‘Navratri’ means ‘nine nights.’ ‘Nava’ means ‘nine,’ and ‘Ratri’ means ‘night.’
Night provides rest and rejuvenation. During the night, you turn inwards through sleep, and you wake up feeling refreshed and rested in the morning. In the same way, Navratri or the ‘nine nights’ is that time of the year when you get the chance to experience deep rest. This deep rest brings freedom from all kinds of botherations, deep relaxation, and creativity.
Fasting, meditation, prayers, and other spiritual practices performed during this period help bring about this deep rest. Even refraining from over-indulging in sense objects during this time aid the process of attaining deep rest. Navratri, symbolises victory of positivity over negativity.
During Navratri, Devi is worshipped in her Nine main forms known as Nava Durga. The significance of each day of Navratri is attached to a form of the Mother Divine.
On the first day, Devi Shailaputri is worshipped. In this form, Devi Parvati is revered as the daughter of Himalaya Raja. Shaila means extraordinary or rising to great heights. The divine consciousness represented by Devi always surges from the peak. On this first day of Navratri, we propitiate Devi Shailaputri so that we may also attain the highest state of consciousness.
What to offer: Devotees offer pure ghee on the foot of Goddess Shailputri. By offering pure ghee the devotees are blessed with a life free of diseases and illness.
· Planet: Moon
· Favorite Flower: Hibiscus
· Favorite Color: Orange
On the second day, Devi Brahmacharini is worshipped. She is the unmarried form of Goddess Parvati born at the home of Daksha Prajapati and embodiment of toughest penance and hard austerity for uniting with Lord Shiva. She blesses us with great emotional strength, perseverance, tremendous will power and confidence in the most trying times of our lives. She resides at our Swadisthan chakra, and when she is worshipped with sheer reverence, she helps you to get rid of negativity and blesses you with prosperity, happiness, peace, wisdom, and success.
What to offer: Goddess Brahmacharini is offered sugar for the longevity of the family members.
· Planet: Mars
· Favorite Flower: Chrysanthemum flower
· Favorite Color: White
On the third day, Devi Chandraghanta is worshipped. Her name has come from her appearance i.e. a crescent moon on her head shown like a bell sound of which destroys demons. She is the fiercest form of Devi and called the warrior Goddess. The devotees who adore and worship Chandraghanta develop an aura of divine splendor. Their persons emit invisible power-waves which exercise a great impact on those who come in contact with them. They easily achieve success in life. Her third eye is always opened, giving her the poise to slay demons to keep her devotees protected from their oppression.
What to offer: The ferocious goddess is pleased with Kheer
· Planet: Venus
· Favorite Flower: Lotus
· Favorite Color: Red
Chaturthi or the fourth day of Navratri is of Devi Kushmanda. The name Kushmanda is derived from three words — ‘Ku’ (little), ‘Ushma’ (warmth or energy) and ‘Amnda’ (egg), which means the creator of the universe. She has the power to live inside the sun, to empower the sun to radiate energy and effulgence to the universe. By worshipping Maa Chrandraghanta, you will open the doors to great respect, fame, and glory. Maa also helps you attain spiritual enlightenment. Her idol, which symbolizes both beauty and bravery, gives you the strength to keep the negative energy away and repels all the troubles from your life. She is centred in the “Anahata Chakra”, and blesses her devotees with bliss as they worship her with a pure and devout mind.
· Planet: Sun
· Favorite Flower: Jasmine
· Favorite Color: Royal Blue
On the 5th day of Navratri, Durga Mata is worshipped as SkandaMata ; mother of Skanda or “Kartikeya”. She rides a Lion and blesses her devotees with the “Abhaya Mudra” gesture which signifies fearlessness, peace, and safety. She is also known as Goddess Padmasana as she sits on a lotus flower. Her blessings enhance your intelligence.
What to offer: Bananas is the favourite fruit of Goddess SkandaMata.
· Planet: Mercury
· Favorite Flower: Yellow Rose
· Favorite Color: Yellow
The sixth day of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani, daughter of Sage Katyayan. Also known as the warrior goddess, Katyayani is considered as one of the most violent forms of Goddess Parvati. Devi Katyayani was born with the sole purpose of vanquishing the demon Mahishasura. Being the fiercest form of Goddess Durga, she is referred to as Bhadrakali, Shakti, and Chandika too. Young marriageable girls in Gokula prayed to this Goddess and observed fast during the holy month of Margashirsha to be blessed with loving and worthy husbands.
What to offer: Devotees offer Honey as prasad to Devi Katyayani.
· Planet: Jupiter
· Favorite Flower: Marigold
· Favorite Color: Green
On the 7th day of Navratri, Goddess Kalratri is worshipped. She signifies perfection and helps her devotees to attain perfection, happiness, and purity of heart. She is believed to be the destroyer of time and death too. Thus her name is “Kaal Ratri”. She is the power of the darkest of nights. Devi Kalratri removed her outer golden skin, taking up a dark complexion to slay the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. Having the “Shubh” or auspicious power within her fierce form, she is also called Goddess Shubhankari. She is associated with Sahasrara Chakra (Crown Chakra), thereby bestowing knowledge, power and wealth on her sincere devotees.
What to offer: Offer Jaggery as prasad to Devi Kaalratri for relief from pains, obstacles and bring happiness.
- Planet: Saturn
- Favorite Flower: Krishna kamal
- Favorite Color: Grey
Durga Asthami or the eight-day of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri. Goddess Mahagauri is compared to the conch, moon and white flower of Kunda due to her fair complexion. She is also called Swethambardhara as she is always clad in white clothes. Goddess Mahagauri blesses her devotees with the qualities of peace and endurance. It is believed donating coconuts to Brahmins on this day, can fulfill the desire of a childless couple with a child.
What to offer: Goddess Mahagauri is offered coconut by devotees.
· Planet: Rahu
· Favorite Flower: Night-blooming jasmine, mogra
· Mahagauri Color: Purple
Goddess Siddhidatri is worshipped on the 9th day of Navratri. Dhatri means “giver” and Siddhi means “meditative ability”. Thus she is the Goddess of accomplishment, who bestows perfection (siddhis) on her devotees. She possesses eight supernatural powers, or the siddhis, called Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakambya, Ishitva and Vashitva. Also Kanya Pooja is performed on this day by serving 9 young girls.
What to offer: Sesame Seeds are offered to Devi Siddhidatri for safety and security from unnatural events.
· Planet: Ketu
· Favorite Flower: Champa
· Siddhidatri Color: Peacock Green
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