Navratri
The Festival of Nine Nights
Navratri (or Nauratri) is a sanskrit word meaning “Nine Nights”. As the name suggests this festival is celebrated over a period of 9 Nights with great zeal and enthusiasm all over the country. Navratri is celebrated in the honor of Aadishakti, Goddess Parvati, the divine feminine according to the Hindu believes.
According to the Panchang, Navratri is celebrated during the Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashwin. The 10 day long festival begins with the beginning of the month and ends on the 10th day (Dashmi).
Why is Navratri Celebrated?
The festival of Navratri is celebrated by Hindus in the honor Aadishakti and her 9 forms, Navdurga. Navratri eulogizes a gruesome battle between Aadishakti, Goddess Durga and the Buffalo Demon, Mahishasur. This festival ends on Vijayadashmi (10th day), which marks the triumph of good over evil.
Each day of the festival honor a different form of Aadishakti and represents a different aspect of the Goddess.
When is Navratri Celebrated?
Navratri is observed 4 times during a calendar year. Out of these 4, Sharad and Vasant Navratri holds the most significance and are observed around the autumn and the spring equinox respectively. The other two, Magha and Ashada Navratri are not so significant and are usually called Gupt (Hidden) Navratri.
The exact dates of the festival are determined according to the Panchang (Hindu Lunisolar Calendar). Duration of the festival sometimes vary due to the adjustments of sun and moon movements and the leap year.
Ashvin or Sharad Navratri
Ashvin Navratri is the most celebrated of the 4 and holds the most significance. It is observed during the month of Ashvin as per the Hindu Lunisolar calendar. They are often called Sharad Navratri as they mark the beginning of the Winters (Sharad) in the Indian Sub-continent.
Chaitra or Vasant Navratri
Magha Navratri
Magha Navratri are observed during the lunar month of Magha. They are also called Gupt (secret or hidden) Navratri. The fifth day of this Navratri is independently observed as Vasant Panchami, which indicate the official beginning of the Spring in India.
Ashada Navratri
Ashada Navratri are observed during the lunar month of Ashada. They are also called Gupt Navratri and marks the beginning of Moonsoon in the Sub-Continent. They are only observed regionally or individually.
Religious Significance
This festival eulogizes a battle between Aadishakti (Goddess Durga) and the demon Mahishasur. The 9 days of Navratri are associated to Goddess Durga and her 9 Avatars – the Navdurga. Each day is associated with a different incarnation and represents one aspect of the divine feminine.
First Day or Pratipada
The avatar of Mata Shailputri is worshiped on the first day of the festival. She is depicted as a woman riding a white bull. She holds a trident (trishul) in her right hand and a lotus flower in her left hand.
Shailputri is a sanskrit word meaning “daughter of mountain”. According to the legend, Aadishakti was born as the daughter of the Mountain King, Himavan. She was named Parvati, but was also known as Hemavati (daughter of Hemavan). It is in this form that she is worshiped as the wife of Lord Shiva.
She represents the daughter aspect of the divine feminine.
Second Day or Dwitiya
Mata Brahmacharini is the avatar that is worshiped on the second day of the festival. She is depicted as a woman wearing pure white clothes. She holds a jaapmala in her right hand and a kamandala in her left hand.
Brahmacharini is a sanskrit word meaning “one who behaves like the supreme consciousness”. It is a maiden form of Aadishakti.
She represents repentance and rebirth aspect.
Third Day or Tritya
Mata Chandraghanta is the avatar that is worshiped on the third day of the festival. She is depicted as a 10 armed woman riding a tiger. She also wears a crescent moon (which hangs like a bell) on her forehead and also has a third eye in the middle of her forehead.
Chandraghanta is a sanskrit word meaning “one who wears moon like a bell”. It is the married form of Aadishakti.
According to the legend, Devi Parvati took this form in response to the form of Lord Shiva on the day of their wedding.
Fourth Day or Chaturthi
Mata Kushmanda is the avatar that is worshiped on the third day of the festival. She is depicted as an 8 armed woman riding a lion. She has 8 arms, hence she is also referred to as Ashtabhuja Devi.
Kushmanda is a sanskrit word meaning “one who created a little cosmic egg with her energy”. It is the primal form of Aadishakti.
This form represents the creation aspect of the divine feminine. As per the legend, happy smiling form of Aadishakti that created this entire universe with just her smile.
Fifth Day or Panchami
Mata Skandamata is the avatar that is worshiped on the third day of the festival. She is depicted as a 4 armed woman riding a lion. She has 3 eyes and holds an infant in her lap. This form of Aadishakti is also called Chaturbhuja Devi.
Skandmata is a sanskrit word meaning “mother of skanda (kartikeya)”.
