Festivals

Navratri is Hindu festival which literally mean, ‘Nine Auspicious Nights’.  It is celebrated twice every year in devotion of the supreme goddess – Durga.  The celebration is marked with fasting, or pure vegetarian meals, chanting of mantras, and meditation.

Apart from these, there are some specific customs pertaining to this festival such as;

1. Posting goddess Durga’s images in homes and temples.

2. Offering fruits and flower sacrifices

3. Barley seeds are planted in small mud beds to mark the first day of celebration, once grown the shoots are given to the attendees as a sign of blessing from the goddess.

4. On the Last day of the festival, Mahanavani, nine young girls who have not attained puberty are chosen to represent the nine forms of goddess Durga, their feet are washed as a sign of welcome and respect to the goddess.  The girls are then presented with food and new attires by the devotees.

5. On the last day of Navratri, the Idol of the goddess is immersed in water

6. A day after the Navratri celebration is set for giving thanks to the goddess for her blessings and dummy of King Ravana, the demon is burnt.

7. Exchanging Navratri greetings and wishes. This always be a part of every festival and occasions worldwide.

Celebrated twice a year, in March-April and in September-October, Navratri is an important Hindu festival meaning ‘nine fortunate nights’.  Navratri Festival is devoted to the worship of the dynamic and supreme powers of Goddess Durga. The festival is observed in sets of 3 days with each day dedicated to a unique form of the deity as follows;

The First Set of 3 days:  she is invoked to get rid of defects, evil and contamination. 

 She is referred as;

·        Day 1:  Shailputri - Companion of lord shiva

·        Day 2:  Brahmacharini - repentance

·        Day 3:  Chandraghanta - for beauty and bravery

On the Second set of 3 days: the goddess is worshipped as the source of spiritual wealth, she is addressed as;

·        Day 4: Kushmanda - creator of universe

·        Day 5: Skand Mata - mother of the chief warrior in the army of God

·        Day 6: Katyayani -  the goddess with 3 eyes and 4 hands seated on a lion

The final set of 3 days: worshipped for spiritual enlightenment and success.  She is referred as;

·        Day 7:  Kalratri -  Fearless

·        Day8: Maha Gauri - for calmness and wisdom

·        Day 9: Siddhidatri -  worshipped by all