Traditions of Navaratri[edit]

Durga Puja at Bagbazar Sarbajanin, North Kolkata.

Navaratri is celebrated five times a year. They are Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri,
the Sharada Navaratri, the Pausha/Magha Navaratri and the Magha Navaratri. Of these, the
Sharada Navaratri of the month of Puratashi and the Vasanta Navaratri of the Vasanta kala are
the most important. The other two are observed by shaktas only.
1. Vasanta Navaratri: Vasanta Navaratri, its nine days are dedicated to the nine forms of
Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Chaitra (MarchApril) and is observed during
the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Chaitra. The beginning of this Navaratri
also marks the start of the new year as per the Hindu mythological lunar calendar
(Vikrami Samvata).
2. Ashada Navaratri : Ashada Navaratri, also referred to as Gupta, Gayatri or
Shakambhari Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother
Goddess) in the month of Ashadha (JuneJuly). It is observed during the Ashadha
Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon). This is mostly observed by shaktas only
3. Sharada Navaratri: This is the most important of the Navaratris. It is simply called Maha
Navaratri (the Great Navaratri) and is celebrated in the 'pratipada' (first day) of the bright
fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvini. Also known as Sharada Navaratri, as it is
celebrated during Sharada (beginning of winter, SeptemberOctober).
4. Pausha Navaratri: Pausha Navaratri is observed during the Pausha Shukla Paksha, the
waxing phase of moon, in the month of DecemberJanuary.
5. Magha Navaratri: The Magha Navaratri is also a kind of Gupta Navaratri. The waxing
phase of moon in JanuaryFebruary marks the beginning of Magha Navaratri.

Vasanta Navaratri[edit]

Navaratri Golu, dolls and figurine display festival for girls and women in India
 Devi Shakthi at Parashakthi Temple, Pontiac, USA adorned as Goddesses Lakshmi, Durga and
Saraswathi during Navarathri

This is celebrated during Vasanta Rhitu (beginning of spring) (March April). This is also known
as Chaitra navarathri as it falls during the lunar month of Chaitra.

The Story of Vasanta Navaratri[edit]

In days long gone by, King Dooshibago was killed by a lion when he went out hunting.
Preparations were made to crown the prince Sudarsana. But, King Yudhajita of Ujjain, the father
of Queen Lilavati, and King Virasena of Kalinga, the father of Queen Manorama, were each
desirous of securing the Kosala throne for their respective grandsons. They fought with each
other. King Virasena was killed in the battle. Manorama fled to the forest with Prince Sudarsana
and a eunuch. They took refuge in the hermitage of Rishi Bharadwaja.
The victor, King Yudhajita, thereupon crowned his grandson, Satrujita, at Ayodhya, the capital of
Kosala. He then went out in search of Manorama and her son. The Rishi said that he would not
give up those who had sought protection under him. Yudhajit became furious. He wanted to
attack the Rishi. But, his minister told him about the truth of the Rishi's statement. Yudhajita
returned to his capital.
Fortune smiled on Prince Sudarsana. A hermit's son came one day and called the eunuch by his
Sanskrit name Kleeba. The prince caught the first syllable Kli and began to pronounce it
as Kleema. This syllable happened to be a powerful, sacred Mantra. It is the Bija Akshara (root
syllable) of the Divine Mother. The Prince obtained peace of mind and the Grace of the Divine
Mother by the repeated utterance of this syllable. Devi appeared to him, blessed him and granted
him divine weapons and an inexhaustible quiver.
The emissaries of the king of Benares passed through the Ashrama of the Rishi and, when they
saw the noble prince Sudarsana, they recommended him to Princess Sashikala, the daughter of
the king of Benares.
The ceremony at which the princess was to choose her spouse was arranged. Sashikala at once
chose Sudarsana. They were duly wedded. King Yudhajita, who had been present at the
function, began to fight with the king of Benares. Devi helped Sudarsana and his father-in-law.
Yudhajita mocked Her, upon which Devi promptly reduced Yudhajita and his army to ashes.
Thus Sudarsana, with his wife and his father-in-law, praised Devi. She was highly pleased and
ordered them to worship her with havana and other means during the Vasanta Navarathri. Then
she disappeared.
Prince Sudarsana and Sashikala returned to the Ashram of Rishi Bharadwaja. The great Rishi
blessed them and crowned Sudarsana as the king of Kosala. Sudarsana and Sashikala and the
king of Benares implicitly carried out the commands of the Divine Mother and performed worship
in a splendid manner during the Vasanta Navarathri.
Sudarsana's descendants Sri Rama and Lakshmana also performed worship of Devi during the
Sharad Navarathri and were blessed with Her assistance in the recovery of Sita.
According to the Krittibas Ramayana, Rama invoked the goddess Durga in his epic battle against
Ravana. Although Goddess Durga was traditionally worshipped in the late spring, due to
contingencies of battle, Lord Rama had to invoke her in the form of astama (eighth) Mahavidya
(Maa Bagla) in the autumn and thus is known as akaala bodhana (invoking out of scheduled
time). This autumnal ritual was different from the conventional Durga Puja, which is usually
celebrated in the springtime. So, this Puja is also known as 'akala-bodhana' or out-of-season
('akala') worship ('bodhana'). This Rama's date for the Navaratri puja has now gained
ascendancy and culminates with Dusherra in North India on the following day.

