Mythology
Navaratri celebrates the victory of this goddess over the demon Mahishasura.
Durga
In which Indian state did garba originate?
Gujarat
What does “Navaratri” mean in Sanskrit?
Nine nights
The feminine divine is worshipped in three primary forms (as three goddesses). Who are these three goddesses?
Durga/Parvati, Lakshmi, Saraswati
For the past five years, which Penn building has hosted Garba?
The demon Mahishasura asked for this boon, which allowed him to terrorize the world. The gods managed to subvert this boon with the creation of Durga. Describe the boon.
No man could kill him
In North India, Dussehra festivities often involve burning effigies of this figure.
Ravana
Mahishasura means ____- demon. (Hint: it is an animal).
Buffalo
What is Durga's mount (animal)? One of two answers is acceptable.
Lion or tiger
What does HJA eat during Garba set-up?
Pizza
In the Ramayana, what key event does Dussehra/ Vijayadashami – the final day of Navaratri – represent?
Rāma* defeating Rāvana
*diacritics bc the "Rāma vs. Ramā" thing has been an issue my whole life
In South India, Navaratri is often celebrated with tiered displays of figurines. What is this practice called?
Golu (or the equivalent word in other Dravidian languages)
The etymological origin of Dussehra/Dasara/Vijayadashami lies in the number of the day on which it falls (as in, on day "x" of the festival). What is this number?
10
Classically, Durga carries 10 weapons (given to her by the various male gods). Shiva gave her this weapon, something also carried by Poseidon/Neptune in the Greco-Roman traditions.
Trishula or trident
Organized by music/dance style, what are the three sections of Garba night?
Garba, raas, Bollywood
Dussehra/Vijayadashami has significance in the Mahabharata as well. Before going into exile, these brothers hid their weapons in a tree. Dussehra/Vijayadashami marked the day they finished their exile and reclaimed their weapons. Name this group of brothers.
The Pandavas
If you name the individual brothers (Yuddhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva), that's cool, too :).
The large-scale Durga Pujas of Bengal have been immortalized in art and literature. One well-known tradition that occurs on the last day of the festival involves married women celebratorily smearing a particular substance on each other’s faces. What is this substance?
Vermillion or sindūra
HJA loves when “sanedo” comes on during Garba. Sanedo, a type of Gujarati folk music, comes from the Sanskrit word “sneha.” What do these terms refer to?
Love/affection
(“Sneha” also means fattiness, oiliness, viscosity; if anyone knew that, 1 million bonus points in my heart).
In Southeast Asian culture, there are many beautiful instances of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain imagery (yay cultural diffusion!). One such example is the fearsome queen/goddess Rangda, who is sometimes identified with Durga and Kali. Name the island whose mythology includes Rangda. (Hint: this island, a popular tourist destination, is the only Hindu-majority province in Indonesia).
Bali
What do we write/draw on people’s hands when they enter the event?
Om sign
A Mahabharata legend involving Dussehra/Vijayadashami says that this Pandava singlehandedly defeated the Kuru armies on that auspicious day. Name this Pandava. (Hint: his name is cognate with the Latin for “silver” --> think periodic table!).
Arjuna
[Arjuna = Argentum (Ag)].
In North India, dramatic/musical productions celebrating the life of Lord Rāma are often performed during Navaratri. What is the technical term for these productions? (Hint: they mean “the play/sport of Rāma”).
Rāmalīlā
The origin of the word “garba” lies in the fact that people dance around a clay pot with a central lamp, called a “garbha-deepa.” What does the Sanskrit word “garbha” mean? (Hint: people spelling "garba" as "garbha" still sets off my OB/GYN sensors).
Womb, uterus, fetus, etc.
In these well-known caves, one can find carvings of Ambika/Kushmandini, a Jain goddess whose iconography is similar to that of Durga or Parvati. Name these famous caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Maharashtra. (Hint: their Anglicized name, by which they are usually known, starts with an "E").
Ellora Caves
What is the name of the side-room that we use for water, bags, chilling, etc.? (I know this is a hard question; that’s why it’s worth 500).
Donaldson