Navratri- The Story Behind It

We celebrate the festival for nine nights and ten days. The festival occurs in the month of
October or November. Moreover, in India, people celebrate it four times every year. We refer
to these times as Sharada Navratri, Vasanta Navratri, Magha Navratri and Ashada Navratri.

Further, the most famous one is Sharada Navaratri that people all over the country celebrate
actively. The people living in the North-eastern and Eastern states refer to it as Durga Puja.
According to the holy scriptures, Mahishasura was a demon king. Also, he was an ardent
worshipper of Lord Siva and got massive powers.

Misusing his power, he committed a lot of wrongdoings and troubled the people. Thus, the
holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva decided to do something. In other words, all their
powers got together to create Goddess Durga.

It was done to protect the world from the demon king. Thus, in the Northern, Western and
Southern states, people refer to this festival as Rama Lila. Similarly, people also refer to it
as Dussehra in these regions. Dussehra is known for symbolizing the victory of Lord Rama over
Raavan, the demon king.

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Nine Days of Celebrations

We celebrate the nine days of this festival as a dedication to the nine incarnations of the
Goddess Durga. On the first day, she is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. Similarly, we depict
her as the direct incarnation of Mahakali.

On the second day, she is the incarnation of Goddess Parvati only but of her unmarried self.
Moreover, the colour of the day, blue, symbolizes peace and strength. Similarly, on the third
day, yellow is the colour. It symbolizes the vivaciousness of Goddess Parvati.

Kushmanda, the fourth day, refers to the universe’s creative power. Thus, green is the colour
that is associated with this form. Further, she is seen riding a tiger and having eight arms.

On the fifth day, the colour is grey and it symbolizes strength. After that, on the sixth day, we
depict her with four arms as she rides a lion. Moreover, this avatar is a symbol of courage.
Orange is the colour for the sixth day.

The seventh day shows the most violent form of the Goddess, Mahakali. In other words, her
skin turns back in rage for destroying demons. White is the colour of that day. Further, peace
and optimism are associated with the eighth day with pink as the colour.
Finally, on the ninth day, she sits on a lotus radiating the wisdom and beauty of nature. Light
blue is the colour of the final day.

Conclusion

Therefore, people celebrate and worship all forms of the Goddess enthusiastically. They make
a lot of grand statues and carry out processions in her honour. In a lot of places, we see that
people host fairs. Most importantly, Navratri brings people together from all over the country
and symbolizes diversity and culture.

10 Points on Navratri Festival

Navratri is a significant Hindu festival celebrated over nine nights and ten days, dedicated to
the worship of the Hindu deity Durga and her various forms. Here are 10 points highlighting
the significance and practices associated with Navratri:

Spiritual Significance: Navratri symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It is believed that
during these nine nights, the divine feminine power (Shakti) manifests in different forms to
destroy negative forces and restore peace and righteousness in the universe.
Nine Forms of Durga: Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a different form of Goddess Durga,
known as Navadurga. These forms include Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta,
Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.
Devotional Observances: Devotees observe fasts, perform puja (ritual worship), recite
prayers, and participate in various religious ceremonies during Navratri. These practices are
believed to invoke the blessings of the Goddess and purify the mind and body.
Garba and Dandiya Raas: Navratri is famous for its vibrant and energetic dance forms, such
as Garba and Dandiya Raas. People dress in traditional attire and dance in circles,
accompanied by rhythmic music, to celebrate the festival with joy and enthusiasm.
Cultural Celebrations: Navratri is not only a religious festival but also a cultural extravaganza
celebrated with great fervor across India. It promotes social harmony and unity as people
from different backgrounds come together to rejoice in the festivities.
Regional Variations: Navratri is celebrated differently in various parts of India. In Gujarat and
Maharashtra, it is marked with elaborate Garba and Dandiya Raas performances, while in
North India, devotees observe fasts and organize elaborate puja ceremonies.
Golu Display: In South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Navratri is celebrated
as Golu or Bommai Golu. It involves the display of dolls and figurines arranged on steps,
representing deities, historical events, and mythological stories.
Culinary Delights: Special festive foods are prepared during Navratri, especially those that
are sattvic (pure) and suitable for fasting. These include dishes made from ingredients like
sabudana (tapioca pearls), kuttu (buckwheat), singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour), and
fruits.
Community Participation: Navratri brings communities together, fostering a sense of
togetherness and camaraderie. Many temples and community organizations organize
Navratri events, including dances, music performances, and religious discourses.
Cleansing and Renewal: Navratri is also a time for introspection, purification, and renewal. It
is an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their spiritual journey, overcome negativities,
and strive for personal growth and enlightenment.
Overall, Navratri is a deeply revered festival that embodies spiritual devotion, cultural
richness, and social harmony, making it a cherished occasion for millions of people
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Nine Days of Navratri

The nine days of Navratri are usually dedicated to the nine incarnations
(avatars) of goddess Durga:

1. The first day, Shailputri is an incarnation of goddess Parvati. Clad

in red, she is depicted as the direct incarnation of Mahakali. She
rides the bull Nandi with a Trishula and lotus in her hands.
2. The second day, Brahmacharini is another incarnation of goddess
Parvati or her unmarried self, Sati. She symbolises calmness and
peace and is depicted holding a Japa mala and kamandal. The
colour code for the day is blue, as it symbolises tranquillity and
strength.
3. The third day, Parvati, on marriage to Siva, wore the half-moon
on her forehead, and Chandraghanta is a depiction of this form of
the goddess. The third day is associated with the colour yellow,
symbolising her vivaciousness.
4. The fourth day, Kushmanda is referred to as the creative power in
the universe. Hence, the colour associated with this form of the
goddess is green. She rides a tiger and is depicted with eight
arms.
5. The fifth day, Skandamata, The mother of Lord Skanda or
Kartikeya, Skandmata depicts the strength of a mother when her
children are in danger. She is believed to have ridden a lion with
her baby in her arms. The colour of the day is grey.
6. The sixth day, Katyayani is a warrior goddess and she is depicted
with four arms. She rides the lion and symbolises courage; this
translates into the colour orange for day 6 of Navratri.
 7. Seventh-day, Mahakali is the most violent form of goddess
Durga. This depicts the form goddess Parvati attained on
removing her fair skin to destroy demons Nisumbha and Sumbha.
The goddess is believed to have appeared in white attire and her
skin turned black in rage. Hence, the colour of the day is white.
8. The eighth day, Mahagauri, the goddess depicts peace and
optimism on this day; hence the colour associated with the eighth
day of Navratri is pink.
9. Ninth day, Goddess Sidhidatri sits on a lotus and has the power
of the Siddhis. She radiates wisdom and the beauty of nature and
is also referred to as Saraswati Devi. The colour of this day is
light blue.

Conclusion
People worship all these forms of the goddess and have fast for nine days in
many parts of India. People make grand statues of Goddess and processions
are taken place. In many places fair is held for people.