Navratri: The Nine-Night Festival Of India

Navratri

It is celebrated by millions of people in India. It is one of the big festivals in India, relating to the epic of Ramayana.

What is Navratri?

Navratri means nine nights. ‘Nav’ means nine and ‘ratri’ means nights, here is your answer! It is a Great Indian festival where Goddess Durga is worshipped and celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over a demon called Mahishasura. In these nine days, goddess Durga changes into nine avatars known as the ’Navadurga’, different incarnations of each day.

1. Shailaputri. "Daughter of Mountain".

2. Brahmacharini. "Mother of devotion and penance".

3. Chandraghanta. "Destroyer of demons".

4. Kushmanda. "Goddess of The Cosmic Egg".

5. Skandamata. "Goddess of motherhood and children".

6. Katyayani. "Goddess of Power".

7. Kalaratri. "Goddess of Auspiciousness and Courage".

8. Mahagauri.

9. Siddhidatri

People also Fast these nine days. Eat foods like fruits, and Sattvic foods, which are pure and stay hydrated.

People of West Bengal, Bihar, Gujrat, and other states in India celebrate this festival flawlessly throughout the nine nights in the majestic temples, houses, and glorious and massive Idols. The Idols have big roaring lions and Goddess Durga sitting on the lion. She has many weapons like Trishul gifted by lord shiva, Sudarshana Chakra gifted by lord Vishnu, a Snake, Spear, and much more!

The Last Day

We call the last Day Dussehra meaning “The victory of Good over evil”. This is where Ramayana is related. On this day Lord Rama killed the demon Ravanasura in Sri Lanka, to celebrate their victory we created big idols of Ravanasura and lit them on fire.

The last has a lot of things like people all over India wash and cleaning their vehicles, machines, and tools and doing pooja to them and are worshipped asking god to bless them. We apply sandal paste and vermilion to the bonnet and tires and every other part to ask God to keep them safe.