Navratri literally means 'nine nights' is the festival that is celebrated every year during the beginning of October. However the days vary according to the Hindu Lunar Calendar.
The first Navratas are celebrated in the bright two-week period of Shukla Paksha of the lunar month of Ashwani, corresponding to September/October from the 1st to the 9th date of the two-week period.
Second Navratras are celebrated during the first nine days of the bright two-week period of Shukla Paksha of the lunar month of Chaitra, corresponding to mid-March to mid-April. The timing of these Navratras coincides with the harvesting season and this adds to the merriment of the festival of Navratri.
The festival is celebrated over a period of nine days and the tenth day is marked as the day of Vijayadashmi. A different form of Goddess Durga is worshipped on each of the days of Navratri festival.
Navratri Calendar
Year |
Dates |
| 2017 | 21st September- 29th September |
| 2018 | 9th October- 17th October |
| 2019 | 29th September- 7th October |
| 2020 | 17th October- 25th October |
Nine Days of Navratri
1st Day: On the first day of Navratri, goddess Durga is worshipped as Shailputri and a consort of Lord Shiva. She is an impersonation of Shakti.
2nd Day: The second day, Goddess is worshipped as Brahmacharini which again is Shakti form of the goddess.
3rd Day: The third day, goddess Durga is worshipped as an impersonation of valour and beauty in her Chandraghanta form.
4th Day: The fourth is dedicated to the Kushmanda goddess, another form of goddess Durga and it is said that Kushmanda created the entire universe with just a laugh of hers.
5th Day: The fifth day is when the goddess is worshipped as a mother to Skanda (Chief Warrior of God’s Army) and is called Skanda Mata.
6th Day: Worshipped as Katyani, This form of the goddess is has three eyes and four hands and she remains seated on a lion.
7th Day: The seventh day is when goddess is worshipped as fearless Kalratri. It is the daunting and courageous avatar (impersonation) of the goddess.
8th Day: The 8th day is when the Goddess is worshipped as Maha Gauri. She stands calm and beautiful reflecting femininity and grace.
9th Day: On the final day of Navratri, The goddess is worshipped as Siddhidatri and this impersonation of the goddess is worshipped by all the Siddhas, Sadhus and Rishi Munis.
It is also believed that goddess is an impersonation of Durga in the first three days teaching the lessons of courage and bravery to the devout. The next three days she stands as an impersonation of Lakshmi teaching the followers Spiritual wisdom and the last three days are dedicated to the Saraswati goddess who is believed to bless the masses with intellect. Thus, the festival celebrates all the shades of women and worships and salutes her for her capacity to assume different roles as and when the need arises.
Last Updated on : October 12, 2018
