Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga.

The word Navaratri means

nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights.
During Navratri, people from villages and cities gather to perform puja on small shrines representing
different aspects of Goddess Durga, including Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. Chanting of
mantras and renditions of bhajans and folk songs usually accompany the puja rituals for nine
consecutive days of Navratri.
The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess) dressed in red and
mounted on a lion. Her various incarnations Kumari, Parvati and Kali are worshipped during these
days.
Women, especially in Maharashtra and Gujarat, adorn themselves with 9 different colors
which are allocated to each day of Navratri. The color of the day is decided on the weekday.
Each weekday is ruled by one the planets or Navgrahas and accordingly colors are assigned
to each day.
This all-inclusive power supports us and brings out the divine quality in us. This can happen
only when we are doing our sadhana. These nine days are a reminder to be a good sadhak
(seeker).
Nevertheless, the focal point of every garba circle is the small Goddess shrine erected by each
community to mark the beginning of the festival, on the first day of the Hindu month of
Ashwin. The shrine includes a garbo, an earthenware pot, in which a betel nut, coconut, and
silver coin are placed.
The word Garbo or Garaba has originated from Sanskrit word Garbhdeep- an earthen pot
with circular holes is popularly known as Garbo. The earthen pot is symbol of human body
and the lighten lamp inside signifies the divine soul.
The festival which is devoted to the Mother Goddess known variously as Durga, Kali,
Bhavani, Amba, and Chandika, has been celebrated in its most unique and different nature
in various parts of India and abroad with devotional songs, bhajans and cultural programs
with the world renowned Garba or Dandiya Raas in the state of Gujarat.

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Navratri festival is celebrated to worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga, the Hindu
Goddess of Power. It is a very important Hindu Festival and celebrated all over the country.
Navratri is a sanskrit word which means Nine nights.
The festival of Navratri continues for nine days. It is followed by Vijaya Dashmi (also
Dussehra) Festival on the 10th day.
In Gujarat, people gather in groups to perform the Dandiya and Garba dance. The dandiya
sticks of various colours are used. Some people also throw dry colours on each other.
Many devotees fast for entire nine days during the festival. They chant various mantras and
slokas while worshiping the deity.

Navratri festival is the joyous way of worshipping Goddess Durga. The festival is celebrated all over the
country with joy and fervour. Nav means nine and Ratri means night. The festival is celebrated over a
period of nine nights and 10 days. Navratri festival is celebrated 5 times in a year. But the main Navratri
festival is celebrated in the month of October/ November. The different types of navrartri festival are:
1. Vasanta Navratri: - this is celebrated in the Chaitra month of Hindu calendar. This is generally the month
of March according to modern calendar. It is the seasonal transition time. The winters had almost gone by
this time and spring is greeted with enthusiasm. The 9th night of the festival is celebrated as Rama Navmi.
2. Gupta Navratri: - these navratri falls in the month of June/ July. The Hindu month is named as
Aashada. These are also known as Gayatri navratri.
3. Sharad Navratri: - these navratri days fall in the month of October/ November. It is again the seasonal
transition time. The winters are advancing during this time of year, bidding adieu to longer summer
duration. According to Hindu calendar, the Navratri are celebrated in the month of Ashwini. The 9 forms of
Durga are worshipped with fervour. The 8th day is quite significant in Bengalis as Durgashtami. The 10 th day
of the festival is celebrated as Vijaya Dashmi which is the Lord Ramas victory over Ravana. On the 10 th day
Bengalis submerge the idols of Durga in water marking the completion of the festival.
4. Pausha Navratri: - these navratri festivals are celebrated in the month of Pausha according to Hindu
calendar. Generally it falls on December/ January according to modern calendar.
5. Maagha Navratri: - these 9 days are celebrated in the Maagha month of Hindu calendar. This happens to
be the month of January/ February according to modern calendar.
The first three days of Navratri festival are related to the worship of Goddess Durga. The next three days are
related to worship of Goddess Laxmi and on the last three days worship of Goddess Sarswati is done with
all rituals. Some people observe fast on all the nine days while consuming food only once a day. While some
take only fruits and water and avoid even a single morsel.
The festival is celebrated all over the country but with different names. North Indians celebrate Navratri by
worshipping the idols of Goddess Durga. Pre-pubescent girls are worshipped as a symbolic representation
of the deity. They are offered delicious food items and gifts. In Bengal, decorative pandals are made and
people visit these ceremonial pandals to worship Goddess in festive mood. In Gujarat, the nine nights of the
navratri are celebrated with traditional local touch which has now become global. A traditional dance form
garba is done throughout the nine nights of celebration. Similar, festivals are celebrated in south India
also.
Navratri festival is celebrated during the time of year which depicts the transition in the solar and climatic
influence. The navratri festival is celebrated to mark the expression of Goddess Durga in the form of Shakti
(energy).

