Page:Hindu Feasts Fasts and Ceremonies.djvu/101

Rh hall with the goddess Durga, Lakshmi, or Sarasvati in the middle, and this display is supposed to represent the penance of these goddesses. The Madhvas and the Vaishnavas would call this the penance of Lakshmi, and would point out to the grand feast at Tirupati during this period as their authority. In the Tirupati hills there is a Brahmotsavam held during this period representing the penance of Lakshmi and the festival closes on this day with Lakshmi’s wedding to Vishnu. The Sivites term this Durgapuja, and this name appears to be more correct, as the greatest portion of India regards the Navaratri as sacred to Durga. Durga’s hard penance to secure Siva, as her lord is known to every Hindu and is sung by the best of their poets, so that it does not require any special mention here. The Advaitis, in keeping with their school, worship all the three goddesses, on this occasion and commence their puja with salutation to Durga, Lakshmi and Sarasvati.

We have already alluded to the display of toys in every Hindu household. Women and children take great pleasure in collecting during this occasion as many toys as possible.