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9 days 9 colours

This is the festive season of Navratri. Navratri literally means 9 nights. This festival is celebrated to represent or remember that goddess Durga defeated Mahishasur, she fought with him for 9 consecutive days using 9 different avatars.

Nowadays Navratri celebration has been commercialised. I do not have a problem with that because these festivals generate great revenue. Many communities or even small-medium artist earn a lot from these festivals. Then comes the debate of celebrating Navratri using 9 different colours. In early 2000 one of the newspapers was not profitable. As the sales declined, they came up with a new marketing strategy. They published in their newspaper which colours are to be worn on each day of Navratri. They would not declare all colours at once, rather they would declare which colour is to be worn today and which colour is to be worn tomorrow. This marketing campaign was very successful and the newspaper definitely made good profit from this strategy.

Now after several years there are many experts (so called) still debate whether this nine Colors on 9 days has any cultural or religious significance. The marketing strategy of the newspaper is always discussed. Several people claim that we should not follow these colours because there is no relevance to this. 

Well, there may not be any religious significance, however we cannot deny the cultural significance of this phenomenon. I do agree that before 2000 there was no such concept of wearing 9 different colours on 9 days of Navratri. It probably was introduced by that newspaper, I do not deny that. But ever since the introduction of this phenomenon I do see a cultural impact. This festival is now celebrated with more enthusiasm. The discussion on which colours are to be worn start at least a month before the actual festival. Everyone wants to dress up in the colour which is designated for the day. To me it also has a significance to show our Unity. On these days saying that several people who we do not even know dress up in the same colour shows solidarity. It also shows commitment. Anything that will connect me to another human being is a cultural phenomenon. 

I wholeheartedly except the celebration of 9 days with 9 different colours. 
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