Shardiya Navaratri[edit]
Shardiya Navaratri is the most popular and significant Navaratri of all Navaratris. That's why
Shardiya Navaratri is also known as Maha Navaratri.
It falls in lunar month Ashwini during Sharada Ritu. The name Shardiya Navaratri has been taken
from Sharada Ritu. All nine days during Navaratri are dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Shakti.
Shardiya Navaratri falls in the month of September or October. The nine days festivity culminates
on tenth day with Dussehra or Vijayadashami.

Forms of Shakti[edit]
Main article: Navadurga
Nine forms of Shakti are worshipped during the Navaratris. The Devis worshipped depend on the
tradition of the region.
Durga
Kali
Amba or Jagadamba, Mother of the universe
Annapoorna devi or Mahagauri, The one who bestows grains (anna) in plenty (purna:
used as subjective)
Sarvamangala or Shitala, The one who gives happiness (mangala) to all (sarva)
Bhairavi
Chandika or Chandi, The one who killed a demon named Chanda.
Lalita
Bhavani
Mookambika or Tara

Rituals[edit]
 Late Srikanta Datta Wadiyar, Former Maharaja of Mysore inaugurating first day of Mysore Dasara

The Sharada Navratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar
month of Ashvini. The festival is celebrated for nine nights once every year during the beginning
of October, although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar,
the festival may be held for a day more or a day less.
Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. In North India, all three Navaratris are
celebrated with much fervor by fasting on all nine days and worshiping the Mother Goddess in
her different forms. The Chaitra Navaratri culminates in Rama Navami and the Sharada Navaratri
culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra. The Dussehra of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh is
particularly famous in the North. Navaratri festival in Gujarat is one of the main festivals. Garba is
a dance which people perform on all nine nights, after the Durga Pooja, in groups accompanied
by live orchestra or devotional songs.
The last four days of Sharada Navaratri take on a particularly dramatic form in the state of West
Bengal in eastern India where they are celebrated as Durga Puja.[4] This is the biggest festival of
the year in this state. Exquisitely crafted and decorated life-size clay idols of the Goddess Durga
depicting her slaying the demon Mahishasura are set up in temples and other places. These
idols are then worshiped for five days and immersed in the river on the fifth day.
In the Punjab, Navaratri is known as Navratras or Naratey where the first seven days are for
fasting. On the eighth day or Ashtami, devotees break their fasts by calling young girls home and
these girls are treated as the goddess herself. They are called "Kanjak Devis". People
ceremonially wash their feet, worship them and then offer food to the "girl-goddesses" giving
them the traditional puri, halwa and chana to eat along with bangles and the red chunnis
(scarves) to wear with a token amount of money as "shagun". The ninth day is then called
Navami which means literally the ninth day of this holy and pious period.
Another prevalent practice is of sowing pulses, cereals and other seeds on the first day of this
festival in a pot which is watered for nine days at the end of which the seeds sprout. This pot is
worshipped throughout the nine days. This custom is also indicative of fertility worship and is
known as "Khetri". The barley grains planted on the first day of Navaratras, in the puja room of
the house, are submerged in water after saying prayers on Dussehra. The sowing and reaping of
barley is symbolic of the "first fruit".[5]
In Western India, particularly in the state of Gujarat and Maharashtra, Navaratri is celebrated with
the famous Garba and Dandiya Raas dance. Since the past few years, the Government of
Gujarat has been organising the "Navaratri Festival Celebrations" on a regular basis for the nine
days of Navaratri Festival in Gujarat. People from all over Gujarat and even abroad come to
participate in the nine-day celebration. It is also popular throughout India and among Indian
communities around the world including the UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and USA.
In the temples of Goa, on the first day of the seventh month of the Hindu calendar Ashwini, in
temples (and some households), a copper pitcher is installed surrounded by clay in which nine
varieties of food grains are sown inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. All the nine nights
are celebrated by presenting devotional songs, and through religious discourses. Later in the
night the idol of the goddess is put in a specially-decorated colourful swing,known
as Makhar in Konkani and for nine nights, this swing is being swung to the tune of temple music
(called as ranavadya) by devotees who throng in large numbers to participate in the festival.This
spectacular ritual accompanied by an orchestra of musical instrument and waving of lamps is
called Makharotsav.[6][7]
 Makharotsav in a Goan temple during Navaratri

In Maharashtra, on the first day of month of Ashwini, Ghatasthapana is celebrated. An earthen

