Elaborate meals & decorations to mark Dasara festivities today

PUNE: On Wednesday, it would have been difficult not to chance upon numerous vendors, sitting beside a mound of beautiful orange and yellow marigolds, engaged in making garlands. With a stack of apta leaves kept close by, the vendors were a busy lot as Punekars geared up for Dasara celebrations on Thursday.

The city is set to celebrate the festival of victory and prosperity on October 18. “This year, Dasara is being celebrated on the ninth day of Navratra instead of the tenth. The Shastra or weapon worship, which generally takes place on the ninth day of Navratra will also be conducted by most on Thursday itself,” said

Purohit Vasant Gadgil

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Speaking about the auspicious timing or muhurat on Thursday, Gadgil said, “The prayers, naivedya and aarti must be conducted between sunrise and noon. The best muhurat is that of Vijayadashmi. The worship of the deity with apta leaves and exchange of apta leaves must conclude before sunset,” he said.

With the muhurat in mind, city-based businesswoman Seema Modi said, “We will start preparations for the naivedya early in the morning followed by worship of the ‘ghata’ or ‘garbo’. The morning will also have family members putting up marigold garlands at the entrance of the house, the office and on all vehicles. After the puja at home, we will head to our office where we will exchange apta leaves with all our employees praying for a prosperous year for everyone. Later, our entire family generally goes out for lunch.”

Modi further stated that towards the evening, her family will light a clay lamp at the ‘garbo’. “After that, according to the muhurat, we go and drop the garbo off at the closest temple, which is a sort of visarjan, marking an end of the festival,” she explained.

The Malayali community celebrates Vijayadashmi, the festivities for which begin on the eight day of Navratra. “During the festival, all kinds of books are deposited at temples for puja and this is the time when children enjoy as they are exempted from studying. This festival marks an auspicious beginning to all kinds of learning. Young children or learners are encouraged to start any new venture on the tenth day that is Vijaydashami,” said MK Jayashree, a city-based Malayali resident.

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