Navratri is a Hindu festival, worshipping to Goddess Durga. It is nine days festival and last day is called Dussehra. Generally Navratri means, 'Nav' means 'nine' and 'ratri' means 'night'. Thus, 'Navratri' means 'nine nights'. This festival celebrates all over India. There are three forms of the Goddess during Navratri , the first three days of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess) dressed in red and mounted on a lion. 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.
It is said that Goddess Durga killed Mahishasur (Demon)
during this period. People undergo strict fast during this Navratri.
Navratri's each night is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga.
That is every ratri of the Navratri corresponds to worship of different forms of Maa Durga.
Maa Shailputri- who was the daughter of Parvatraj Himalaya (King of the Mountain), wife of Lord Shiva and mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya;
Maa Brahmachaarini-
who gives the message of pure love to the world;
Maa Chandraghanta- who
establishes Justice and wears crescent moon on Her head;
Maa Kushmaanda- who provides the basic necessities to the
world;
Skand Maa,- who gives the gift
of differentiation of right from wrong to the world;
Maa Kaatyayini- who
persistently battles against the evil and deceitful entities;
Maa Kaalratri- who killed
Raktabeej ( a demon who produce a demon from every drop of blood that fell from
his body. Goddess eventually licked the blood before it could reach the ground
and hence conquered him)
Maa Chaamunda- who killed two
demons--Chanda and Munda and restored tranquility;
Maa MahaGauri - who also
liberate the world of evil forces;
Mata Sidhidaarti- who is a
treasure house of Mystic Powers (Yantra Tantra) and Knowledge (Gyaan).
