning to conduct Dandiya Garba Raas events during Navratri 2009. Some of the communities have already started their ground work and some other are already started their celebrations.

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Navratri 2009 Raas Garba celebrations in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane

Navratri 2009 Dandiya and Garba Raas celebrations in Leicester, Luton (London) and Birmingham

Navratri 2009 Mania in Gujarat universities and colleges – Garba and Dandiya on Board

Durga Navratri is the most celebrated festive season in Gujarat. It involves in Durga Puja along with Dus Mahavidya pooja, Dandiya and Garba dances. Rasleela is the main event during Navratri in the state of Gujarat. Gujaratis consider Navratri as their second largest festival after Sri Krishna Janmashtami. But culturally, Navratri remains on top for the people of the state, as they celebrate the festival in rocking atmosphere of Dandiya and Garba dances.

Though, Navratri in Gujarat is dedicated to Goddess Ambaji, also known as Ambika or Amba, Navadurga, nine aspects of Goddess Durga, are also worshipped during Navratri along with Dasamahavidya, ten Supreme Tantrik Goddesses. The nine avatars worshipped during the festival are – Amba, Tara, Shorashi (Lalita), Bhuvaneshwari, Chinnamasta, Bhairavi, Dhumavathi, Bagalamukhi and Matangi.

Another important aspect of Navratri celebrations in Gujarat is the concept of colours. During the festival, a particular colour of sari or dress is worn by women on particular day. The Goddess of the day and the colour of that day will change year to year.

Durga Navaratri is celebrated with utmost devotion in Ambaji temple, powerful Shakti Peeth, in Gujarat. Several lakhs of devotees throng to the temple even from abroad during these days and offer puja to the Goddess.

In Ahmedabad, Baroda (Vadodara), Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar Navratri celebrations may reach to the peak as these cities are financially sound and culturally well developed.

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Navratri 2009 colours – 9 colours of Durga Navratri for 2009

Durga Navratri 2009 dates and calendar

Navratri 2009 Mania in Gujarat Universities and colleges

Saptamatrika Puja and Ashtamatrika pooja during Durga Navratri

Kumari Pooja – Kanya Puja procedure

Navratri festival in 2009 is creating great mania in Gujarat state universities and colleges, where Garba raas and Dandiya raas are rocking the students in the state. Educational institutes in Gujarat are giving wider space to hot spots of sheri garba. In cities like Baroda, Ahmedabad and   Surat, the festival is going to be celebrated in a tremendous mood in 2009.

Vasundhara Vyas Mehta in Times of India writes:

• Navratri is here to rock the state’s academic institutes once again. Among the frontrunners for the popular hot spots of sheri garbas are CEPT University, National Institute of Design (NID) and Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad (MICA). Some of these have become so popular that they have dedicated committees of students taking care of the event and sponsors flushing in money. The themes students come up with only add to the popularity of these venues every year.
• CEPT University
• One thing that students of Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University would remember it for is the nine-day garba festival that it hosts for students, faculties and their families. Started in the 1980s, this event has added to its fans and popularity with each passing year.
• NID
• National institute of Design, Ahmedabad, has been organizing the festival for all nine nights. The major attraction at NID is the special dance steps that students innovate and the ‘diya dance’ that students perform with oil lamps in their hands and all other lights out.
• IIM-Ahmedabad
• The newest kid on the block when it comes to campus Navratri festivities is Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). Till last year, the students were invitees at other institute garbas, but this time they decided to do it on their own.
• Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Vadodara
• Garba celebration at this institute began way back in 1952. It may not have the hype surrounding most garba venues, but still remains one of the most frequented places during Navratri. With no sound systems or ornate stage or even a professional singing troupe, the Fine Arts garba continues to remain on the top of the popularity charts. This year too preparations are on and students have started practicing steps.