Navratri is celebrated as a nine day period of worship in most states of India, dedicated to the nine

forms of the Hindu deity Durga. The tenth day is the festival of Dussehra.

Navratri is a combination of two words. 'Nav' means nine while 'ratri' means night. Therefore, this
celebration is literally translated as 'nine nights'. The celebrations begin on the first day of the month of
Ashvin according to the Hindu calendar. They culminate in the festival of Dussehra, on the tenth day of
the month. As per the Gregorian calendar, Navratri always falls in the month of October. The exact date
differs from year to year though.

Why is Navratri Celebrated?

The Navratri celebrations are devoted to the worship of the Eternal mother, which has its origins in the
Vedas. She is the embodiment of Devi, or the supreme goddess. The form of the goddess Durga is said
to symbolise creative energy and the feminine body. This form of the goddess has nine aspects. Navratri
therefore is dedicated to the worship of these aspects. Each form or aspect of the goddess has its own
day dedicated to it. The central theme of Navratri though is the triumph of good over evil.

Celebration of Nine Days of Navratri

Navratri lasts for nine whole days. However, each day has a special significance and is celebrated
separately. Along with the nine forms of Durga, obeisance is paid to the Trinity of goddesses as well.

1st to 3rd day of Navratri

The first three days are dedicated solely to the worship of the goddess Durga. During this period, her
energy and power are worshipped. Each day is dedicated to a different manifestation of Durga. On
the first day, Kumari is worshipped, which signifies the girl child. The second day is dedicated to Parvati,
who is the embodiment of a young woman. On the third day, Kali is worshipped. This form represents the
woman who has reached maturity.
On the first day of Navratri, barley seeds are planted in a small bed of mud. This mud bed is kept in the
pooja room. By the tenth day, each seed has sprouted into a shoot which is between three and five
inches long. After the pooja performed on the tenth day, the shoots are plucked and given to the
attendees. They are said to be a blessing from God.

4th to 6th day of Navratri

These three days are devoted to the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and peace. Although
these days are dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess Saraswati is invoked on the fifth day. This day is
referred to as Lalita Panchami. On this day, all the books and other literature are gathered in one place.
Then, a 'diya' or lamp is lit in front of them to call upon the goddess Saraswati.

7th to 8th day of Navratri

The seventh day is dedicated to worshipping Saraswati, the goddess of art and knowledge. Prayers are
offered to her, seeking spiritual knowledge. The knowledge of the spiritual world is said to free us from
our earthly bonds. This, in turn, will bring us closer to God.

On the eight day, a 'yagna' is performed. This comprises of a sacrifice, which is offered to the sacred fire.
The sacrifice honours the goddess Durga as well as bids her farewell. The sacrifice or offering is made
out of clarified butter (ghee), rice pudding (kheer), and sesame seeds.

9th day of Navratri

The ninth day is the culmination of the entire Navratri celebrations. This day is referred to as
'Mahanavami'. On this day, a Kanya pooja is performed. Nine young girls, who have not yet attained
puberty, are worshipped during this pooja. Each one of them symbolises one of the nine forms of
goddess Durga. Each girls feet are washed as a mark of respect for the goddess. At the end of the pooja,
each girl is given a set of new clothes as a gift from the devotees.