Navratri, which is also known as the festival of nine nights is a festival that is dedicated to worshiping Shakti/ Devi. During these nine nights, the nine form of Shakti is worshiped and is primarily a Hindu festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm in all over India but majorly in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnakata.
About the festival of Navratri
On Navratri, the nine different forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga was created with the power of the Trinity to kill the demon Mahishasura, who got the blessings from Lord Shiva that no man will ever be able to kill him. Hearing this blessing, he considered himself to be superior to all and tortured the Gods residing in Heaven. Unable to bear his torture, the Gods pleaded in front of the Trinity to save them from the torture made by Mahishasura. Although, he got the blessings that he cannot be killed, there was trick in it. He could be killed by a woman and owing to this, Vishwakarma made a figure of a woman, i.e. Goddess Durga and the trinity breathed life into it. She had 10 hands and each hand carried a weapon given to her by the different Gods of Hindu mythology. When he saw Goddess Durga he wanted to marry her as she was immensely beautiful. She rejected him and they fought a battle for nine days and nine nights and finally killed the demon, whose life was put in the body of a buffalo. To glorify the victory of good over evil, the festival of Navratri is celebrated.
Significance of Navratri
Navratri is one of the major Hindu festivals, which is celebrated for nine nights to honour Goddess Durga,. The festival of Navratri is celebrated twice a year one when the autumn ends and spring begins, i.e. usually in the month of April and the other one when the monsoon ends and winter begins, i.e. in the month of October. However, of both the Navratris the second one is more popular and significant because during this, Goddess Durga invokes a glut of feelings in her worshippers i.e. fear, love, care and beauty. Much like every other auspicious festivals, Navratri also has a number of legends associated with it, which is detailed in the Markandeya Purana.
Celebration of Navratri
The festival of Navratri is celebrated with zest and grandeur. On this festival, garwa and dandia (Gujarati Folk dance) is performed and people enjoy the nine days a lot. Everywhere, there is festive mood and the environment all over becomes light and happy. People keep fast for nine days and young girls are feeded on the 8th day which is known as Kumari Puja and are given clothes as well. This is one of the most auspicious festival and on the tenth day, known as Vijayadashami or Dushera is celebrated to mark the vitory of good over evil. Dushera, which is celebrated on the 10th day marks the victory of Lord Ram over the 10 headed Demon King Ravana. Having many mythological chronicles behind this festival, it is thus one of the most important and auspicious festival of the Hindus that is celebrated all over India as well as in other parts of the World.
About the festival of Navratri
On Navratri, the nine different forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga was created with the power of the Trinity to kill the demon Mahishasura, who got the blessings from Lord Shiva that no man will ever be able to kill him. Hearing this blessing, he considered himself to be superior to all and tortured the Gods residing in Heaven. Unable to bear his torture, the Gods pleaded in front of the Trinity to save them from the torture made by Mahishasura. Although, he got the blessings that he cannot be killed, there was trick in it. He could be killed by a woman and owing to this, Vishwakarma made a figure of a woman, i.e. Goddess Durga and the trinity breathed life into it. She had 10 hands and each hand carried a weapon given to her by the different Gods of Hindu mythology. When he saw Goddess Durga he wanted to marry her as she was immensely beautiful. She rejected him and they fought a battle for nine days and nine nights and finally killed the demon, whose life was put in the body of a buffalo. To glorify the victory of good over evil, the festival of Navratri is celebrated.
Significance of Navratri
Navratri is one of the major Hindu festivals, which is celebrated for nine nights to honour Goddess Durga,. The festival of Navratri is celebrated twice a year one when the autumn ends and spring begins, i.e. usually in the month of April and the other one when the monsoon ends and winter begins, i.e. in the month of October. However, of both the Navratris the second one is more popular and significant because during this, Goddess Durga invokes a glut of feelings in her worshippers i.e. fear, love, care and beauty. Much like every other auspicious festivals, Navratri also has a number of legends associated with it, which is detailed in the Markandeya Purana.
Celebration of Navratri
The festival of Navratri is celebrated with zest and grandeur. On this festival, garwa and dandia (Gujarati Folk dance) is performed and people enjoy the nine days a lot. Everywhere, there is festive mood and the environment all over becomes light and happy. People keep fast for nine days and young girls are feeded on the 8th day which is known as Kumari Puja and are given clothes as well. This is one of the most auspicious festival and on the tenth day, known as Vijayadashami or Dushera is celebrated to mark the vitory of good over evil. Dushera, which is celebrated on the 10th day marks the victory of Lord Ram over the 10 headed Demon King Ravana. Having many mythological chronicles behind this festival, it is thus one of the most important and auspicious festival of the Hindus that is celebrated all over India as well as in other parts of the World.