Many festivals are celebrated in India and each festival has a great historical background.
One of these festivals is the festival of Navratri. For nine days, It is a predominantly Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. Navratri which means 'Nine Nights'.
Nine forms of Goddess Shakti are worshiped during this festival. The nine nights of Navratri are worshiped by the nine forms of the three goddesses - Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Durga known as Navadurga.
According to the Hindu calendar, Navratri is celebrated twice a year. The dates of this festival are determined according to the lunar calendar.
However, the festival of Shakti worship "Sharadiya Navratri" is celebrated with great pomp around the autumn and before Dussehra.
One of these festivals is the festival of Navratri. For nine days, It is a predominantly Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. Navratri which means 'Nine Nights'.
Nine forms of Goddess Shakti are worshiped during this festival. The nine nights of Navratri are worshiped by the nine forms of the three goddesses - Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Durga known as Navadurga.
According to the Hindu calendar, Navratri is celebrated twice a year. The dates of this festival are determined according to the lunar calendar.
However, the festival of Shakti worship "Sharadiya Navratri" is celebrated with great pomp around the autumn and before Dussehra.
why we celebrating Navratri?
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| Navadurga |
Mythology
The scriptures give two reasons for celebrating the festival of Navratri. According to the first legend, there was a demon named Mahishasura who was a great devotee of Brahma.
He pleased Brahma with his tenacity and obtained a boon. In the boon, no god, demon or any human living on earth should kill him.
On receiving the boon, he became very ruthless and started terrorizing all the three worlds.
Troubled by his terror, the gods and goddesses together with Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave birth to Durga as Goddess Shakti.
There was a fierce battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura for nine days and on the tenth day Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura. This day is celebrated as the victory of good over evil.
He pleased Brahma with his tenacity and obtained a boon. In the boon, no god, demon or any human living on earth should kill him.
On receiving the boon, he became very ruthless and started terrorizing all the three worlds.
Troubled by his terror, the gods and goddesses together with Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave birth to Durga as Goddess Shakti.
There was a fierce battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura for nine days and on the tenth day Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura. This day is celebrated as the victory of good over evil.
Relationship with Dussehra of Navratri
According to another legend, Lord Rama worshiped Goddess Bhagavati, the goddess of power, before invading Lanka and winning the battle with Ravana.
In Rameswaram she worshiped the Goddess for nine days. Pleased with his devotion, Goddess blessed Shri Ram to attain victory in Lanka.
On the tenth day Lord Rama defeated Lanka King Ravana in battle and killed him and conquered Lanka.
From then on, Dussehra, the festival of the victory of truth and religion over unrighteousness, began to be celebrated.
In Rameswaram she worshiped the Goddess for nine days. Pleased with his devotion, Goddess blessed Shri Ram to attain victory in Lanka.
On the tenth day Lord Rama defeated Lanka King Ravana in battle and killed him and conquered Lanka.
From then on, Dussehra, the festival of the victory of truth and religion over unrighteousness, began to be celebrated.
