Navratri
THE WORD NAVARATRI MEANS 'NINE NIGHTS' IN SANSKRIT, NAVA MEANS NINE AND RATRI MEANS NIGHTS. IT IS AN ANNUAL HINDU FESTIVAL OBSERVED IN HONOUR OF THE GODDESS DURGA. IT SPANS OVER NINE NIGHTS (AND TEN DAYS). THERE ARE FOUR SEASONAL NAVARATRI. THE POST-AUTUMN FESTIVAL IS CALLED SHARADA NAVARATRI. THE FESTIVAL CELEBRATED IN THE BRIGHT HALF OF THE HINDU CALENDAR MONTH ASHWIN, WHICH TYPICALLY FALLS IN THE GREGORIAN MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
THE FESTIVAL IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROMINENT BATTLE THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN DURGA AND THE DEMON MAHISHASURA TO CELEBRATE THE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL. THESE NINE DAYS ARE SOLELY DEDICATED TO DURGA AND HER NINE AVATARS CALLED NAVADURGA. EACH DAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCARNATION OF THE GODDESS.
DAY 1 - SHAILPUTRI
KNOWN AS THE FIRST DAY OF PRATIPADA. THIS DAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH MATA SHAILPUTRI (DAUGHTER OF THE MOUNTAIN), AN INCARNATION OF PARVATI. IT IS IN THIS FORM THAT DURGA IS WORSHIPPED AS THE DAUGHTER OF HIMAVAN (THE GUARDIAN GOD OF HIMALAYA); SHE IS DEPICTED AS RIDING THE BULL, NANDI, WITH A TRISHULA IN HER RIGHT HAND AND A LOTUS IN HER LEFT HAND. SHAILPUTRI IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE DIRECT INCARNATION OF MAHAKALI. THE COLOUR OF THE DAY IS YELLOW, WHICH DEPICTS ACTION AND VIGOUR. SHE IS ALSO CONSIDERED TO BE A REINCARNATION OF SATI (SHIVA'S FIRST WIFE REINCARNATED AS PARVATI) AND IS KNOWN AS HEMAVATI.
DAY 2- BRAMHACHARINI
ON THE SECOND DAY, GODDESS BRAMHACHARINI, ANOTHER INCARNATION OF PARVATI, IS WORSHIPPED. IN THIS FORM, PARVATI BECAME A YOGINI, HER UNMARRIED SELF. BRAMHACHARINI IS WORSHIPPED FOR EMANCIPATION OR MOKSHA AND ENDOWMENT OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY. DEPICTED AS WALKING BARE FEET AND HOLDING A JAPAMALA (ROSARY) AND A KAMANDALA (POT) IN HER HANDS, SHE SYMBOLIZES BLISS AND CALM. GREEN IS THE COLOUR CODE OF THIS DAY. THE ORANGE COLOUR, WHICH DEPICTS TRANQUILITY, IS SOMETIMES USED SO THAT STRONG ENERGY FLOWS EVERYWHERE.
DAY 3- CHANDRAGHANTA
ON THE THIRD DAY COMMEMORATES THE WORSHIP OF CHANDRAGHANTA. THE NAME IS DERIVED FROM THE FACT THAT AFTER MARRYING SHIVA, PARVATI ADORNED HER FOREHEAD WITH THE ARDHACHANDRA (HALF MOON). SHE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF BRAVERY. GRAY IS THE COLOUR CODE OF THAT DAY, WHICH IS A VIVACIOUS COLOUR AND CAN CHEER UP EVERYONE'S MOOD.
DAY 4- KUSHMANDA
GODDESS KUSHMANDA IS WORSHIPPED ON CHATURTHI (FOURTH DAY). BELIEVED TO BE THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE UNIVERSE, KUSHMANDA IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENDOWMENT OF VEGETATION ON EARTH, AND HENCE, THE COLOUR OF THE DAY IS ORANGE. SHE IS DEPICTED AS HAVING EIGHT ARMS AND SITS ON A TIGER.
DAY 5- SKANDAMATA
SKANDAMATA, THE GODDESS WORSHIPPED ON PANCHAMI (FIFTH DAY), IS THE MOTHER OF SKANDA (KARTIKEYA). THE WHITE COLOUR IS SYMBOLIC OF THE TRANSFORMING STRENGTH OF A MOTHER WHEN HER CHILD IS CONFRONTED WITH DANGER. SHE IS DEPICTED RIDING A FEROCIOUS LION, HAVING FOUR ARMS, AND HOLDING HER BABY.
DAY 6- KATYAYANI
BORN TO SAGE KATYAYANA, SHE IS AN INCARNATION OF DURGA AND IS SHOWN TO EXHIBIT COURAGE, WHICH IS SYMBOLIZED BY THE COLOUR RED. KNOWN AS THE WARRIOR GODDESS, SHE IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT FORMS OF DEVI. IN THIS AVATAR, KATYAYANI RIDES A LION AND HAS FOUR HANDS. SHE IS A FORM OF PARVATI, MAHALAKSHMI, AND MAHASARASWATI. SHE IS CELEBRATED ON SHASHTAMI. IN EASTERN INDIA, MAHASHASHTI IS OBSERVED ON THIS DAY, STARTING THE SHARDIYA DURGA PUJA.
DAY 7- KAALARATRI
CONSIDERED THE MOST FEROCIOUS FORM OF GODDESS DURGA, KALRATRI IS REVERED ON SAPTAMI. IT IS BELIEVED THAT PARVATI REMOVED HER PALE SKIN TO KILL THE DEMONS SUMBHA AND NISUMBHA. THE COLOUR OF THE DAY IS ROYAL BLUE. THE RED COLOUR PORTRAYS PRAYER AND ASSURES THE DEVOTEES THAT THE GODDESS WILL PROTECT THEM FROM HARM. SHE IS CELEBRATED ON SAPTAMI (SEVENTH DAY). IN EASTERN INDIA, MAHA SAPTAMI IS OBSERVED ON THIS DAY, THE BODHON OF SHARDIYA DURGA POOJA.
DAY 8- MAHAGAURIMAHAGAURI
Mahagauri symbolizes intelligence and peace. It is believed when Kaalaratri took a bath in the Ganga river, she gained a warmer complexion. The colour associated with this day is pink, which depicts optimism. She is celebrated on Ashtami (eighth day). In eastern India, Maha Astami is observed on this day and starts with pushpanjali, kumari puja etc. It's a very important tithi and considered the birthday of Mahishasura mardini rupa of Chandi.
DAY 9- On the last day of the festival, also known as Navami (ninth day), people pray to Siddhidhatri. Sitting on a lotus, she is believed to possess and bestow all types of Siddhis. Here she has four hands. Also known as Mahalakshmi, the purple colour of the day portrays an admiration towards nature's beauty. Siddhidhatri is Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. Siddhidhatri is also seen as the Ardhanarishvara form of Shiva and Shakti. It is believed that one side of Lord Shiva’s body is that of Goddess Siddhidhatri. Therefore, he is also known by the name of Ardhanarishwara. According to Vedic scriptures, Lord Shiva attained all the siddhis by worshipping this Goddess.
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