What Is Navratri?

 

What Is Navratri?

Navratri is a nine-day long Hindu festival celebrated in India and Nepal. The word ‘Navratri’ is derived from two Sanskrit words - ‘nav’ which means nine and ‘ratri’ which means night. Therefore, Navratri means ‘nine nights’. This festival is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga or Shakti, and her nine forms, also known as Navadurga. It is celebrated twice every year, once in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and the other in the month of Ashwin (September-October).

Navratri is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar and is celebrated across India, with a lot of enthusiasm and fervor. The festival is marked with fasting, prayers, and grand celebrations. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a different form of the goddess.

The Legend Behind Navratri

The legend behind the celebration of Navratri is associated with the victory of good over evil. It is said that the demon Mahishasura, who had taken the form of a buffalo, was terrorizing the earth and its inhabitants. The gods of heaven could not defeat him, and so they collectively invoked the divine feminine energy of Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga, who is also known as the ‘warrior goddess’, was pleased and agreed to fight Mahishasura. The battle lasted for nine days and nights, and on the tenth day, she finally defeated him. Navratri is celebrated to commemorate this victory of good over evil.

Significance of Navratri

Navratri holds immense significance in Hindu mythology. It is believed that during this festival, the goddesses are at their most powerful and magnificent forms. Navratri is considered to be a time of purification, rejuvenation, and spiritual growth. The festival is a time to remove negative energy, purify one’s body and soul, and invoke the blessings of the divine.

Celebrations during Navratri

Navratri is celebrated with great enthusiasm across India. People dress up in new clothes, exchange gifts, and decorate their homes with flowers and lights. The celebrations vary from state to state, but there are some common rituals that are followed during the festival.

1.      Fasting: Many people observe fasts during Navratri as a way of showing their devotion to the goddess. Fasting is believed to be a way of purifying the body and mind, and seeking the blessings of the divine. Some people fast for the entire nine days, while others fast on certain days or only consume certain types of food.

2.      Garba and Dandiya: Garba and Dandiya are traditional folk dances that are performed during Navratri. These dances are inspired by the stories of Lord Krishna’s love for the goddess Radha, and involve dancers moving around in circles, clapping their hands, and striking each other’s sticks.

3.      Puja: During Navratri, many people perform puja (worship) to the goddess Durga. This involves offering flowers, fruits, and sweets to the deity, and reciting prayers and hymns.

4.      Navaratri Golu: Navaratri Golu is a tradition followed in South India where people set up a display of dolls in their homes. The dolls depict various scenes from Hindu mythology and showcase the culture and traditions of India.

5.      Visiting temples: People visit temples during Navratri to seek the blessings of the goddess. Temples are decorated with flowers and lights during this time, and many people offer prayers and perform aarti (a devotional ritual of waving a lighted wick before the deity).

Importance of Navratri – a Time of the Feminine

When we say “masculine” and “feminine,” we are not talking about the gender; we are talking about the basic qualities in the existence, the polarities. The physical world can only exist between polarities – day and night, darkness and light, masculine and feminine, and male and female. Male and female is a manifestation of the masculine and feminine qualities, not a quality by itself.

The post autumnal equinox is the time of the feminine. Since this part of the year naturally supports the feminine, certain societies have worked to establish the feminine consciously, because the masculine asserts itself without much encouragement. The feminine needs support to assert itself – otherwise it moves into the background.

In any given society if feminine moves into the background, they will become conquerors. That means they will sit on an empty shell of life. They will conquer the whole world, and find that they have no taste of the world. This is the plight of the masculine that they reach the top of the world and then feel miserable right on the top.

Why Navratri Fasting?

Navratri fasting is observed for the nine-day-long Hindu festival of Navratri. The fasting is done to purify the mind and body and to please Goddess Durga, who is believed to have defeated negative emotions like anger, greed, and selfishness upon these nine days. Fasting is also an act of self-discipline and self-control that is believed to bring spiritual benefits. Some people also fast to detoxify their bodies and improve their digestion. Additionally, during Navratri, many people consume only vegetarian food, which is believed to improve their health and energy levels. Overall, Navratri fasting is a way to seek blessings from the divine, work on personal transformation, and enhance one's spiritual and physical well-being.

Nine Days of Navratri Explained

Navratri is a nine-day long Hindu festival celebrated across India with great fervor and devotion. The word Navratri means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit. It is dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine or Goddess Durga in her different forms, who is considered to be the embodiment of power, courage, and knowledge.

The festival starts on the first day of the Hindu month of Ashvin, which usually falls in the month of September or October, and ends with Dussehra or Vijayadashami, which marks the victory of good over evil.

Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a different form of the Goddess, and people perform various rituals and worship her in different ways.

Day 1 – Pratipada: This day is dedicated to Shailaputri, who is the first incarnation of Goddess Durga. People pray to her for strength and courage.

Day 2 – Dwitiya: On this day, people worship Brahmacharini, the second form of the Goddess. She symbolizes happiness, peace, and prosperity.

Day 3 – Tritiya: The third day is dedicated to Chandraghanta, who is known for her beauty and bravery. People pray to her for protection from evil.

Day 4 – Chaturthi: On this day, people worship Kushmanda, who is believed to be the source of all creation. She brings light into darkness and symbolizes energy and happiness.

Day 5 – Panchami: The fifth day is dedicated to Skandamata, who is the mother of Lord Skanda or Kartikeya. She is known for her love and compassion towards her children.

Day 6 – Shashthi: People worship Katyayani, the sixth form of the Goddess, who is considered to be the warrior goddess. She is believed to have destroyed evil forces and brings peace and harmony.

Day 7 – Saptami: On this day, people worship Kalaratri, who is considered to be the most ferocious form of the Goddess. She symbolizes the dark side that has to be conquered and cleansed.

Day 8 – Ashtami: The eighth day is dedicated to Mahagauri, who is known for her purity and serenity. People pray to her for health and happiness.

Day 9 – Navami: The ninth day is considered to be the most important day of Navratri. People worship Siddhidatri, the ninth form of the Goddess, who brings divine blessings and spiritual enlightenment.

On the tenth day or Vijayadashami, people celebrate the victory of good over evil. They perform Ramlila, a dramatic portrayal of the life of Lord Rama, and burn effigies of Ravana, his ten-headed enemy, to signify the triumph of good over evil.

Navratri – 9 Days, 3 Qualities

There is no physical entity without all these three dimensions. Not a single atom is free of these three dimensions of a certain static nature, of energy, and of vibrance. Without these three elements, you cannot hold anything together; it will break up. If it is just sattva, you won't remain here for a moment – you will be gone. If it is just rajas, it’s not going to work. If it’s just tamas, you will be asleep all the time. These three qualities are present in everything. It is just a question of to what extent you mix these things

 

Navratri is a festival that celebrates the power of the divine feminine and the victory of good over evil. It is a time to seek the blessings of the goddess, purify the mind and body, and celebrate with friends and family. The festival is an important part of Indian culture and traditions, and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor across the country.