Background

Hey readers! I hope you all are ready to travel the world and see how many different forms the religious festival, Navratri, can take in the different regions of even one country. I am known as The Traveling MansPants (pronounced mansss-pants). I have been traveling for seventeen years now, and the adventures have been amazing thus far.

Let me tell you a little bit of information before we get dive in. You're probably wondering why I'd choose something like 'The Traveling MansPants' of all things. Well, the story behind that is in middle school someone called me "MansiPantsi" because of my fun pants and the nickname stuck. Some people chose to shorten it to MansPants. Sounds a bit better than MansiPantsi, huh?

India here I come, from what I have heard and know this festival called Navratri is going to be mind-blowing! Navratri is a nine day festival in India, celebrating the goddess Durga. There are four seasonal Navratri. Two of them are minor, and the major two occur during the fall and spring. We are going to look at the Navratri that takes place in the fall.

Before we dive into this topic some key things to remember about Hinduism is that it is polytheistic, many of the religious festivals are based on the lunar calendar, and also that within Hinduism there are many ways to practice the religion.

Okay, so the nine days are based on the different forms of Ma Durga. Each day holds its own significance. In the Hindu religion the word "Ma" equates to "mother." The story of Ma Durga is as old as the Hindu religion, which by the way is incredible. With each day relating to a form of Ma Durga, there are various other gods and goddesses that play a part in the different days.

The fall celebration of Navratri is filled with music, food, and lots of dancing. Something you need to know is that I was born and raised in America engulfed in both American and Indian cultures. My parents are from India, but my brother and I were born and raised in America. We grew up celebrating traditions adapted to American resources. For example, Navratri is nine days of getting together at the temple and dancing for the goddess. Since many people have work on the weekdays, we get together on two weekends. This time I am taking this festival from a whole new perspective. A dynamic outlook across four different countries will show us what forms one festival can take.

Indian food, whether sweet or savory, is something that will be found at any religious festival. Each festival is known for its unique dishes. Some Navratri foods include singhora ka halwa, sabudana kichdi, shrikhand, basundi, and many more! Many of these items have no salt, or flour, because during Navratri many people fast.