All about Navarathiri and Dussehra

Celebration for 9 days and the 10th day being Dussehra as the grand finale. This is the ritual for thousands of years in India. All India welcomes Goddess Durga for nine days. Navaratri celebration lasts for nine nights, the tenth day is Vijayadashami. Goddess Durga idols are immersed in the water on Vijayadashami. As of this writing, in 2016 Navratri commences on October 1 and will be on till October 10.

The nine forms of Goddess Durga is a feminine energy form. Each form represents each of 9 days. The sequence of the nine-day festival is as follows.

Day 1 – October 1, 2016 (Saturday) – Pratipada, Ghatsthapana, Shailputri Puja
Day 2 – October 2, 2016 (Sunday) – Pratipada, Chandra Darshan, Shailputri Puja
Day 3 (Dwitiya) – October 3, 2016 (Monday) – Brahmacharini Puja
Day 4 (Tritiya) – October 4, 2016 (Tuesday) – Chandraghanta Puja
Day 5 (Chaturthi) – October 5, 2016 (Wednesday) – Kushmanda puja
Day 6 (Panchami) – October 6, 2016 (Thursday) – Skandamata Puja
Day 7 (Shashthi) – October 7, 2016 (Friday) – Katyayani Puja
Day 8 (Saptami) – October 8, 2016 (Saturday) – Kalaratri Puja
Day 9 (Mahashtmi) – October 9, 2016 (Sunday) – Mahagauri Puja, Durga Maha Ashtami Puja, Saraswati Puja
Day 10 (Navami) – October 10, 2016 (Monday) – Siddhidatri Pooja, Maha Navami, Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa
Day 11 (Dashami or Dussehra) – October 11, 2016 (Tuesday) – Navratri Parana, Durga Visarjan, Vijyadashmi (Dussehra)

Navratri ends with Dussehra, a festival celebrated to denote the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. Thus, Navratri itself symbolizes victory over evil. In the South Indian state of Telangana, they call it Batukamma Panduga.

Navratri Puja

1st Day (Pratipada): First day of Navratri known as Pratipada. Goddess Durga is worshipped for the nine days, so that the Goddess brings good health and prosperity to their home and family, a small bowl of mud is prepared on the place of puja and barley seeds are sown on it.. On Pratipada, Goddess Durga is worshiped as Shailputri. ‘Shail’ means mountains while the literal meaning of ‘Putri’ is the daughter. The Goddess Durga is believed to have the powers of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The Goddess is also known as Parvati, Sati Bhavani or Hemavati. People wear red clothes on this day as per the tradition  says. the first day of Navratri is going to fall on 1st April 2016.

2nd Day (Dwitiya) : Second day of Navratri is known as Dwitiya. These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy. On the second day, Goddess Durga is worshipped as Brahmacharini. The name of the Goddess means as the one who follows pious strictness. The form of Goddess Parvati grants prosperity and emancipation. On this day people should wear blue clothes as per the religion. The second day of Navratri is going to fall on 9th April 2016.

3rd Day (Tritiya) : The Third day of Navratri is known as Tritiya and the Goddess of Durga is worshipped as Chandraghanta. The name Chandraghanta refers to the half moon on the forehead of Goddess Durga or Chandraghanta in the shape of a bell. The Goddess Durga as Chandraghanta stands for bravery and fortitude. The third day of Navaratri exhibits to characteristics of bravery and courage of Goddess Durga. O third day people should wear blue clothes which is same to the second day. The third day of Navratri is going to fall on 10 April 2016.

4th Day (Chaturthi) : Fourth day of Navratri is known as Chaturthi and The Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Kushmanda. It is believed to that the universe got generate by the Goddess as she laughed. It is depicted to have 8 to 10 hands. Devotes wear yellow clothes on this day of Navaratri 2016. The fourth day of Navratri is going to fall on 11 April 2016.

5th Day (Panchami) : Fifth day of Navratri is known as Panchami and Goddess Durga  honour and worshipped as Skandamata which means the mother of Kartikeya who is also known as Skanda. During these days Goddess Durga brings peace and prosperity in the home who worshipped the Goddess in their house. Kartikeya led the army of angels and fought the demons. Skandamata is depicted holding an infant Kartikeya. It is traditional to wear green shaded clothes on the fifth day of Navaratri. The fifth day of Navratri is going to fall on 12 April 2016.

6th Day (Sashti) : Sixth day of Navratri is known as Sashti and Durga Goddess is worshipped in the form of Katyayani. According to Hindu mythology, respected Kata performed several formalities to welcome the Goddess in the form of a daughter. Impressed with the devotion, the Goddess accepted his blessing.
The child who was born to Kata came to be known as Katyayani. The sixth day of Navratri is going to fall on 13th April 2016.

7th Day (Saptami) : Seventh day of Navratri is known as Saptami and Goddess Durga is an honour as Kalratri, which means a black and dark night. Kalratri is also known as Subhankari. The Goddess is to portray having the dark complexion with an aggressive posture. She symbolizes protection from all kinds of troubles and anxiety. The Goddess is serenade over a donkey. Orange is the colour to wear on the seventh day of Navratri. The Seventh day of Navratri is going to fall on 14th April 2016.

8th Day (Ashtami ) : Eighth day of Navratri is known as Ashtami and Goddess Durga is  venerate as Maha Gauri and the day is  symbolizes as the tranquillity, serenity and beauty. Goddess Durga in the form of Maha Gauri is being portrayed as exceptionally beautiful and white as snow who marks to wash away sins through her purity. Lord Shiva helped her to regain her beauty once he washed her with the sacred water of the Ganges. Her replenished form attained the name. Maha Gauri. White is the traditional colour of the eighth day of Navaratri. The eighth day of navratri is going to fall on 15th april 2016

9th Day (Navami ) : Ninth day of Navratri is known as Navami / Vijayadasmi. The Goddess Durga is worshipped as Siddhidatri. Siddhidatri embodies all the eight Siddhis. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva worshiped Siddhidatri and was bestowed with all the siddhis. Lord Shiva came to be known as Ardhanarishvara. Devotees wear pink color on the ninth and the last day of the festival. The last day of Navaratri is followed by Vijayadashami. The tenth day of the Navaratri ultimately symbolizes the good destroying the evil. It is popularly celebrated as Vijayadashami w-here idols of Ravana, the demon king is burnt in many parts of India, whereas, in some places processions take place that include elephants and pious people. After being familiar with each day of the Navaratri festival, one would be eager to know the historical significance behind its celebration. Let’s discuss the mythological evidences for celebrating the Navaratri festival.

Navarathri is celebrated in different forms in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh

• Gujarat
• Maharashtra
• West Bengal
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu
• Andhra Pradesh

For more on Navratri, read here and here