FRAGRANCE OF IDEAS
These are the days of ''Navratras". It would be prudent to debate the significance of the Navratas in a historical and cultural context. Indian subcontinent comprising the areas from Kandhar and Kabul to Dacca and Rangoon and from Tibet to Sri Lanka is a hub of the greatest and richest civilization in the world. It is invariably a unique chunk of land that has its own existence, history and geography. While its history dates back to around ten thousand years, there is more than five thousand years of documented and written history of this civilization.
The mainland India (Bharat) has been the centre of the civilizational and cultural flow of the whole subcontinent from the times immemorial. Besides the documented history, the tradition and customs form a significant part of the cultural and civilizational aspects of the history of the land. In this context, the usage of almanac (calendar) by the people play an important and significant role.
India has one of the oldest calendars (almanac) in the world. It is called the Yugabd Samvat and was started immediately after the Mahabharatta war. It commensurate the change of era (Yug-Parivartan i e. the start of Kaliyug). On this 2nd April, Yugabd Samvat-5124 began. However, in Kashmir valley, the scholars and rishis of the land found an indigenous almanac 26 years post the Yugabd Samvat. This almanac is known as the Saptrishi Samvat, and it is 26 years younger to the Yugabd Samvat. On the same day, the 2nd April 2022, the Saptrishi Samvat-5098 also began. These two Samvats (Yugabd Samvat and Saptrishi Samvat) are the oldest contemporary almanacs in the world. This narration of facts also recognises the importance of Kashmir as the centre of knowledge, culture, civilization, astronomy and tradition.
Besides the two oldest almanacs that are in vogue for the last five thousand years, there are two other functional almanacs also in use. They are the Vikrami Samvat and the Shalivahan-Shaka Samvat. The first day of the year of all these almanacs is called the first Navratra. In Kashmir, the first Navratra is called Navreh (the new flame). Kashmir has a very distinct tradition of Navreh and it is celebrated with the pious sight (darshan) of "Thaal" early in the morning.
The Hindus of Kashmir (Kashmiri Pandits) have a unique and wonderful tradition of thousands of years of "Thaal-Barun" that they observe on the last day of the year (both Solar as well as the Lunar year). The next morning, that is the first day of the new year (both solar as well as lunar), the first thing that they do is to have the 'Darshan' of the 'THAAL'. It is not only considered auspicious but is also deeply connected with our day to day life requirements and obligations.
The preparation for this "Thaal" is called "Thaalbarun" which is done one day prior to Navreh in the late evening so that it is ready for 'darshan' on the next morning. All important things that are used in daily life are symbolically decorated on a 'thali' filed with rice. In fact, this "Thaal barun" is done on two occasions, so it is important to understand the correlation of Thaalbarun of these two occasions i.e, "Navreh" & "Sonth".
Sonth is the first day of the new year (Hindu calender-Solar) which starts from Ist of Chaitra month. It used to be the Ist day of the new year officially and administratively as well up to the Maharaja's regime in the Jammu and Kashmir state and even after that up to 1957. The first day of the month of the solar calendar is also known as Sankrant (Sankranti). So, 14th March, 2022 was the "Sonth" this year.
Navreh is the Ist day of the new year (Hindu calendar-Lunar) which starts from 'Nav-varsh Pratipada' that is Chaitra Shukla-Pratipada. Kashmiri Pandits in particular observe this day also as Ist Vasant Navratra. We already know that this year Navreh (Nav-varsh Pratipada) fell on 2nd April, 2022. Therefore, the Navratas also began the same day. During the Navratras (nine-day festival of Goddess of supreme energy) starting from Navreh, people observe complete vegetarian life followed by fasts during the Navratras and feasts in the end.
The Indian subcontinent has fifty two Shakti-sthal (centres of supreme divine energy) and all are dedicated to the Goddess Shakti. They are like, Kamakhya in Assam, Hinglaj Mata in Baluchistan, Jwala Devi in Himachal, Dacceyshwari in Dacca and so on. These centres of the Goddess Shakti in various manifestations are the places where various physical parts of the Goddess Sati fell. There is one such divine centre in Jammu and Kashmir as well. It is called Chichi-Mata and is situated on a small hillock in district Samba.
However, Kashmir valley had its own Shakti-sthals (seats of divine energy) which are perceived to be very sacred, pious, full of divinity and of great spiritual satisfaction. All these temples and shrines have a great devotional aura attached to them. The main Shakti-sthals of Kashmir valley comprise the following:
· Hari Parbat, Srinagar.
· Kheerbhawani, Tullamulla.
· Jwala Devi, Khrew.
