Navratri Festival Celebration

In sanskrit, Navratri means 'nine nights'. Nav means Nine and Ratri means Night. Navratri is a Hindu Festival celebrated to worship nine forms of Shakti (Parvati or Durga) (Hindu Mother Goddess)during the nine nights and nine days. According to the lunar calendar, the dates of navratri are determined.


Although there are 5 Navaratris devoted to the worship of Shakti . But only 3 are being celebrated now-

Sharad Navaratri - Also known as Maha Navratri, having greater significance. It is celebrated during Sharad month ( according to Hindu calendar i.e beginning of winter, September-October).

Vasant Navaratri - This is celebrated during Vasant (according to Hindu calendar start of summer, March- April).

Ashada Navaratri - This Navratri is particularly celebrated by Upasakas of Varahi in Ashada month (July-August)

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.

Navaratri is a festival celebrated all over India in different ways. In North India, all three Navratris are usually celebrated with much fervor and rigorous fasting of all nine days and worshipping the Goddess Durga in her different forms. The Chaitra Navratri culmintes in Ram Navami and the Sharad Navratri culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra.

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.