Spirituality

Navaratri 2025-Colors of the Day

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DISCLAIMER: Though this article provides a manufactured Spiritual significance, sharing the origin of this practice which was a marketing tool of Maharashtra Times which became a harmless yet pleasant Tradition and a unifying factor cutting across all religions today.

Each region has its own set of rituals and practices associated with this festival. A compilation of some of them here specifically with respect to the attire here. List of the nine colours of Navratri to be worn by Goddess Durga as well as Devotees, with their significance:

First Day – Paadyami
Shailaputri Maa is the first amongst Navadurgas worshipped during Navaratri. ‘White‘ is the colour of the day. It represents purity, peace, serenity and new beginnings.

Second Day – Dwitiya
Maa Bharmacharini is the form of mother goddess which is worshipped on the second day. ‘Red’ is the color of the day, which represents love, passion, and strength.

Third Day – Tritiya
Chandraghanta is the form of the goddess worshipped on the third day of Navaratri. ‘Royal Blue’ is the color of the day and it represents calmness, divine energy and stability

Fourth Day – Chaturthi
Kushmanda is the fourth form of goddess that is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. ‘Yellow’ is the color of the day and it symbolizes joy and brightness, and brings a sense of unparalleled optimism and joy.

Fifth Day – Panchami
Skandamata is a face of Maa Durga always known for demolishing the demons and worshipped on day 5 of Navaratri. ‘Green’ is the color to be worn on this day and it represents growth, nature, and fertility. Green also represents new beginnings in life.

Sixth Day – Shashti
Katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri. ‘Grey‘ is the color of the day which is symbolic of control and balance emotions and keeps the person down-to-earth. It also represents overcoming darkness in a calm manner.

Seventh day – Sapthami
Kaalratri is the seventh figure of Goddess Durga. Maha Saraswathi Devi is also worshipped on this day. ‘Orange‘ is the color of the day and it represents energy and strength, or courage and determination.

Eighth day – Ashtami
Maha Durga is worshipped on the eighth day(Durgashtami). On this day, ‘Peacock Green‘ is regarded as the colour for all, which signifies beauty, grace, and positivity.

Ninth day – Maha Navami
Siddhidatri is the form of Maa Durga for the ninth day of Navratri. ‘Pink‘ is the colour of the day for devotees which is the color that signifies love, compassion, and universal harmony

Tenth day – Vijaya Dashami

Vijayadashami is the day of Victory of Good over Evil. The Goddess is dressed in Glowing Gold & the color for devotees is also Gold or Peacock Blue.

To summarize: Colors of attire advised on 9 days of Navratri

Day 1: White
Day 2: Red
Day 3: Royal Blue
Day 4: Yellow
Day 5: Green
Day 6: Grey
Day 7: Orange
Day 8: Peacock Green
Day 9: Pink

Happy Navaratri! Enjoy a synchronized & colorful days dedicated to Mother Goddess.

Origins of this practice: (Source: https://www.cntraveller.in/story/from-trend-to-tradition-how-the-9-colours-of-navaratri-became-a-thing-maharashtra-times/)

In 2003, the innovative marketing team at Maharashtra Times conceived a brilliant strategy to engage more female readers. During the occasion of Navaratri, they unveiled a captivating narrative that put forward the significance of the nine distinct colours to be worn each day of the Hindu festival. Each colour was thoughtfully linked to an avatar of the Goddess Durga, thereby bestowing a sense of authenticity upon this “tradition”— orange for Goddess Shailputri, white for Goddess Brahmacharini, red for Goddess Chandraghanta, green for Goddess Katyayani, and so on.

Throughout the nine days of the festival, Maharashtra Times featured captivating images of women elegantly adorned in the colour of the day, presenting a compelling aspirational value and igniting a sense of enthusiasm among their audience and beyond. The newspaper also invited women to share photographs of themselves in their colour-coordinated attire, which were subsequently showcased in the following day’s edition, making the trend all the more viral.