Navratri festival is the joyous way of worshipping Goddess Durga. The festival is celebrated
all over the country with joy and fervour. Nav means nine and Ratri means night. The
festival is celebrated over a period of nine nights and 10 days. Navratri festival is celebrated 5
times in a year. But the main Navratri festival is celebrated in the month of October/
November. The different types of navrartri festival are:
1. Vasanta Navratri: this is celebrated in the Chaitra month of Hindu calendar. This is
generally the month of March according to modern calendar. It is the seasonal transition time.
The winters had almost gone by this time and spring is greeted with enthusiasm. The 9th night
of the festival is celebrated as Rama Navmi.
2. Gupta Navratri: these navratri falls in the month of June/ July. The Hindu month is
named as Aashada. These are also known as Gayatri navratri.
3. Sharad Navratri: these navratri days fall in the month of October/ November. It is again
the seasonal transition time. The winters are advancing during this time of year, bidding adieu
to longer summer duration. According to Hindu calendar, the Navratri are celebrated in the
month of Ashwini. The 9 forms of Durga are worshipped with fervour. The 8th day is quite
significant in Bengalis as Durgashtami. The 10th day of the festival is celebrated as Vijaya
Dashmi which is the Lord Ramas victory over Ravana. On the 10th day Bengalis submerge
the idols of Durga in water marking the completion of the festival.
4. Pausha Navratri: these navratri festivals are celebrated in the month of Pausha according
to Hindu calendar. Generally it falls on December/ January according to modern calendar.
5. Maagha Navratri: these 9 days are celebrated in the Maagha month of Hindu calendar.
This happens to be the month of January/ February according to modern calendar.
The first three days of Navratri festival are related to the worship of Goddess Durga. The next
three days are related to worship of Goddess Laxmi and on the last three days worship of
Goddess Sarswati is done with all rituals. Some people observe fast on all the nine days while
consuming food only once a day. While some take only fruits and water and avoid even a
single morsel.1
The festival is celebrated all over the country but with different names. North Indians
celebrate Navratri by worshipping the idols of Goddess Durga. Pre-pubescent girls are
worshipped as a symbolic representation of the deity. They are offered delicious food items
and gifts. In Bengal, decorative pandals are made and people visit these ceremonial pandals
to worship Goddess in festive mood. In Gujarat, the nine nights of the navratri are celebrated
with traditional local touch which has now become global. A traditional dance form garba is
done throughout the nine nights of celebration. Similar, festivals are celebrated in south India
also.

Navratri festival is celebrated during the time of year which depicts the transition in the solar
and climatic influence. The navratri festival is celebrated to mark the expression of Goddess
Durga in the form of Shakti (energy).

'Nav' means 'nine' and 'ratri' means 'night'. Thus, 'Navratri' means 'nine nights'. There are many legends
attached to the conception of Navratri like all Indian festivals. All of them are related to Goddess Shakti
(Hindu Mother Goddess) and her various forms. It is one of the most celebrated festivals of Hindu calendar,
it holds special significance for Gujratis and Bengalis and one can see it in the zeal and fervor of the people
with which they indulge in the festive activities of the season. Dandiya and Garba Rass are the highlights of
the festival in Gujarat, while farmer sow seeds and thank the Goddess for her blessings and pray for better
yield. In older times, Navratri was associated with the fertility of Mother Earth who feed us as her
children. The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess) dressed in red
and mounted on a lion. Her various incarnations - Kumari, Parvati and Kali - are worshipped during these
days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood that include the child, the young girl and the
mature woman. Next three days are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity),
dressed in gold and mounted on an owl and finally, last three are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
(Goddess Of Knowledge), dressed in milky white and mounted on a pure white swan. Sweetmeats are
prepared for the celebrations. Children and adults dress up in new bright-colored dresses for the night
performances. In some communities, people undergo rigorous 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. This ritual is
performed in most parts of the country. With commercialization, the festival has moved on to be a social
festival rather than merely a religious one. However, nothing dampens the spirit of the devout followers of
Goddess Durga, as they sing devotional songs and indulge in the celebrations of Navratri, year by year.

Indian Festival - Navratri

Navratri is a nine night's festival, celebrated in the honour of Goddess Durga. Navratri is a long
festival, which is celebrated continuously for nine days. During these nine days celebration, it is the
time to put all routine work aside and prepare for the nine days of festival where you need to spend
time in worship, dance, singing prayers (Bhajans) and offering your sincere prayers and love to the
Goddess Durga.