pot is filled with water surrounded by clay in which foodgrains are sown and are allowed to sprout
for nine days. Five stems of jowar are also placed over the pot. This arrangement is called the
"Ghat". The ladies worship the pot for nine days by offering rituals and a garland of flowers,
leaves, fruits, dry-fruits, etc. with a naivedya, and water is offered in order to get the seeds
sprouted. Some families also celebrate Kaali pujan on days 1 and 2, Laxmi pujan on days 3, 4, 5
and Saraswati puja on days 6, 7, 8, 9 along with Ghatasthapana. On the eighth day, a "Yajna" or
"Hom" is performed in the name of Goddess Durga. On ninth day, the Ghat puja is done and the
Ghat is dissolved after taking off the sprouted leaves of the grains. In many families, a woman
from Matang community is called and offered food and blessings are sought from her. She is
considered as a form of the Goddess "Matangi". This process is called " " in Marathi. On
the occasion of Dasara or Vijayadashmi, the men go to the forest or farm and bring the leaves of
the tree Apta. They worship iron in the form of utensils, weapons, etc. The iron equipments are
washed and offered leaves of Apta called gold or "sona" and also leaves of the grains which
were sprouted. On this day, a process called Vidyarambhan meaning beginning of learning takes
place when small children are to write first alphabet.
In Tamil Nadu, people set up steps and place idols on them. This is known as golu. Photos of
typical golu displayed in Tamil Nadu style can be found here.In the evening women in
neighborhood invite each other to visit their homes to view Kolu displays, they exchange gifts
and sweets. Kuthuvilakku lamp is lit, in the middle of a decorated Rangoli, devotional hymns and
shlokas are chanted. After performing the puja, the food items that have been prepared are
offered to the Goddess and then to the guests.On the 9th day Saraswati Puja, special pujas are
offered to Goddess Saraswati, the divine source of wisdom and enlightenment. Books and
musical instruments are placed in the puja and worshipped as a source of knowledge Ayudha
Pooja, the worship of vehicles and instruments is the most important festival celebrated in Tamil
Nadu on Navami day .Almost all mechanic shops, heavy industries celebrate ayudha Pooja to
thank their instruments On this day one can see autos decorated with banana leaves and
pumpkins broken.The 10th day, Vijayadasami is the most auspicious day of all. It was the day
on which evil was finally destroyed by good. It marks a new and prosperous beginning. New
ventures started on this day are believed to flourish and bring prosperity. Kids often start tutoring
on this day to have a head start in their education.
In the evening of "Vijayadasami", any one doll from the "Kolu" is symbolically put to sleep and the
Kalasa is moved a bit towards North to mark the end of that year's Navaratri Kolu. Prayers are
offered to thank God for the successful completion of that year's Kolu and with a hope of a
successful one the next year. Then the Kolu is dismantled and packed up for the next year.
In temples of Tamil Nadu, navaratri is celebrated for the Devi's dwelling in each temples, The
