Navaratri: Power Lies Within Ourselves

Although Navaratri, or Dashain, is traditionally a Hindu festival, growing up in the Kathmandu Valley, we perceived it as Nepal’s festival. People from all communities and religions celebrated Dashain with nearly the same enthusiasm as Hindus, which instilled in us the idea that Dashain is a national celebration that belonged to everyone in Nepal. With the advent of Nepal’s Federal Republic, this sentiment has slightly shifted, yet the core essence remains. People from diverse backgrounds still celebrate Dashain with the same gusto, engaging in traditions like buying new clothes, enjoying good food, and visiting family and friends. Another significant custom in many Nepali homes is visiting temples —especially Devi temples — during each of Navaratri’s nine days to honour the embodiment of Shakti, a powerful symbol in Hindu culture.

It was, therefore, a joy to attend the captivating programme “Search for Shakti: Divine Feminine Power of Hindu and Buddhist Deities” on the third day of Navaratri. Organised by the Bodhisattva Gallery in Lalitpur, the event was a mesmerising blend of Charya Nritya and Bharatanatyam, performed by Nepali dancers, with one dancer, Vasu Mohan, from Sri Lanka’s theatre and art community. His elegant gestures and expressive face seemed to transport me into the alleys of Kathmandu, where he symbolically searched for his Shakti. By the end, Vasu’s dance conveyed a profound realisation: that Shakti was already within him, in each of his seven chakras.

Chakras are believed to be focal points within our bodies used in various ancient meditation practices, collectively known as Tantra, an integral part of Hindu and Buddhist traditions. There are many medicinal practices focused on nourishing the chakras, often emphasising a vegetarian lifestyle to maintain a disease-free, healthy life. Chakras also known as the energy centres of the body and are believed to be aligned in the astral body along the spine starting from the base known as the muladhar chakra or the root chakra, ending at the crown of the head known as sahastrara chakra or the crown chakra. In between, there are svadhisthana chakra or the sacral chakra, the manipura chakra or the solar plexus chakra, the anahata chakra or the heart chakra, the vishuddha chakra or the throat chakra and the ajna chakra or the third eye chakra.  

It is believed that the astral body is the energy body residing within our physical body but which cannot be seen but can be just felt via meditation. Each chakra is believed to emanate a specific colour and correspond with glands in the area where they are believed to be aligned. Each chakra is believed to be related to specific spiritual, emotional, psychological, and physical wellbeing. It is also believed that blockage or malfunction of any chakra can lead to physical, psychological or emotional disorders.  Vasu’s performance was a beautiful reminder that to keep our mind and body alert and healthy, we need to channel shakti, or power, by engaging with the chakras within our own systems. 

While Vasu’s Bharatanatyam opened and closed the performance — portraying his quest and ultimate discovery of shakti within himself — Nepali dancers also performed Charya Nritya, depicting the various forms of Shakti within each of the Navadurga deities worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. The performance was a moving exploration of divine feminine power, intertwining spirituality and artistry through ancient art forms. It also symbolised the unity within South Asian cultures. This collaboration between Sri Lankan and Nepali artistes, facilitated by the Bodhisattva Gallery, brought new meaning to celebrating Navaratri by underscoring that feminine power exists within everyone. 

Understanding our own power can ultimately lead us away from harmful struggles over power and control, which is an essential message of festivals like Dashain. Feminine and masculine energies coexist within us all; the key is to understand and respect our physical systems and each other’s. In fact, many global festivals, including Dashain, Diwali, Christmas, and Eid, share a universal message of peace, love, and compassion.

Triumph over evil

Navratri is celebrated twice a year: once during spring, in the month of Chaitra, and again in autumn, in the month of Asoj. Asoj Navaratri, also known as sharad Navaratri, usually falls in September or October according to the Roman calendar. The entire festival of Navaratri emphasises feminine power and the triumph over evil to create a utopia, or Ram Rajya, on earth. While achieving utopia might not be everyone’s goal, in today’s world, striving for peace should be. Wars are often waged to exert power over the weak, sometimes using religion as a pretext. Unfortunately, in every war, violence is disproportionately directed toward specific groups based on sex and gender — another display of power over the powerless.

If we look at the themes of peace and love present in almost every religion, and especially as we celebrate the divine feminine power of shakti, we should reflect on how we can use our own inner strength for the welfare of all rather than as a means to dominate others. Navratri’s message is that Shakti — the feminine force — protects the vulnerable and punishes evil. It is crucial for each of us, especially political and religious leaders, to reflect on why power is often used destructively instead of to make the world a place where all can live with love and dignity. Let us recognise the power within ourselves and use it for the good of all.

(Sharma is a senior journalist and women's rights advocate. namrata1964@yahoo.com, Twitter handle: @NamrataSharmaP)