Under the guidance of the then-editor, Bharatkumar Raut, this story enjoyed monumental success according to The Quint, triggering an intentional wave of enthusiasm across the state of Maharashtra—eventually spreading across the nation to cities like Delhi. It swiftly morphed into an accepted tradition and became an indispensable part of the festival for many of its participants; to this day, Maharashtra Times still holds a Navaratri photo contest on their website, where people submit group photos in colour-coordinated clothing corresponding to the given festival day. Dressing up in said colours has even evolved into a contemporary workplace activity championed by HR teams, expanding to the likes of cubicle decorations.

What’s remarkable is that this practice didn’t vanish like a seasonal fad, rather it became an important cultural cornerstone. Created before the age of social media and viral hashtags, the trend stands as proof of the sheer influence of media and the importance of evolving traditions.

Welcome to Quarter-Century Club! Happy 25 Vishnu

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Dear Vishnu,

Today marks a very special day as we celebrate your 25th birthday! It’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown by. This year is even more special because we get to celebrate together after three long years.

From the moment you were born, you brought immense joy and love into our lives. Watching you grow from a curious child into a remarkable young man has been a privilege. Your determination, kindness, and passion for life continue to inspire everyone around you.

Remember the countless hours spent getting dragged along by Di, stealing some coins for a neighbourhood servant, getting emotionally blackmailed by Amma, crying your heart out saying you don’t want to go to boarding school (after watching Tare Zameen par) and most importantly the blabber about Honda Makiva – wondering where you even conjured up this name (Have posted this video towards the end), Looking back, amazed that you were able to create an audio content out of nothing and quite decent language for that age. Cannot forget after a nice treatment innocently asking if you can join me for an evening walk or asking if we can go to the beach (taking me on guilt trip).

Those were the days filled with laughter and endless curiosity. Somethings that stood out

Academic Achievements: Your dedication to your studies has always been commendable. Especially your uncanny ability to set expectations very low (to the extent, saying you may even flunk the exams and then getting highest marks in the school in some subjects (BTW! Did you meet the teacher who said she will jump off the terrace if you score highest?) From excelling in school to pursuing higher education, your hard work has paid off in so many ways. To appearing on the University BEST board and reserved to the extent you did not want to sign consent for use of your photograph on the promos. Being humble to the degree of fault?

Moment that would make any parent very Proud

Yes! I am talking about this banner

On a serious note! You have made us extremely proud at all steps and we thank the the Divine for this wonderful gift. Returning to India to meet me after 2 years to pursue your internship here to me personally was the Biggest Gift that I could ever ask for!

Welcome Back!!! Motherland and Mother calling

Over the years, you’ve faced challenges with resilience and grace. Your ability to overcome obstacles and emerge stronger is truly admirable. Landing up two opportunities as you you returned must have done a world of good to your already soaring confidence – a luxury to reject an offer is something not many aspirants can dream of in these days. You are worth tons of gold for anyone.

Today, we celebrate not just your birthday, but the incredible person you have become. As we celebrate this milestone, let’s cherish the memories we’ve created and look forward to the adventures that lie ahead.

As you step into this new chapter of your life, may you continue to pursue your dreams with the same passion and determination. May you find happiness in every moment and success in all your endeavors. Remember, no matter where life takes you, you will always have a home filled with love and support.

Here’s to you, Vishnu! May your 25th year be filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable experiences. Happy Birthday! May God and Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji’s blessings be upon you at every moment of your life ahead.

From all of us!!!

Don’t miss this folks!