utsava murthy is decorated and vedic offerings are performed, Following by Chandi homa.
Popular Tamil Nadu temples celebrating navaratri are Madurai madurai meenakshi temple,
Chennai kapaleeswarar temple, Kulasekarapattinam devi temple, Perambur Ellaiamman temple,
Srirangam Ranganathan temple.
In Karnataka, Ayudha Puja, the ninth day of Mysore Dasara, is celebrated with the worship of
implements used in daily life such as computers, books, vehicles, or kitchen tools. The effort to
see the divine in the tools and objects one uses in daily life is central to this celebration, so it
includes all tools that help one earn one's livelihood. Knowledge workers go for books, pen or
computers, farmers go for the plough and other agricultural tools, machinery for industrialists and
cars/buses/trucks for the transportation workersall are decorated with flowers and worshiped
on this day invoking God's blessing for success in coming years. It is believed that any new
venture such as starting of business or purchasing of new household items on this day is bound
to bring success and prosperity.
Mysore is well known for the festivities that take place during the period of Dasara, the state
festival of Karnataka. The Dasara festivities, which are celebrated over a ten-day period, it made
official festival of the state by King Raja Wodeyar I in 1610.[8] On the ninth day of Dasara,
called Mahanavami,[9] the royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a procession of decorated
elephants, camels and horses.[8] On the tenth day, called Vijayadashami, the
traditional Dasara procession (locally known as Jumboo Savari) is held on the streets of Mysore.
An image of the Goddess Chamundeshwari is placed on a golden howdah on the back of a
decorated elephant and taken on a procession, accompanied by tableaux, dance groups, music
bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels.[8] The procession starts from the Mysore Palace
and culminates at a place called Bannimantapa, where the banni tree (Prosopis spicigera) is
worshipped.[8] The Dasara festivities culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with a torchlight
parade, known locally as Panjina Kavayatthu.[8]
In Kerala and in some parts of Karnataka three days: Ashtami, Navami, and Vijaya Dashami of
Sharada Navarathri are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja in which books are worshiped. The books
are placed for Puja on the Ashtami day in own houses, traditional nursery schools, or in temples.
On Vijaya Dashami day, the books are ceremoniously taken out for reading and writing after
worshiping Sarasvati. Vijaya Dashami day is considered auspicious for initiating the children into
writing and reading, which is called Vidyarambham. Tens of thousands of children are initiated
into the world of letters on this day in Kerala.
In Telangana, people celebrate Bathukamma festival over a period of nine days. In contrast to
navaratri celebrations elsewhere, this festival starts on the New moon or Amavasya
of Lunar month of Bhadrapada, a day before where Navratri starts in other regions of first day
Shaka month of Ashwini.
Here Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects (Tridevi) of the
supreme goddess or goddesses.

