We had to visit Chitaroli one last time to see the final touches being made to the gorgeous Goddess Durga idols, in preparation for Navratri, which starts today! Oh, they are beautiful; faces painted, bangles, jewels and sarees. The artists are so talented and it’s obvious they love, and take pride in, their work. There is such an amazing atmosphere running through those streets! There are so many ways to celebrate Navratri (nine divine nights), the festivities vary from state to state, but Hindus around the world will all be worshiping the same Goddess, Durga. Dancing, fasting, feasting, praying, donating to charity and wearing new clothes. It’s an exciting time to be in India. Here in Nagpur, makeshift temples have been put up in every community to host their very own Goddess Durga for nine nights. As you travel around the city, you can see and hear groups of people practicing their garba dancing (a Gujarati folk dance, very popular during Navratri) and fairy lights are being strung across the streets. The Goddesses in the photographs will have safely reached their temples across Nagpur by now, I cannot wait to drive around and visit as many as I can! A scene from mythology where a fierce form of [...]
