Go through these fascinating Navratri Facts and empower yourself
with more knowledge about the festival:
- Navaratri is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of
summer and again at the onset of winter.
- The word "Navaratri", a conjunction of two words "nava" (meaning
"nine") and "ratri" (meaning "night"), literally means "nine
nights".
- Sharad Navratri, Vasant Navratri and Ashada Navratri are the
three main Navratri celebrations in India.
- Sharad Navratri is the foremost of the Navratri festivals.
Celebrated during the Hindu Sharad season (September-October), it
celebrates the slaying of demon Mahishasura by Goddess Durga.
- Sharad Navratri is observed for nine days and nine nights, with
three days each for the worship of three different aspects of Mother
Shakti - as Goddess Durga for the first three days, as Goddess
Lakshmi for the next three days and as Goddess Saraswati for the
final three days.
- Vasant Navratri is celebrated during the Hindu Vasant season
(March- April), and is celebrated in North India.
- Ashada Navratri is celebrated during the Hindu Ashada season
(July-August), and is celebrated in Himachal Pradesh.
- Nine forms of Mother Shakti(the female form of power) - Durga,
Bhadrakali, Jagadamba, Annapurna, Sarvamangala, Bhairavi, Chandika,
Lalita, Bhavani and Mookambika - are worshipped during the
Navratri. The forms worshipped differ from region to region.
- The dates of the Navratri festival are set as per the lunar
calendar. The occassion traditionally commences on Pratipada, the
first day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin.
- The Dusshera festival immediately follows Navratri to make a 10
day festive occassion in many places.
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