Effigy of Ravana being burnt

First three days: The goddess is separated a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in
order to destroy all our evil and grant boons.
Second three days: The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is
considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the
goddess of wealth.
Last three days:

Effigy of Ravana being burnt

See also: Kanya Puja

The final set of three days is spent in worshiping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to
have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine
femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.
Eighth day is traditionally Durgashtami which is big in Bengal and Bihar.
In some parts of South India, Saraswati puja is performed on the 9th day. Ayudha Puja is
conducted in many parts of South India on the Mahanavami (Ninth) day with much fanfare.
Weapons, agricultural implements, all kinds of tools, equipments, machinery and automobiles are
decorated and worshipped on this day along with the worship of Goddess. The work starts afresh
from the next day, i.e. the 10th day which is celebrated as 'Vijaya Dashami'. Many
teachers/Schools in south India start teaching Kindergarten children from that day onwards.
In North India, as the culmination of the Ramalila which is enacted ceremoniously
during Dussehra, the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burnt to celebrate
the victory of good (Rama) over evil forces on the 'Vijaya Dashami' day.
During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the
protection of health and prosperity. Devotees avoid meat, alcoholic drinks, grains, wheat and
onion during this fast. Grains are usually avoided since it is believed that during the period of
Navaratri and seasonal change, grains attract and absorb lots of negative energies [10] from the
surrounding and therefore there is a need to avoid eating anything which are produced from
grains for the purification of Navaratri to be successful. Navaratri is also a period of introspection
and purification, and is traditionally an auspicious and religious time for starting new ventures.
During this vowed religious observance, a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) at a sanctified place at
home. A lamp is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolises the universe. The
uninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgent Adishakti, i.e. Sree
Durgadevi. During Navaratri, the principle of Sree Durgadevi is more active in the atmosphere. [11]
Navaratri is celebrated in a large number of Indian communities. The mother goddess is said to
appear in 9 forms, and each one is worshiped for a day. These nine forms signify various traits
that the goddess influences us with. The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess
who vanquished demons are cited.
During the eight or ninth day, Kanya Puja, pre-pubescent girls are ceremonially worshipped
Navratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of
Ashwini. The festival is celebrated for nine nights once every year during the beginning of
October, although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar, the
festival may be held for a day more or a day less.
Navratr Form of
Day Tithi Pujan Colour
i Day Goddess
Navratri Prati
Shailaputri Ghatasthapana Shailputri Puja Grey
Day 1 pada
Navratri Dwiti Brahmach
Chandra Darshana Brahmacharini Pujan Orange
Day 2 ya arini
Navratri Tritiy Chandrag Sindoora Tritiya,
Chandraghanta Puja White
Day 3 a hanta Sowbhagya Teej
Navratri Chat Kushmand Varada Vinayaka
Bhouma Chaturthi Red
Day 4 urthi a Chauthurthi
Navratri Panc Skandama Upanga Lalita Vratam, Lalitha Navy
Lalita Panchami
Day 5 hami ta Gauri Vratam, Skandamata Puja Blue
Navratri Shas Saraswati Awahanam, Katyayani
Katyayini Maha Shashti Yellow
Day 6 hthi Puja
Navratri Sapt Saraswati Puja, Kalaratri Puja,
Kaalaratri Maha Saptami Green
Day 7 ami Utsava Puja
Navratri Asht Durga Ashtami, Maha Saraswati Mata Puja, Mahagauri Peacock
Mahagauri
Day 8 ami Ashtami Puja, Sandhi Puja Green
Navratri Nava Khande Navami, Durga
Siddhidatri Ayudha Puja, Kanya puja Purple
Day 9 mi Visarjana, Maha Navami
Navaratri (Sanskrit: ) is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The
word Navratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights.
[2]
During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Devi are worshipped. The tenth day is
commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussehra" (also spelled Dasera). Navaratri is an
important major festival and is celebrated all over India and Nepal. Diwali, the festival of lights, is
celebrated twenty days after Dasera. Though there are in total five types of Navaratri that come
in a year, Sharada Navaratri is the most popular one. Hence, the term Navaratri is often used to
refer specifically to Sharada Navaratri.[3] (Sharada is a name for the goddess Saraswati)