• Chaitra or Vasant Nav Durga: It is celebrated in the month of Chaitra which is the first month of Hindivarsh and in the month of March according to the English calendar. By this time winters are gone and spring is a pleasant season.
  
  
• Ashada Navaratri: Also known with the name of Gayatri Navratri, these occasions occurred in the month of June or July.
  
  
• Sharad Navaratri: These days comes in the Hindi month Ashwini, and English Month October and November

Navratri is a Hindu festival celebrated to honour Goddess Durga and her several incarnations. According to the Gregorian calendar it falls in October or November. The festival also symbolizes victory over evil and light over darkness. The festival continues for nine nights and ten days. The last day of the festival is known as Dussehra. It is a prominent festival in Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Gujarat. An idol of Goddess Durga is installed in big Pandals, and in homes, small idols are placed to worship the Goddess. People observe fast and visit the Goddess temple to offer their gratitude and devotion. Since the festival eliminates negativity, it is believed that prosperity and good health start flowing. Small girls are worshipped by providing gifts and sweets.

Navratri is the festival of Hindus that lasts for nine days and is celebrated every year in the winter season. The festival falls in September or October and is observed in the honour of Goddess Durga. The nine days are dedicated to different forms of Goddesses.

The word Navratri is divided into two words- ‘Nav’ meaning nine and ‘Ratri’ meaning night. The festival also marks the victory over evil. In India, the festival is celebrated four times in a year and is known by many names like Sharada, Magha, Vasanta, and Ashada Navratri. Each holds a special significance and sacred meaning behind it. Among the mentioned Navratri, Sharada is the most famous and prominent festival across India.

According to ancient folklore, a demon called Mahishasura acquired mystic powers and magic from Lord Shiva after pleasing him through Tapa (meditation). He was believed to be an ardent follower and devotee of Lord Shiva. Once he became powerful, he started exploiting his powers by torturing and dominating people if they worshipped any other God besides him. All the other Gods were terrified and requested the trinity of Gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh to save them from the destruction. So, they created Goddess Durga to be their saviour. The legend states that a demon king named Mahishasura acquired mighty powers and magic by pleasing Lord Shiva. After emerging powerful, he started committing brutal acts on people who worshipped other Lords than him.

Mahishasura was so captivated by the beauty of the Goddess that he desired to marry her and sent the proposal. Goddess accepted the proposal on the condition to win the battle against her. He was over-confident and gave in quickly. The battle lasted for nine days, and on the tenth day, the demon was killed by the Goddess. Hence the name Navratri came into existence

He was so consumed in his pride that he began to belittle other Gods and considered himself as an invincible being. The other Gods were petrified and pleaded the trinity of God-Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. They unified and combined their forces and created Goddess Durga. When the demon confronted Goddess, he was mesmerized by her beauty and got attracted.

The demon wished to marry Goddess Durga. She agreed on one condition that, he has to defeat her in a battle. The devil was overconfident of his powers and accepted the challenge quickly. After that, the battle lasted for nine nights, and on the ninth night, the Goddess killed the demon. Hence, the nine days is referred to as Navratri.

People observe fast during the nine days and worship Goddess Durga. Prayers are offered in order to seek prosperity, good health, and happiness of the family. On the last day, people break their fast by performing Kanya Pujan on little girls because they symbolize purity. They are offered various delicacies like Halwa Puri, chana, and things like money, clips, bangles, etc.

In Gujarat, people celebrate the festival with great pomp and fervour. The women and menfolk dress up in traditional attires and enjoy together at a place where Dandiya dance and Garba dance are organized. The well-known temple of Goddess Vaishno Devi witnesses a massive crowd of devotees visiting the temple during the festival. It is believed that, if people visit the temple during the festival, their desires and wishes are fulfilled.

West Bengal is the state known for the exotic celebration of the Navratri festival. It is the most prominent and famous festival. Unique Pandals are put up where the idol of Goddess Durga is worshipped. The Pandals are adorned with flowers and attractive decorative materials. People play with dry colours and dance on the last day of the procession. Women wear traditional Bengali sarees and perform a unique kind of dance.

The festival is celebrated with profound devotion and love towards the Goddess Durga. It gives a cultural view with great diversity in the form of dance, music, and play. The nine days are filled with enthusiasm, fun, and happiness. People are excited to play Garba and perform Aarti to express their gratitude.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

NINE DAYS OF NAVRATRI:

1. The first day, Shailputri is an incarnation of goddess Parvati. Clad in red, she is depicted as the direct incarnation of Mahakali. She rides the bull Nandi with a Trishula and lotus in her hands.
   
   
2. The second day, Brahmacharini is another incarnation of goddess Parvati or her unmarried self, Sati. She symbolises calmness and peace and is depicted holding a Japa mala and kamandal. The colour code for the day is blue, as it symbolises tranquillity and strength.
   
   
3. The third day, Parvati, on marriage to Siva, wore the half-moon on her forehead, and Chandraghanta is a depiction of this form of the goddess. The third day is associated with the colour yellow, symbolising her vivaciousness.
   
   
4. The fourth day, Kushmanda is referred to as the creative power in the universe. Hence, the colour associated with this form of the goddess is green. She rides a tiger and is depicted with eight arms.
   
   
5. The fifth day, Skandamata, The mother of Lord Skanda or Kartikeya, Skandmata depicts the strength of a mother when her children are in danger. She is believed to have ridden a lion with her baby in her arms. The colour of the day is grey.
   
   
6. The sixth day, Katyayani is a warrior goddess and she is depicted with four arms. She rides the lion and symbolises courage; this translates into the colour orange for day 6 of Navratri.
   
   
7. Seventh-day, Mahakali is the most violent form of goddess Durga. This depicts the form goddess Parvati attained on removing her fair skin to destroy demons Nisumbha and Sumbha. The goddess is believed to have appeared in white attire and her skin turned black in rage. Hence, the colour of the day is white.
   
   
8. The eighth day, Mahagauri, the goddess depicts peace and optimism on this day; hence the colour associated with the eighth day of Navratri is pink.
   
   
9. The ninth day, Goddess Sidhidatri sits on a lotus and has the power of the Siddhis. She radiates wisdom and the beauty of nature and is also referred to as Saraswati Devi. The colour of this day is light blue.

Conclusion

People worship all these forms of the goddess and have fast for nine days in many parts of India. People make grand statues of Goddesses and processions are taken place. In many places fair is held for people.

Durga puja in West Bengal is such famous that people from several places come to see the one-month grand celebration. Durga puja is a great symbol of our culture and folk diversity as a single festival is celebrated in different ways all over India.

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