| Navratri is a significant Hindu festival celebrated with great zeal and devotion throughout India. The festival spans over nine nights (and ten days), hence the name Navratri (Nav means nine and Ratri means nights). It is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, the deity of Power. Each day of the festival is dedicated to a different avatar of the goddess. The festival of Navratri is observed twice a year, once at the beginning of summer (Chaitra Navratri) and then at the onset of winter (Sharad Navratri). However, the latter is more widely celebrated and precedes the festivals of Dussehra and Diwali. The significance of Navratri lies in the symbolic victory of good over evil. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that the demon king Mahishasura had received a boon of immortality from Lord Brahma, but a woman could kill him. To exploit this, he started his reign of terror over the Earth and the heavens. Helpless, all gods invoked Goddess Durga, who fought Mahishasura over a period of fifteen days during which he kept changing his form to cause confusion. On the tenth day, she beheaded him. Thus, the first nine nights commemorate the battle between Durga and Mahishasura, while the tenth day, also known as Dussehra, celebrates his defeat. Navratri is concluded with Navami, the ninth day of the festival. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed where nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshiper. This ritual is performed in many parts of India. The festival is also significant for its emphasis on the principles of purity, fasting, prayer, and meditation. It is a time for introspection and seeking blessings for personal prosperity, health, and happiness. The festival also has a cultural significance as it promotes dance forms like Garba and Dandiya in Gujarat and various other cultural activities across India. In conclusion, Navratri is a festival of immense religious and cultural significance in India. It is a time of spiritual awakening, devotion, and celebration of the victory of good over evil. |