To pay tribute to Goddess Durga, Garba (dance form) is done whole night for nine nights. This dance
form is originated in Gujarat. Garba has been an important part of Guajarati weddings and
celebrations apart from Navratri. This festival involves many different dances, from the main garba,
dancing in a circle around an altar or an image of Goddess Durga, to many styles of Dandiya Raas, a
dance performed with two sticks (dandiyas) and a partner. We use to do lot of spinning, hopping, and
striking each others dandiyas in garba (dance form).

Navratri has been always my favourite festival because I use to get chance to dance all the night for
nine days with my friends. We use to be in a group of 16 including boys and girls. We use to get
traditionally dress for all nine nights and dance with different styles in a circle where Goddess Durga
has been placed. We use to do fasting for all the nine days to get blessings from goddess Durga. I use
to spend lot of time and money in the design of the traditional dress since there used to be the best
dress competition.

NAVRATRI

('Nava' means Nine and 'Ratri' means Night time, thus The Nine divine nights )

Navarathri is also a very popular Hindu festival which is celebrated to signify the victory of Godly
rightness over the evil. The Navarathri festival is celebrated to glorify and worship the Devi Sakthi in
three different forms, Saraswathi Devi, Lakshmi Devi and Durga Devi.

There are four kinds of Navarathri festivals celebrated in four relevant periods.

1. Nine days coming after the new moon day in the month of June - July. This is called 'Ashada
Navarathri'.

2. Nine days coming after the new moon day in the months of September - October. This is called
'Saratha navarathri'.

3. Nine days coming after the new moon day in the months of January - February . This is called
'Maha Navarathri'.

4. Nine days coming after the new moon day in the months March - April . This is called 'Vasantha
Navarathri'.

However the 'Saratha Navarathri' of the months of September - October is very special and it is
widely celebrated by Hindus living all over the world and so Navaratri always refer this particular
one.

(Note that Hindu calender month starts around the middle of the gregorian Calendar month and thus
involves two gregorian months as indicated above)

Let's now see the background to this.

Once, there lived a wicked demon called Mahisha who had performed extremely tough penance for
many years and obtained the boon that he might be killed only by a virgin.

Because of that powerful boon, no one in the three worlds could battle against him.

So, he conquered all the three worlds and harassed Devas and Humans. In order to eradicate him and
save all, the divine mother Devi Sakthi borned on the the 'Krishna paksha Sathurthasi' ({refers to an
auspicious time) in the month of September - October and performed tough penance for nine days and
nine nights.

Thus, she empowered as Devi Durga and destroyed the demon on the ninth day. On the tenth day,
devas and all humans on the earth rejoiced her victory over the demon and celebrated that day as
'Vijayadasami'.

The tenth day which is significant to Devi Durga's victory over the terrific demon is celebrated as
'Vijaya-dasami day'. The nine days prior to the Vijaya dasami are celebrated as Navarathri festival of
nine divine nights.

Throughout these nine days of Navarathri festival, the first three days are dedicated to Devi Durga,
next three days to Devi Lakshmi and the last three days to Devi Saraswathi. This way three forms of
Devi Sakthi are being worshipped.

For a successful and prosperous life, one needs to have the blessing with good education, wealth and
bravery. All are important and time and time again it was shown that one without the other is
unsustainable. For example one requires wealth(money) to acquire education and in turn education is
needed to acquire serious wealth and also a coward can not look after earned wealth.

For that reason, we pray to the three Devis for their blessings on all aspects .

Throughout Navarathri, nine girls below the age of ten 10 years get selected in the neighborhood.
Everyday a girl would be chosen and bathed, dressed up like a particular Devi and worshipped. Hence
three girls would represent one of the three Devis. At the end of the pooja, girls would be treated with
sweet food items and prasadam.

It is a custom to decorate with 'Golu' in homes during the Navarathri celebration. The 'Kolu' has nine
steps and each step is decorated with various kinds of beautiful clay dolls depicting Gods, Goddesses,
humans, animals, birds etc.

A Navaratri 'Golu' decorations

Every night during the Navarathri days, friends, family members and neighbours, take turn to gather
together in one home. They sit in front of the Kolu and sing devotional songs in praise of the Devis.

They place the picture of the Devi as per the day of the Navaratri, at the center of the Kolu and
worship her.

On the tenth day of Navarathri celebration, which is called 'Vijayadasami' ('Akshara abhyasam').

This day, which is called 'Vidyarambam' (start-off of education and learning processes) is an
important day in the life of the children. The children at the age of three will start writing writing up
the first letter using the index finger on the white rice spread on a tray. A priest or an educated relative
in the family would keep the child in their lap and holding their fingers in their hand and write the
very first letter and also make them to say the letter three times. Hindu children start their nursery or
school after this religious function.