· Bala Tripursundari, Balahama.
· Shailputri, Baramulla.
· Jeshtha Devi, Zabarwan.
· Kheerbhawani, Taekkar.
· Kulvageyshwari, Kulgam.
· Bhadrakali, Kupwara.
· Bargshakha, Mattan.
· Kheerbhawani, Devsar, Khanabaran.
· Bhuvneshwari, Chandpura, Srinagar.
· Mahakali, Gainkhan, Srinagar.
· Umanagri, Brariangan, Anantnag.
· Durga, Durganag, Srinagar.
· Kheerbhawani, Manzgam.
· Raginya Bhagwati, Logripura.
· Shiva Bhagwati, Akingam.
Navratas are dedicated to the nine manifestations of Maha-Durga. The Nine manifestations of the Goddess worshipped on each nine-day of Navaratri are nine incarnations of Goddess Shakti. The nine goddesses worshipped are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Kantyayani, Kala Ratri (Kaalratri), Maha Gouri and Siddhidayini (Sidhadatri) Each of these goddesses has her own seat in the Kashmir valley. The first manifestation, Shailputri, is seated on the banks of river Vitasta (Jehlum) in Baramulla and is considered as a very high seat of divine energy. For a number of reasons, this shrine is in a dilapidated condition nowadays. Thanks to the management of the shrine and the government support, renovation work has started and is also being monitored very well.
Mata Raginya (Kheer Bhawani) has a very special place among the Kashmiri Pandit community and so are her shrines and temples all over the Kashmir valley, Tullamulla being the main seat of the Goddess. The Sharika Mandir on the Hari Parbat has also a great significance among the Shakti-sthals of Kashmir valley. All families of Kashmiri Pandits are specially attached and dedicated to one of the following Isht-Devis among the Shakti-sthals of Kashmir valley. These are, Sharika Mata-Hari Parbat, Jwala Mata-Khrew, Raginya Mata-Tullamulla and Bala Devi Mata of Balahama. It needs to be mentioned here that Bala Devi Mata, Balahama has a very special significance among the Khetriya-Rajputs of Jammu and Kashmir since it also being the Isht-Devi of their clan for the last thousands of years. Unfortunately, most of them lost their connection with the shrine after 1947.
The 'Vasant-Navratras' that are being observed currently, conclude on the ninth Navratra, which is also the Ram-Navmi. This year it falls on 10th April. People conclude their nine-day fast, sipiritual penance, worship of the Goddess and other religio-cultural usages and customes with the "Nav-Durga pujan" which is also called the "Kanya-pujan". On this occasion, nine small virgin girls (as the nine incarnations of the Goddess) are specially worshipped and offered garlands, flowers, towels, Channey-Halwa-Puri and some coins of money, fruits and items of cosmetics. Thereafter, the festivities and feasts are organised to celebrate the conclusion of the whole "Navratra" festival of nine days that stands inaugurated on Navreh-the first Navratra.
(The author is a senior BJP and KP leader and Incharge, Deptt of Political Feedback, BJP-J&K and can be reached at email@example.com)
Hizi ni siku za Navratras. Ingekuwa busara kujadili umuhimu wa Navratas katika muktadha wa kihistoria na kitamaduni. Bara la India, linaloanzia Kandahar na Kabul hadi Dhaka na Rangoon na kutoka Tibet hadi Sri Lanka, ni kitovu cha ustaarabu mkubwa na tajiri zaidi ulimwenguni. Ni sehemu ya pekee ya ardhi ambayo ina kuwepo kwake mwenyewe, historia na jiografia. Ingawa historia yake inaanzia miaka elfu kumi hivi, kuna zaidi ya miaka elfu tano ya historia iliyoandikwa na kuandikwa ya ustaarabu huu. Bara la India (Bharat) limekuwa kitovu cha mtiririko wa ustaarabu na utamaduni wa