Navaratri, also called Sharada Navarati or Navrata, is a major Hindu festival that Hindus celebrate throughout the world and in India for a span of nine nights after the monsoon fall. It is essentially a celebration of good over evil. Navratri has a different meaning throughout India and is celebrated in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, mainly around September and October.
This year Navratri begins on October 17 with Shailputri and ends on October 26 with Vijay dashami and Durga Visarjan (the immersion of the idol). The Ghatasthapana Muhurta falls at Pratipada Tithi and will start at 6:23 am until 10:12 am on October 17.
Navratri translates to Nav which means nine and ratri which means nights and honors the divine goddess Durga, who defeated the demon king Mahishasura in battle.
History
Legend has it that Lord Brahma granted immortality to the demon king Mahishasura, on the condition that he could only be defeated by a woman.
Mahishasura attacked the three spheres, Trilok, which includes Earth, Heaven, and Hell, and no one could defeat him. Then Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva combined their powers to create Goddess Durga.
What followed was a 15-day battle between Mahishasura and Goddess Durga, during which the demon king kept changing shape to confuse the goddess. When Mahishasura turned into a buffalo, Goddess Durga killed him with her trishul. It was the day of Mahalaya when Mahishasura was assassinated.
Importance and celebration
Over the course of the nine days, the different avatars of Goddess Durga are honored. Goddess Shailputri (Day 1), Goddess Brahmacharini (Day 2), Goddess Chandraghanta (Day 3), Goddess kushmanda (Day 4), Goddess Skandamata (Day 5), Goddess Katyayani (Day 6), Goddess Kaalratri (Day 7), Goddess Mahagauri (Day 8) and Goddess Siddhidatri (Day 9).
During this festival, families and friends gather to celebrate it according to their tradition. In Gujarat, the dandiya is played during the festival and most people fast and spend their time in prayer.
In eastern India, the festival is celebrated as Durga Puja while in the north, Ram Leela, a visual recount of the Ramayana takes place and the nine days end with Dussehra during which straw effigies of Ravana are burned for represent the victory of good over evil.
Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter
.
