About the Navratri Festival
Navratri is one of the most celebrated of all Hindu festivals. "Nav" means nine and "ratri" means night, thus Navratri festival means a festival spread over nine nights.
Though Navratri comes five times in a year, the most important and major are:
- Vasanta Navratri (also known as Basanta Navrathri, Chaitra Navratras, or Raama Navratri), which is celebrated in the month of March or April every year. It ends on the 9th and final day which is celebrated as Ram Navami.
- Sharada Navratri (also known as Maha Navratri or Sharad Navratri), which is celebrated in the months of September or October every year. The 10th day after the nine nights is celebrated as Vijayadashmi, the celebration of good over evil. It is also called Dussehra.
The dates of Navratri are based on the lunar calendar and change every year.
A pot is installed in a clean place in the home and a lamp is kept lighted at all times for the entire duration of the navratri festival. This is called Ghatasthapana.
Goddess Durga, the epitome of power or shakti, is worshipped during Navratri. It is believed the goddess had nine forms and she is worshipped in these forms during the nine-night festival.
The 8th Day
The 8th day is celebrated as Durga Ashtami or Ashtami. It is celebrated on an especially large scale in West Bengal.
The 9th Day
On the 9th day Kanya Puja (the worship of young girls who have not reached the age of puberty) is performed. Nine girls represent the nine forms of the Goddess Durga or Divine Mother. Their feet are washed, tilak is applied to their foreheads, and they partake in a feast of pooris, halwa, and black gram, a sweet dish like kheer. They are offered new clothes and fruits by those who perform this ceremony.
The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga
Depending on the region, different forms of the Goddess Durga are worshipped. The forms are:
- Durga, the invincible
- Bhadrakali, the auspicious and fortunate
- Amba or Jagdamba, Mother of the universe
- Annapoorna, the giver of food
- Sarvamangala, the giver of joy all around
- Bhairavi, the terrifying
- Chandika, the violent
- Lalita, the beautiful
- Bhavani, the giver of life
- Mookambika, the one who listens
Fasting During Navratri
Fasting is a common practice observed by many during Navratri. Meat, alcohol, grains, wheat, onions, and garlic are avoided by those fasting.
Grains are avoided as they are believed to absorb negative energy due to the seasonal changes at this time.
The Legend of Navratri
Though Navratri is a mix of various themes, the common factor is the destruction of evil or the victory of good over evil.
In the Chaitra Navratri, Demon Mahishasura (who had defeated all the Gods) was ultimately killed by Goddess Durga. After the Gods were defeated, they approached Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, whose collective energy gave rise to shakti or power in the form of Goddess Durga. They appealed to her to kill the demon.
In the Chaitra Navratri, the 9th day is celebrated as Ram Navami, the day Lord Rama was born.
In the Sharad Navratri, the 10th day is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dusshera, the day when the demon king Ravana was killed by Lord Rama.
The Nine Days
The nine days are divided into three sets of three days each to worship the three different attributes of the Goddess.
Goddess Durga
About the Navratri Festival
Day 1 - 3
The Goddess is worshipped in the form of Durga or Kali, in the form of a Warrior Goddess dressed in red and riding on a lion.
Goddess Laxmi
Day 4 - 6
During the middle three days, the Goddess is worshipped in the form of Lakhshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, dressed in gold.
Goddess Saraswati
Day 7 - 9
In the last three days, the Goddess is worshipped in the form of Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, dressed in white and sitting on a white swan.
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