bara lote tangu nyakati za kale. Mbali na historia iliyoandikwa, desturi na desturi hufanyiza sehemu kubwa ya mambo ya kitamaduni na ustaarabu wa historia ya nchi. Katika muktadha huu, matumizi ya almanac (kalenda) na watu kucheza jukumu muhimu na muhimu. India ina mojawapo ya kalenda za kale zaidi ulimwenguni. Inaitwa Yugabd Samvat na ilianza mara moja baada ya vita vya Mahabharata. Ni sambamba na mabadiliko ya enzi (Yug-Parivartan i.e. mwanzo wa Kaliyug). Siku ya pili ya Aprili, mwaka wa Yugabd Samvat 5124 ulianza. Hata hivyo, katika bonde la Kashmir, wasomi na rishis wa nchi hiyo walipata almanac ya asili miaka 26 baada ya Yughavat. "Almanac hii inaitwa ""Saptri Samvat"" na ni miaka 26 ya vijana kwa ""Yugabd Samvat.""" Siku hiyo hiyo, Aprili 2, 2022, Saptrishi Samvat 5098 pia ilianza. Samvats hizi mbili (Yugabd Samvat na Saptrishi Samvat) ni almanacs ya zamani ya kisasa ulimwenguni. "Hii ni taarifa ya ukweli ambayo pia inatambua umuhimu wa Kashmir kama kituo cha maarifa, utamaduni, ustaarabu, elimu ya nyota na utamaduni.""" Mbali na kalenda mbili za kale zaidi ambazo zimekuwa zikitumiwa kwa miaka elfu tano iliyopita, kuna kalenda nyingine mbili zinazotumika pia. Wao ni Vikrami Samvat na Shalivahan-Shaka Samvat. Siku ya kwanza ya mwaka wa almanac hizi zote inaitwa Navratra ya kwanza. Huko Kashmir, Navratra ya kwanza huitwa Navreh (moto mpya). Kashmir ina utamaduni tofauti sana wa Navreh na huadhimishwa na mtazamo wa kidini (darshan) wa "Thaal" mapema asubuhi. "Wahindu wa Kashmir (Kashmiri Pandits) wana utamaduni wa kipekee na wa ajabu wa maelfu ya miaka ya ""Thaal-Barun"" ambayo wanaadhimisha siku ya mwisho ya mwaka (wote wa jua na mwaka wa mwezi)." Asubuhi ya siku iliyofuata, yaani siku ya kwanza ya mwaka mpya (ya jua na ya mwezi), jambo la kwanza wanalofanya ni kuwa na 'Darshan' ya 'THAAL'. Si tu inachukuliwa kuwa nzuri lakini pia ni kina kushikamana na mahitaji yetu ya kila siku ya maisha na majukumu. Maandalizi ya hii "Thaal" inaitwa "Thaalbarun" ambayo hufanywa siku moja kabla ya Navreh mwishoni mwa jioni ili iwe tayari kwa 'darshan' asubuhi inayofuata. Vitu vyote muhimu vinavyotumiwa katika maisha ya kila siku vinapambwa kwa njia ya mfano kwenye 'thali' iliyofunikwa kwa mchele. "Hata hivyo, ""Thaal Barun"" ni neno la kiingereza linalotumika kwa mara mbili, na kwa hivyo ni muhimu kuelewa uhusiano wa Thaal Barun kati ya matukio hayo mawili, yaani ""Navreh"" na ""Sonth.""" Sonth ni siku ya kwanza ya mwaka mpya (Kalenda ya Kihindu-Solar) ambayo huanza kutoka Ist ya mwezi wa Chaitra. Siku hiyo ilikuwa ni siku ya kwanza ya mwaka mpya rasmi na kiutawala hadi utawala wa Maharaja katika jimbo la Jammu na Kashmir na hata baada ya hapo hadi 1957. Siku ya kwanza ya mwezi wa kalenda ya jua pia inajulikana kama Sankrant (Sankranti). "Mwezi wa 14 Machi 2022 ndio ""Sondh"" ya mwaka huu." Navreh ni siku ya kwanza ya mwaka mpya (kalenda ya Kihindu-Lunar) ambayo huanza kutoka 'Nav-varsh Pratipada' ambayo ni Chaitra Shukla-Pratipada. Wapandi wa Kashmir hasa huadhimisha siku hii pia kama Ist Vasant Navratra. Mwaka huu, Navratri (Navratri) huadhimishwa tarehe 2 Aprili. Kwa hiyo, Navratas pia ilianza siku hiyohiyo. Wakati wa Navratras (sherehe ya siku tisa ya mungu wa nishati ya juu) kuanzia Navreh, watu hufuata maisha kamili ya mboga ikifuatiwa na kufunga wakati wa Navratras na karamu mwishoni. Bara la India lina Shakti-sthal hamsini na mbili (vikundi vya nishati ya kimungu ya juu zaidi) na zote zimewekwa wakfu kwa Mke wa Mungu Shakti. Kama vile Kamakhya huko Assam, Hinglaj Mata huko