Navratri, Navratri 2019, Nav durga puja

Knowledge about Navratri

The word Navratri is derived by combining two words where Nav means nine and ratri means night. Thus the nine days are considered auspicious and celebrated with lots of vigour and happiness by the Hindu people. Also referred to as the Maha Navratri, this auspicious festival falls in the lunar month of Ashwin during Sharad Ritu. Despite the fact that, the celebration commonly falls multiple times in a year, the Sharada Navaratri during harvest time (September-October) is the most celebrated, and the Vasanta Navaratri during spring (March-April) is the following most huge Navratri. This year the Navratri falls on the 29^th of September, 2019 which is a Sunday and ends on the 7^th of October 2019.

 

Story or Legend of Navratri:

Navratri is observed to celebrate the victory and to honour Maa Durga for destroying the demon king Mahishasura. Starting from the 29^th of September till the 7^th of October, each day is dedicated to one of the divine forms or types of Maa Durga.  The festivities are celebrated in grandeur also to signify the triumph of harmony and dharma over inner self and underhandedness. Here is a popular story about the Navratri

Once, Lord Brahma of the trinity Brahma, Vishnu & Maheshwara, granted a boon to demon Mahishasura, that no man in the three worlds could kill or destroy him. Empowered by this divine boon, Mahishasura, the demon set out to conquer and rule over all the three worlds. He was successful in defeating the Gods and also Lord Indra. After the defeat, Lord Indra ran to Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and pleaded that demon Mahishashura should be destroyed. The trinity on learning the destruction caused by the demon Mahishashura decided to create a powerful being who would destroy the demon.   The trinity combined all their powers and Devi Durga (Shakti) was born.  Goddess fought the demon for nine days, the grave battle finally ended on the tenth day when the goddess beheaded the demon. The tenth day is known as vijayadashami which literally means the victorious tenth day of good over evil.

 

Importance of the Nine Days of Navratri:

 

Day 1 of the Navratri praises goddess Shailputri. This symbol of goddess Durga is the exemplification of the aggregate intensity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. The goddess in this symbol is loved as the partner of Shiva.

 

Day 2 of the celebration commends goddess Brahmcharini, the second symbol of Maa Durga. She is joyful and blesses the devotee with bliss, harmony, abundance and elegance. Loaded up with ecstasy and joy, she is the best approach to liberation or moksha.

 

Day 3 of the nine-day celebration of Navratri commends goddess Chandraghanta. She represents magnificence and beauty and is worshipped on the third day to bless the worshipper with harmony, serenity and success throughout life. She is the image of courage.

 

Day 4 of the celebration is dedicated to goddess Kushmunda. As per the ancient Holy texts, She is the One who created the universe. As per the mentions, it is believed that the goddess created this universe through giggling.

 

Day 5 of Navratri is celebrated to honour goddess Skand Mata. She is the mother of Skanda, or Karthikeya, who was picked by the divine beings as their president in the war against the evil presences. The vulnerability of a mother is represented by Skand Mata who can battle anybody when the need emerges to ensure her kid is safe.

 

Day 6 of the Navratri is celebrated to honour goddess Katyayani. The goddess was destined to the incredible sage, Kata, as a symbol of Durga. Wearing orange, she shows colossal fortitude.

 

Day 7 of the celebration praises goddess Kalratri. This form of goddess Durga is dark complexioned, has rumpled hair and a bold stance. She is the most powerful and fierce form of goddess Durga.

 

Day 8 of the celebration praises goddess Maha Gauri. She is the eighth form of Maa Durga who is a symbol of knowledge, harmony, abundance and peace.

 

Day 9 of the celebration of Navratri honours goddess Siddhidatri. The goddess is known for having otherworldly mending forces. The goddess is speaks to happy perspective, much the same as the sky on a crisp morning.

 

People celebrate this festival by wearing specific colour associated with each of the Navratri day.  People observe fasts and offer prayer and worship to the goddesses each day. Observing Fast is said to appease the goddess and She in all Her nine forms blesses the devotee by offering a wide range of benefits (spiritual and material)