Signing off with yet another one! He must be enjoying watch these

Amar Akbar Anthonisation of Sabarimala Pilgrimage

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Veluthachan or Arthunkal Church Myth

The priest holding the sacred ‘mala’ removed by the Ayyappa devotees at Arthunkal Basilica.
Photo: OnManorama
Original Content at: https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/travel-news/2018/06/30/why-ayyappa-devotees-visit-arthunkal-basilica.html

A Cursory glance at the article shows how mythical and impossible this part is woven into the Pilgrimage circuit. Pseudo Secularization of Sabarimala by portraying Vavar or Jaicomo Fenicio known as Veluthachan (Foreigner Priest), when both of them were not Contemporaries, to exaggerate separated by yugas, as Bhagawan Ayyappa’s friends, and surreptitiously including into Sabarimala circuit caused what I call Cultural Contamination. Traditions then went for a toss. Until today the advocate for Veluthachan, Rahul Easwar has not been able to explain the significance of removing the Mala after Pilgrimage in Arthunkal Church in Arthunkal.

With Bhagawan Ayyappa’s blessings I have completed 63 Pilgrimage (by 2024) and never once went to Arthunkal. We remove the mala after we return to the starting place, where Irumudi Kettu was performed (Details in my article linked below) and break coconut on the same stone. The practice includes lighting a lamp to the stone on which the Coconut is broken during departure, every morning and evening by the family members. All conditions, reverence that is accorded to the Swamis on Vrat is accorded to this stone. This stone represents the entire group of pilgrims that have embarked on pilgrimage and the pilgrimage is considered over once they return and break a coconut on the same stone and remove the mala.

Sabarimala Pilgrimage – Kettunira or Palli Kattu

But we have Fake Apostles like Rahul Easwar of that reality show’s infamous dance fame. He dared “Hindus with spine to create any issues in Vavar Mosque or Arthunkal Church, then you will see reaction of “Good” Hindus”

This part of article hereon is primarily based on “X” thread by https://x.com/DarkNghtUvacha. All credits to him for this Factual expose of the Sickularisation of Out and out Hindu Pilgrimage. Corrected typos and used high resolution pictures for brevity

“Vavar being Abrahamic” myth emerged from a stage play by nawab Rajamanickam Pillai. Whatever you see in the video is mob behavior without any basis. Not just Vavar (Muslim), Sabarimala devotees have to visit Arthunkal Basilica also.

Seculars have converted a Hindu deity into Amar Akbar Anthony script. Okay, let’s look at how this myth became a reality.

The Pamphlet announcing the Play by Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai

In the early 1940s, Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai, a well-known dramatist, visited Alapuzha, and a devotee asked him to adapt Ayyappa’s biography into a play. Though first hesitant, the dramatist who heard the deity’s account was touched enough to not only create the play “Swamy Ayyappa” but also trekked the holy hill of Sabarimala himself. Without any verification, he heard all folk stories and infused them into his script.

Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai
Courtesy: The Hindu Archives

He wanted an interval bang in the middle of the play and created this Muslim Pirate Vavar character (an enemy from the other religion becoming a bhakta), fighting with Ayyappa and becoming his devotee. This was so powerful that it stayed etched in the minds of the audiences. And this led to devotees visiting the Vavar mosque at Erumeli as practice. Hence this became a myth where people like sheep followed this script, not the actual puja vidhanam.

Mythical episode of Vavar becoming Devotee of Bhagawan Ayyappa after his defeat

You can watch the video by Shri Arvind Subramaniam (busting myth based on Bhootanatha Upakhyanam)

Further Evidence:

Sri Maha Shasthu Pooja Kalpam, written in Kollam Year 1114 (1938 AD). This significant book, authored by “Yogi Baladandayudhapani Swamikal” also says the same: It is a common misconception that Vapuran is a Muslim. This misconception likely arises because of the Vavar mosque in Erumeli. However, Vapuran is, in fact, a Shiva Bhuta, a guardian deity, and a parivara devata (companion deity) of Bhagawan Ayyappa.

Okay this is the last twist : Secular Hindus calling masjid/mosque don’t even know that one should not offer prayers to Allah where graves are present So whatever is happening in Kadapa or Vavar mosque is invalidated by Islam itself.