Navratri 2019: Significance of all nine days of the festival

Bhopal: The nine-day festival of Navratri which begins today on September 29, 2019, is dedicated to the goddess Durga and all her nine avatars. While the eastern and north-eastern states refer to the celebrations like Durga Puja, for the northern and western belt, it is a nine-night festival that is observed to celebrate the victory of Rama over Ravana.

Navratri or the nine divine days mark the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar and are celebrated across the country with much excitement and festivity.
Also known as Maha Navratri, this festival falls in the lunar month of Ashwin during Sharad Ritu. Although the festival typically falls four times in a year, the Sharada Navaratri during autumn (September-October) is the most celebrated, and the Vasanta Navaratri during spring (March-April) is the next most significant Navratri. Of the four kinds of Navaratris – Chaitra Navratri, Paush Navratri, Magha Navratri, and Sharad Navratri – celebrated in India throughout the year, Maha Navratri or Sharad Navratri is considered as the most auspicious.

The nine-day festival which begins today on September 29, 2019, is dedicated to goddess Durga and all her nine avatars.

The festival is celebrated to celebrate Maa Durga’s win over the demon Mahishasura and represents the victory of peace and dharma over ego and evil. “Navaratri”, is synchrony of two words – “nava” (meaning nine) and “ratri” (meaning night).

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NINE DAYS:

Day 1 – on this day of Navratri festival celebrates Goddess Shailputri. This avatar of goddess Durga is the epitome of the collective power of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. The goddess in this avatar is worshipped as the companion of Shiva.

Day 2 – on this day of Navratri festival celebrates goddess Brahmcharini, the second avatar of Maa Durga. She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to liberation or moksha.

Day 3 – on this day of Navratri festival celebrates Goddess Chandraghanta. She represents beauty and grace and is worshipped on the third day for peace, calm and prosperity in life. She is the symbol of bravery.

Day 4 – on this day of Navratri festival celebrates goddess Kushmunda. This avatar of the goddess is considered the creator of the universe. It is believed that she created the universe through laughter.

Day 5 – on this day of Navratri festival celebrates goddess Skand Mata. She is the mother of Skanda, or Karthikeya, who was chosen by the gods as their commander-in-chief in the war against the demons. The goddess represents the vulnerability of a mother who can fight anyone when the need arises to protect her child.

Day 6 – on this day of Navratri festival celebrates goddess Katyayani. The goddess was born to the great sage, Kata, as an avatar of Durga. Dressed in orange, she shows immense courage.

Day 7 – on this day of Navratri festival celebrates Goddess Kalratri. This avatar of the goddess has a dark complexion, dishevelled hair and a fearless posture. She is the most fierce form of goddess Durga, and she is dressed in white, a colour that represents peace and prayer.

Day 8 – on this day of Navratri festival celebrates goddess Maha Gauri. The eighth avatar of Maa Durga represents intelligence, peace, prosperity and calm.

Day 9 – on this day of Navratri festival celebrates Goddess Siddhidatri. The goddess is known for having supernatural healing powers. The goddess has represented as a joyful state of mind, just like the sky on a clear day.

People celebrate these nine days by keeping fasts and dressing up in different colours of the auspicious days.
“Importance of Navratri, like every other Indian festival, the core message remains the same – the victory of good over evil”.