Colourful outfits, varity of traditional food, sweets, music, Dandiya dance, Decorations all around, and mesmerising chants of prayers. If you see and hear all this around, that means, it’s the most celebrated time of Navratri. Navratri is one of the most celebrated Hindu festival of India which is dedicated to Goddess Durga, who is a symbol of power, purity and ‘shakti’. The precise meaning of the word ‘Navratri’ is nine nights, which means the celebration continues for nine nights and ten days. The tenth day is the Vijay Dashmi (Dashmi means the tenth day, the day just after the Navratri). This day is celebrated as the day of victory of good over bad. On this day, Ravana was killed by Lord Ram to free his wife Devi Sita from the Devil Ravana.
Coming back to the Navratri again, during these nine days, Goddess Durga is worshipped in nine different forms. These nine forms are: Shailputri, Brahmcharni, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Although, in some of the Hindu religious scriptures Navratri is suggested for 7 days, 5 daysor 3 daysand even 1 day Navratri instead of the usually observed 9 days.
Navratri is celebrated two times in a year. One is in the month of March or April (celebrated as Chaitra Navratri) and the other one is in September or October (celebrated as Sharad Navratri). In different parts of the country, the festival in different ways, most popular being the Navratri in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and West Bengal. Different ritual puja and fasting is performed during the course of Nine days and the celebrations in the form of traditional dance (Garba and dandiya) and music clubbed with special kind of food items is performed.
Book your Trip to Maharashtra During Navratri
On the first day ofNavratri, Kalashsthapana or the Ghatasthapana is done at the appropriate time (the mahurat), during which the Goddess Durga is beckoned into a Kalash with captivatingmantras.
In West Bengal, Navratri is celebrated as Durga Puja which begins on seventh day of Navratri.The celebrations are performed on the last three days of the Navratri and similar to the Kalashsthapana, the people of West Bengal perform the Kalparambha and BilvaNimantran, which is done on the sixth day of Navratri.
In other parts of India specially North of India, people fast during the day and dwell on special meals which is specially prepared during these nine days. On the Ninth day (many people do it eighth day), end up their fast by feeding small girls (who are considers as the Durga Maa) with food and sweets. During the Navratri celebrations, JyotiKalash, Kumari Puja, Sandhi Puja, Navami Homa, LalithaVrat and Chandi Path are some rituals which are performed. The best time to perform puja is sunrise.
Also, duringthe auspicious days of Navratri, many devotees go for pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu.
Discover the Vibrancy of Vaishno Devi
This auspicious fiesta is celebrated with great devotion and mark the beginning of season on festivals in India- Dussera, Karwachauth and Diwali are just around the corner to fill up your life with high spirits and prosperity.