Happy Navratri – 9 Night Festival of Goddess Durga
Navratri (Navaratri) is a 9 day festival in Hinduism of the worship of Goddess Durga and entails traditional folk group dances known as Garba & other festivities. Navratri actually means 9 nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning the number ‘9’ and ratri meaning ‘nights’. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped and is celebrated for Goddess Durga, the manifestation of Deity in form of Shakti, which is the representation of power. Navaratri is divided into three-day sets, each devoted to a different aspect of the supreme goddess. The first three days are devoted to Durga (to destroy all our vices, impurities, and defects). The next three day set is devoted to Lakshmi (the giver of spiritual and material wealth), and the last set is devoted to Saraswati (the goddess of wisdom). The 10th day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or Dussehra, which is the day Goddess Durga defeated demons known as Shumbh and NiShumbh. Dussehra is also the day Lord Ram defeated Ravan. The dates of Navaratri are determined according to the lunar calendar.
The Hindu festival of Navaratri is celebrated all around the world, mainly in India and Nepal. In the Indian state of Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with greater attention as it is local culture to participate in the traditional folk dance Garba. In some Indian communities, people participate in fasts during this season that lasts for the nine days of Navratri. The festival culminates on Mahanavami. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshiper.
Navarathri is celebrated 5 times a year and the most important Navratri is Sharada Navratri (Mahanavratri).
- Vasanta Navaratri
- Gupta Navaratri
- Sharada Navaratri
- Paush Navaratri
- Magha Navaratri
The Chakra team wishes everyone a happy and shubh Navratri. Jai Durga Maa!
Here is a Navratri bhajan video of Durga Shakti: