Google trend - Navratri

Navratri - 10 things to know with detail

• Navratri is a Hindu festival celebrated over a period of nine nights and ten days. It is dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga and her nine forms. Here are 10 things to know about Navratri:
• Meaning of Navratri: Navratri is derived from the Sanskrit words "nav" meaning nine and "ratri" meaning night. The festival is celebrated for nine nights to honor the nine forms of goddess Durga.
• Dates of Navratri: Navratri is celebrated twice a year - once in the spring (Chaitra Navratri) and once in the fall (Sharad Navratri). The Sharad Navratri usually falls in the month of September or October.
• Rituals and Traditions: During Navratri, devotees fast, pray, and perform rituals to honor goddess Durga. They also participate in dance forms like Garba and Dandiya to celebrate the festival.
• Nine Forms of Durga: Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one of the nine forms of goddess Durga - Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.
• Fasting: Many devotees observe fasts during Navratri, abstaining from certain foods like grains, onion, garlic, and non-vegetarian items. Fasting is believed to purify the body and soul.
• Garba and Dandiya: Garba and Dandiya are traditional dance forms performed during Navratri. People dress in colorful traditional attire and dance in circles to the beats of music played during the festival.
• Kanya Pujan: On the eighth or ninth day of Navratri, young girls are worshipped as manifestations of the goddess Durga in a ritual called Kanya Pujan. This symbolizes the purity and divinity of women.
• Durga Puja: The festival culminates on the tenth day with Durga Puja, where devotees offer prayers and seek blessings from goddess Durga for prosperity, health, and happiness.
• Navratri Food: Special dishes are prepared during Navratri using ingredients like buckwheat flour, water chestnut flour, and fruits. These dishes are consumed by fasting devotees.
• Significance: Navratri is considered a time of spiritual renewal and purification. It is believed that by worshipping goddess Durga during Navratri, devotees can overcome obstacles, attain peace, and seek divine blessings.
• Overall, Navratri is a joyous and festive celebration that brings people together to worship the divine feminine energy and seek blessings for a prosperous and fulfilling life.