This weekend there was a Gujurati cultural event called Navaratri. Navaratri usually occurs once a year in September or October depending on the placement of the moon. The word "Narvaratri" literally means nine nights. This occasion goes on for nine nights and eight days in India but in most states, the event usually occurs on the weekends. Navaratri is a festival celebrated in honor of the Indian goddess Durga. There is a picture or a statue of this goddess in the center of the room, and people dance the folk dance around the goddess. The Folk dances are called Garba and Raas. At the dance, Garba comes first with a prayer to the goddess Durga before midnight. After the prayer, Raas is played with two sticks and a partner. The song sung for prayer is called an Aarti. It is a candle lighting ceremony for the goddess. After the sacred food is passed out the Raas is started. This dancing ritual goes on until 2 or 3 in the morning.
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