Navratri – meaning nine (nav) nights (rat).
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as Goddess Durga. The Goddess is worshipped in her 9 forms of Shailputri, Brahmchariñi, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.
On the first three days, the Goddess is invoked as powerful force called Mother Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Goddess is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Mother Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Mother Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.
Navratri is celebrated twice a year, once during Spring and once during Autumn. The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are considered to be important junctions of climatic and solar influences.
Read more about the different forms of Goddess below.
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