Navratri Festival
India is a very big country, people of all religions reside in it, people of all religions have their own festivals. Like Deepawali, Dussehra, Eid, Raksha Bandhan, Lohri, Teej, Holi, Navratri etc. Navratri Festival is considered a major festival in Hinduism. This festival is known as the worship of nine forms of Goddess Durga. Although this festival is celebrated with great pomp throughout India, but it has great importance in some states like Gujarat, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttar India etc.
This festival is celebrated in the form of Maa Durga Upasana in 9 days and nights, it literally means “nine nights” Although the festival of Navratri comes four times in every year, but among these, Shardiya Navratri and Chaitra Navratri are considered to be of great importance. Shardiya Navratri comes either in September or October.
What is the religious significance of Navratri Festival
The festival of Navratri has great significance from the religious point of view because on this day Goddess Durga won religion over unrighteousness by killing a demon named Mahishasura. Navratri is also seen as the victory of religion over Adharam. This festival is believed to be related to Goddess Durga, who is the goddess of power, this festival lasts for 9 days and on these nine days, Goddess Durga is worshipped in different forms.
Nine forms of Navadurga:
- Shailputri: Daughter of Parvat Raj Himalaya, she is worshipped on the first day of Navratri.
- Brahmacharini: The epitome of sadhana and restraint, is the goddess of the second day.
- Chandraghanta: A symbol of strength and courage, she is worshipped on the third day.
- Kushmanda: The goddess who created the universe, she is worshipped on the fourth day.
- Skandamata: Mother of Lord Kartikeya, she is worshipped on the fifth day.
- Katyayani: Mahishasura Mardini is worshipped on the sixth day.
- Kalratri: The goddess who destroys all kinds of fear and negativity, she is worshipped on the seventh day.
- Mahagauri: Goddess of peace and compassion, she is worshipped on the eighth day.
- Siddhidatri: The giver of siddhis and powers, she is worshipped on the ninth day.
Legend related to Navratri Festival
Although there are many stories related to Navratri, but the most prominent story is believed to be the war between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura, Mahishasura was a very powerful demon who got a boon from Lord Brahma that no man could kill him.
Due to this boon, the demon had become very powerful and had also become very tyrannical, due to which he had also defeated many gods, then the gods worshipped Goddess Durga and Goddess Durga fought with Mahishasura for 9 days. On the other hand, Lord Rama fasted on Navratri to worship Shakti before the battle with Ravana. or Ravana was killed on the tenth day. This festival is also seen as the victory of Rama and the defeat of Ravana.
Cultural Significance of fast
Navratri festival is celebrated in different forms in different parts of India like in Gujarat, people play dandiya, do garba and go to new places. In Maharashtra too, Garba and Dandiya are celebrated a lot. While in West Bengal this festival is celebrated in a different way, in the last five days Goddess Durga is worshipped, her very huge idols are installed and.
On the tenth day, it is immersed. This festival is also very important in North India, people in Uttar India keep fast, on this day people worship the Mother Goddess, this puja lasts for eight days, on the ninth day, nine girls are honored by sitting as a goddess.
What are Navratri rules and fast
Fasting during the Navratri festival is considered very virtuous, people who fast use satvik food and stay away from non-vegetarian things. The purpose of this festival is not only physical penance, spiritual but also mental and spiritual purification.
The rules of this fast are as follows
- Eating fruits at a time or drinking only water
- According to this fast, one should eat satvik food once a day
- Those who observe this fast should exercise physical and mental restraint
- As I just told you, Goddess Durga is worshipped in this fast, so this fast also rules that during this time the Goddess should be worshippedÂ
Last Day of Dussehra Navratri
The festival of Dussehra comes on the tenth day of Navratri Festival, or rather, the festival of Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day, on this day Sri Rama God declared the victory of good over evil by killing Ravana. And Maa Durga also killed Mahishasura and won good over evil, on this day effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, Kumbhakarna are burnt.
Navratri Festivals and Modern Society
The festival of Navratri is considered very important not only from religious point of view but also from social point of view, this Navratri Festival is celebrated in general, Goddess Durga is worshipped collectively, which promotes the feeling of unity. Fairs are organized on the day of good Navratri; a large number of people participate in it.
Conclusion
From this festival, we get the education that no matter how complex the evil is, 1 day it definitely ends, as we have just seen, Durga Maa had won by killing Mahishasura, victory of good over evil. On the other hand, we get another example where Lord Ram killed Ravana and won good over evil.
Navratri festival is an integral part of Indian culture, it is important not only from religious and spiritual point of view but also from social and cultural point of view. On the day of Navratri, people worship Goddess Durga to awaken their inner and outer powers.