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Navratri is a major hindu festival celebrated to worship Goddess Durga,the goddess of power and strength. |
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This festival is celebrated with full zeal and enthusiasm all over India. |
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Nav means nine and ratri means nights. |
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All nine days and nights of Navratri, different avatars of Goddess Durga are worshipped with full faith and devotion.The tenth day is Dussehra or Vijayadashmi. |
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People pray and recites JAI MATA DI Slogan and visit temple everyday religiously during these nine days. |
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Though Navratri falls five times a year but the Sharad Navratri(falls in Sep-Oct) and Vasant Navratri(March-April) are the most important. |
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Days of Navratri: |
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Navratri Day 1: |
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On the First Day of Navratri, Shailaputri Avatar of Goddess Durga is worshipped. |
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Shailaputri Maa is the daughter of Lord Himalaya.She is also known by names of Maa Sati,Parvati,Hemavati.Maa Shailaputri is the form of nature on its own. |
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Prayer : |
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VANDE VAANCHHIT LAABHAAYA CHANDRARDHA KRITA SHEKHARAAM |
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VRISHAARUDHAAM SHULADHARAAM SHAILA- PUTRIM YASHASVINIIM |
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On the first day people grow Khetri out of barley seeds in an earthen pot.It is considered the long and green the Khetri is the better life you will have. |
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Navratri day 2: |
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On the second day Brahmacharini form of Maa Durga is worshipped.Brahma means to do Tapa(penance) and charya means to engage into something. |
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Maa Brahmacharini is the devi of Wisdom,Knowledge,Love and Loyalty. |
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Goddess Brahmacharini grants success and victory to all of her devotees. |
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Prayer: |
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Dadhana Kara Padmabhyamakshamala Kamandalu |
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Devi Prasidatu Mayi Brahmacharinyanuttama |
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Navratri Day 3: |
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Third form of Goddess Durga is Chandraghanta Maa also known as Chandika and Rannchandi. |
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Chandra means Moon and Ghanta means bell.One who has half moon shaped bell.Goddess Chandraghanta destroys all the physical and mental sufferings |
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and rewards peace,courage and bliss to all of her devotees. |
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Prayer: |
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Pindaja Pravararudha Chandakopastrakairyuta |
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Prasadam Tanute Mahyam Chandraghanteti Vishruta |
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Navratri Day 4: |
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Maa Kushmanda is the fourth incarnation of Goddess Durga. |
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Kushmanda Maa is the creator of Universe.She is radiant and full of energy . Kushmanda blesses health,wealth and sterngth to all her devotees. |
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Prayer: |
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Surasampurna Kalasham Rudhiraplutameva Cha |
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Dadhana Hastapadmabhyam Kushmanda Shubhadastu Me |
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Navratri Day 5: |
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Skanda Mata is fifth form of Goddess Durga.Skanda is the name of God of war , Kartikeya and Mata means mother. |
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Skanda Mata bestows power,prosperity and wealth to its devotees and keeps them away from all the sinful activities. |
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Prayer: |
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Simhasanagata Nityam Padmanchita Karadvaya |
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Shubhadastu Sada Devi Skandamata Yashasvini |
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Navratri Day 6: |
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Goddess Katyayani is the sixth form of NavDurga.She is a warrior Goddess also known by the name of Bhadrakali and Chandika.She is very popular among female devotees. |
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Goddess Katyayani instills inner strength , knowledge and power to its devotees. |
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Prayer: |
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Chandrahasojjvalakara Shardulavaravahana |
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Katyayani Shubham Dadyad Devi Danavaghatini |
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Navratri Day 7: |
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Goddess Kaalratri is the seventh form of NavDurga.This Avatar of Goddess Durga is in its most fiercest form .It is beleived that Maa Kaalratri destroys all the |
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bad spirits ,Evil power and demons. |
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Prayer: |
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Ekaveni Japakarnapura Nagna Kharasthita |
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Lamboshthi Karnikakarni Tailabhyakta Sharirini |
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Vamapadollasalloha Latakantakabhushana। |
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Vardhana Murdhadhwaja Krishna Kalaratrirbhayankari |
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Navratri Day 8: |
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Maha Gauri is the eighth incarnation of Goddess Durga. As the name suggest Maa Gauri has a fair complextion . She is also known by the name of Shwetambaradhara. |
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It is beleived that Mahagauri fulfills all the wishes of her devotees. |
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Mahagauri destroys all the sufferings and bless the devotess with a peaceful and happy life. |
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Prayer: |
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Shwete Vrishesamarudha Shwetambaradhara Shuchih |
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Mahagauri Shubham Dadyanmahadeva Pramodada |
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Navratri Day 9: |
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Goddess Siddhidatri is the ninth form of NavDurga. Maa Siddhidatri possess all type of Siddhis(supernatural power) . |
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Since Goddess Siddhidatri possess great powers and siddhis she is also worshipped by Gods,Gandharva,Asurs and Yaksha.It also provides direction and energy to |
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Planet Ketu. |
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Prayer: |
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Siddha Gandharva Yakshadyairasurairamarairapi |
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Sevyamana Sada Bhuyat Siddhida Siddhidayini |
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During Navratri devotees observe fasts and pray with full faith and devotion. Some fast for all nine days and some fast on 1st and 8th Day or 9th Day. |
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On 8th Day , also called Ashtami ,devotees break their fast after performing Kanjak Pooja. |
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Ashtami is a ritual on which nine girls, also called Kanjaks, are invited to the house. The devotee first washes their feet and feed them with delicacies like |
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Halwa,poori,chana and kheer. |
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After the feeding is done some form of gift and money is presented to the Kanjaks and then their blessings are taken and the fast is broken. |
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Ninth day is called Navmi. Some Devotees break their fast and perform Kanjak Pooja on Navami instead of Ashtami. |
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During Navratri Temples are decorated ,Khetri is sown,people engage in Garba,a kind of indian dance . |
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Special type of foods are made during fasting.Generally people avoid eating Tamsik food like onions and garlic.Not all types of food can be eaten in Navratri. |
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Here is a list of foods : |
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Grains:Grains itself or Flour made form Kuttu(buckwheat),Rajgira(amaranth),Singhara (Water Chestnut). |
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Milk and Milk Products: All type os Milk and Milk products can be eaten like Curd,Khoya,paneer,ghee. |
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Fruits: All types of fresh or dried fruits can be eaten. |
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Vegetables:Potatoes,Sweet potatoes,Colacasia(arbi), Yam,Kachaloo. |
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Spices: Rock Salt(Sendha Namak) , Black Pepper, Cardamom , Ajwain , Dried pomengrate seeds. |
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Other stuff like Peanut,Sabudana,Makhana,Coconut are also allowed. |
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Onion,Garlic,egg,non-veg, alchohl should not be consumed on this pious occassion. |