Detailed Information about Aanvla Navami & Its Importance

As is well known, for the Hindus in the country there are a number of celebrations throughout the year. And in such a patriarchal society like India, it is refreshing to have a festival that honors and respects women solely. Every year, Aanvla Navami falls on different dates and there is no one consistent date that it falls on. The women take the responsibility for all of the preparations and the prayers and the prayer ceremonies on this day. This festival is closely related to nature and it symbolizes the relation between nature and the nurturing capacity of women. In that sense, this day is very significant. The proceedings of this day are as follows. Although the role of the women is of prime importance on this day, the women themselves give prime importance to their family. The devotions are less for themselves and more for the men and children of the family.

Those that have the gooseberry tree in their gardens or in their backyards are considered to be a blessing. This tree is considered to be auspicious and if this is not available in close proximity then the women are expected to being a branch from this tree and place in their homes. A slightly big branch would be preferred. This is one of the first steps for the ceremony to begin. There are some other materials that are required for the prayers. They include water, milk, and money as offerings, and a piece of traditional Indian clothing, preferably the saree, incense sticks and match sticks. The traditional piece of attire that is chosen needs to be red, pink or yellow in color. This is very important and will have to be adhered to as a rule. As is mandatory with all other prayer services for the Hindus, on this day as well, all of the women in the household will have to wake up early in the morning and put on clothes that they have newly purchased. After having done this, they will have to make the preparations for the day, which means basically setting up everything that was mentioned before.

And then, all the women will have to assemble at the garden or the place where the tree is planted or where the branch is located. The women pay utmost heed to not perform the prayer in any other direction but the east because the east is where the sun rises and that symbolizes newness, prosperity, happiness, and new beginnings that could be auspicious. And then comes the time for the offerings. The women line up in order to make their different offerings, namely the milk, the water, and also the money. After this is done, the women take turns to light up the area and the tree is surrounded with Indian lamps that are also known as diyas. The women then get up and hold a gigantic piece of white or red thread which is blessed and they move around the tree. And when this is done, all the women sit down and tales are narrated from Hindu scriptures.