Baluchistan, Jwala Devi huko Himachal, Dacceyshwari huko Dacca na kadhalika. Vituo hivi vya Mke wa Mungu Shakti katika maonyesho mbalimbali ni maeneo ambapo sehemu mbalimbali za kimwili za Mke wa Mungu Sati zilianguka. Kuna kituo kimoja cha kimungu kama hicho katika Jammu na Kashmir pia. Inaitwa Chichi-Mata na iko juu ya kilima kidogo katika wilaya ya Samba. Hata hivyo, bonde la Kashmir lilikuwa na Shakti-sthals zake mwenyewe (viti vya nishati ya kimungu) ambazo zinaonekana kuwa takatifu sana, za kichawi, kamili ya kimungu na ya kuridhika sana kwa kiroho. Hekalu na mahali pa ibada vyote hivi vina upeo mkubwa wa ujitoaji uliounganishwa navyo. Shakti-sthals kuu ya bonde la Kashmir ni pamoja na zifuatazo: · Hari Parbat, Srinagar. · Kheerbhawani, Tullamulla. · Jwala Devi, Khrew. · Bala Tripursundari, Balahama. · Shailputri, Baramulla. · Jeshtha Devi, Zabarwan. · Kheerbhawani, Taekkar. · Kulvageyshwari, Kulgam. · Bhadrakali, Kupwara. · Bargshakha, Mattan. · Kheerbhawani, Devsar, Khanabaran. · Bhuvneshwari, Chandpura, Srinagar. · Mahakali, Gainkhan, Srinagar. · Umanagri, Brariangan, Anantnag. · Durga, Durganag, Srinagar. · Kheerbhawani, Manzgam. · Raginya Bhagwati, Logripura. · Shiva Bhagwati, Akingam. Navratas ni wakfu kwa maonyesho tisa ya Maha-Durga. Maonyesho tisa ya mungu wa kike anayeheshimiwa kila siku tisa za Navaratri ni maumbo tisa ya mungu wa kike Shakti. Mke wa Mungu wa India, Shilaputra, Brahmacharini, Chandragupta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Kanyakumari, Kala Ratri, Maha Guri na Siddhidhani, ni miungu tisa inayoheshimiwa na watu wa India. Shailputri, ni mahali pa kuabudu katika eneo la Baramulla, karibu na mto Vitastha, ambapo kuna nguvu za kimungu. Kwa sababu kadhaa, mahali hapa patakatifu pa ibada panavunjika moyo leo. Shukrani kwa usimamizi wa patakatifu na msaada wa serikali, kazi ya ukarabati imeanza na pia inafuatwa vizuri sana. Mata Ragini (Kheer Bhawani) ana nafasi maalum sana miongoni mwa jamii ya Kashmiri Pandit na hivyo ni makaburi yake na mahekalu kote katika bonde la Kashmir, Tullamulla kuwa kiti kikuu cha mungu. Sharika Mandir juu ya Hari Parbat pia ina umuhimu mkubwa kati ya Shakti-sthals ya bonde la Kashmir. Familia zote za Pandits wa Kashmir zimeunganishwa maalum na kujitolea kwa moja ya Isht-Devis zifuatazo kati ya Shakti-sthals ya bonde la Kashmir. Hizi ni, Sharika Mata-Hari Parbat, Jwala Mata-Khrew, Raginya Mata-Tullamulla na Bala Devi Mata wa Balahama. Bala Devi Mata, Balahama ina umuhimu maalum sana miongoni mwa Khetriya-Rajputs wa Jammu na Kashmir kwani pia ni Isht-Devi ya ukoo wao kwa maelfu ya miaka iliyopita. Kwa bahati mbaya, wengi wao walipoteza uhusiano wao na patakatifu baada ya 1947. 'Vasant-Navratras' ambazo zinaadhimishwa kwa sasa, zinaishia kwenye Navratra ya tisa, ambayo pia ni Ram-Navmi. Mwaka huu ni tarehe 10 Aprili. Watu huishia siku zao tisa za kufunga, toba ya kiroho, ibada ya Mke wa Mungu na matumizi na desturi nyingine za kidini na kitamaduni na "Nav-Durga pujan" ambayo pia inaitwa "Kanya-pujan". Katika tukio hili, wasichana tisa wadogo wa bikira (kama incarnations tisa ya Goddess) ni maalum kuabudiwa na kutoa garlands, maua, taulo, Channey-Halwa-Puri na baadhi ya sarafu ya fedha, matunda na vitu vya vipodozi. Baada ya hapo, sherehe na karamu zinaandaliwa kusherehekea kumalizika kwa tamasha lote la "Navratra" la siku tisa ambalo linaanzishwa kwenye Navreh-Navratra ya kwanza. "Mwandishi ni kiongozi wa zamani wa BJP na KP na Incharge, Idara ya Maoni ya Kisiasa, BJP-J&K na anaweza kufikiwa kwenye email@example.com."""