Navratri is a Hindu festival celebrated for nine nights and ten days in honor of the divine feminine. The word “Navratri” means “nine nights” in Sanskrit, and during this time, devotees worship Goddess Durga and her various forms. The festival is celebrated twice a year, once in the spring (Chaitra Navratri) and again in the fall (Sharad Navratri).
The Significance of Navratri
Navratri is celebrated in honor of Goddess Durga, who is considered to be the embodiment of shakti or divine feminine power. It is believed that during these nine days, the goddess descends to earth to bless her devotees and vanquish evil. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, and devotees perform various rituals and offer prayers to seek her blessings.
The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga
The nine forms of Goddess Durga that are worshipped during Navratri are:
Shailputri – The first form of the goddess, Shailputri, is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. She is considered to be the daughter of the Himalayas and represents the power of nature.
Brahmacharini – The second form of the goddess, Brahmacharini, is worshipped on the second day of Navratri. She is depicted as a yogini who practices penance and represents the power of meditation.
Chandraghanta – The third form of the goddess, Chandraghanta, is worshipped on the third day of Navratri. She is depicted with a crescent moon on her forehead and represents the power of courage and bravery.
Kushmanda – The fourth form of the goddess, Kushmanda, is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. She is depicted as a goddess who created the universe with her smile and represents the power of creation.
Skandamata – The fifth form of the goddess, Skandamata, is worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri. She is depicted as a mother holding her son Skanda and represents the power of motherhood.
Katyayani – The sixth form of the goddess, Katyayani, is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri. She is depicted as a warrior goddess with four arms and represents the power of valor.
Kalaratri – The seventh form of the goddess, Kalaratri, is worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri. She is depicted as a fierce goddess with a dark complexion and represents the power of destruction.
Mahagauri – The eighth form of the goddess, Mahagauri, is worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri. She is depicted as a beautiful goddess with a calm demeanor and represents the power of purity.
Siddhidatri – The ninth form of the goddess, Siddhidatri, is worshipped on the ninth day of Navratri. She is depicted as a goddess who grants all the wishes of her devotees and represents the power of divine knowledge.
Celebrations during Navratri
During Navratri, devotees observe fasts and offer prayers to Goddess Durga. They also perform aarti and sing bhajans in her honor. Many people also keep a golu or a display of dolls depicting various mythological scenes in their homes. On the tenth day of Navratri, also known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra, people celebrate the victory of good over evil by burning effigies of the demon king Ravana.