This form represents the mother aspect of the divine feminine. She bestows her devotees with salvation, power and prosperity.
Sixth Day or Shasti
Mata Katyaini is the avatar that is worshiped on the third day of the festival. She is depicted as a 4 armed woman riding a lion. She also has 3 eyes which is a representation of a fierce form.
Katyaini is a fierce and wrathful form of Aadishakti. She can transform into a 18 armed form each holding a different weapon, when provoked.
According to the legend, Devi Parvati assumed this form in order to put an end to the tyranny of the Demon King Mahishasur. She claimed the epithet of Mahishasurmardini after killing the demon.
Seventh Day or Saptami
Mata Kaalratri is the avatar that is worshiped on the third day of the festival. She is depicted as a dark skinned, 4 armed with 3 eyes. She is the most ferocious form of Aadishakti. It is said that in this form devi, consumed in all rage and anger destroys everything indiscriminately.
Kaalratri is a sanskrit word meaning “death of darkness”. According to the legend, this form of the goddess destroys all the evil, dark and negative energies.
It is believed that the skin of the goddess burned and turned black due to all the rage and concentrated energy. Therefore, she is also referred to as “Kaali”.
Eighth Day or Ashtami
Mata Mahagauri is the avatar that is worshiped on the third day of the festival. She is depicted as a 4 armed woman, wearing pure white clothes and riding a white bull. It is believed that when Mata Kaalratri took bath in the river Ganga she emerged as Mata Mahagauri.
Mahagauri is a sanskrit word meaning “great white”. According to the legend, the demons Shumbh and Nishumbh could only be killed by the maiden form of Aadhshakti. So, Mata Kaalratri went into river Ganga to wash away all the negative energy she consumed while killing the demons.
This form represents the feminine aspect of purity.
Nineth Day or Navami
Mata Siddhidatri is the avatar that is worshiped on the third day of the festival. She is depicted as a 4 armed woman seated upon a fully bloomed lotus flower. She holds a Chakra, Shankh (conch), Gada (mace) and a lotus flower in her hands.
Mahagauri is a sanskrit word meaning “giver of supernatural power”. According to the legend, She is the original form of Aadishakti. It is believed that Mata siddhidatri was the female part in the Aardhnarishwar form of Lord Shiva (aadi).
Tenth Day or Dashmi
The festival of Navratri ends on this day and this is usually referred as “Vijaya Dashmi“. According to the legend, Aadishakti killed the demon Mahishasur on this day, putting an end to his tyranny. Vijaya Dashmi represents the victory of Good over Evil.
How is Navratri Celebrated?
Navratri festival is celebrated in many different way depending upon the region. Some of the rituals vary but there are some rituals that are common all over the country.
Fasting
Fasting is a common occurrence in every household in India. Most people observe a 2 day fast during the Navratri festival. The choice of the fasting days sometimes differ as well. Some people fast on the first and the seventh day, while some prefer sixth and seventh day. Many people also fast on all the days of the festival.
Kumari Pooja
Fasting is followed by Kumari Puja, which is also an essential element of the festival. Kumari Puja is usually done of the day of Ashtami. On this occasion, young girls are worshiped like Goddess Durga, as they are considered as the manifestation of the Goddess.
According to the scriptures, girls between the ages of 2 and 10 are considered appropriate for Kumari (Kanya) puja. In some states, Kumari Puja is done on all 9 days of the festival.
Akhand Jyot and Kalash Staphana
Navratri Pooja and Jyot
Pooja ritual that is performed during the Navratri Festival is quite different and is only observed during this festival. The reason behind performing has more to do with science than with religion. During this pooja ritual, Cow Dung cakes (karsi) are used along with various types of natural herbs are used. The herbs include cloves, betel leaves, camphor, nutmeg, cardamom, loban, hawan samagri (mixture of dried herbs) etc are used.
Herbs used in the pooja ritual are said be natural disinfectants. The smoke produced by burning these herbs is said to have cleansing properties and is an effective disinfectant. The time of the navratri festival is the time of changing seasons which are ideal condition for harmful bacteria and pests. Therefore, the pooja ritual is performed in this way so that the undesirable elements in the environment could be eliminated and the smoke inhaled by the devotees can eliminate the bacteria’s already residing in their bodies.
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Durga Pooja
Durga Pooja is a special festival that is mainly observed in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura, Assam and also in the country of Bangladesh. Durga Pooja begins on the fifth day of the festival (panchami) and starts with people bringing and establishing the idols of Goddess Durga into their homes. The festival ends on Vijayadashmi with durga visarjan. During Durga Visarjan, the idols of Goddess are immersed in rivers.
This ritual of Durga Pooja is similar to that of Ganesh Chaturthi, where idols of Lord Ganesha are established and later immersed into the rivers.