Hindu festivals - Navratri

Navaratri, also spelled Navratri or Navarathri, is a nine nights Hindu festival, celebrated in the Tamil month of Purattasi every year. It is celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent. There are two seasonal Navaratri in a year

Why do we celebrate Navratri?

Festival of Navratri is full of lights, joy and festivity. Hindus celebrate this with devotion and enthusiasm throughout India. The celebration is carried on for around 9 days. It means nine nights and so the tenth day Goddess Durga, who is worshipped throughout the nine days, is immersed in holy water after pooja.

What do the nine days of Navratri mean?

Navratri - a nine day festival dedicated to Mother Goddess Durga. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti / Deviare worshiped.

What does Navratri signify?

During the nine-night long festival of Navratri the supreme female cosmic power or Goddess Shakti is worshipped in her variously manifested forms as Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati. All three Goddess are the incarnations of Goddess Shakti (the Mother Goddess). The festival signifies power, wealth, prosperity and knowledge.

Which goddess is worshipped on first day of Navratri?

First Day of Navratri, Worshipping Goddess Shailputri. During Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshipped in nine forms. The first form of Goddess Durga – Maa Shailputri is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. Goddess Parvati took rebirth as the daughter of Lord Himalayas and was known as Shailputri.

Why Navratri is celebrated for 9 days?

Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. ... The Chaitra Navaratri culminates in Rama Navami on the ninth day, and the Sharada Navaratri culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra. The Rama Navami remembers the birth of Rama, preceded by nine days of Ramayana recital particularly among the Vaishnava temples.

Why Navratri is celebrated twice in a year?

Also known as Ram Navratri, this festival is celebrated twice a year and falls on the ninth day of the month of Chaitra. ... Vasant Navratri is thus celebrated to worship the goddess of Shakti Parvati and to mark the seasonal changes. People celebrate this festival with great excitement.

Why Garba is celebrated?

From garba dance to Durga Puja rituals, Navratri is celebrated in different ways across India. t is celebrated to honour Goddess Durga who symbolizes power and purity. Navratri is famous for the ritual of fasting or avoiding food grains like rice, wheat and pulses for nine consecutive days

What is Durga Puja? 

Durga Puja 2018: Festival Dates and celebrations in Kolkata. ... According to the Hindu Mythology, Goddess Durga emerged from the collective energy of all Gods as an embodiment of Shakti or divine feminine power, to destroy demon Mahishasura; who was blessed to not be defeated by any man or god.

What does the goddess Durga stand for?

In Hinduism, the goddess Durga, also known as Shakti or Devi, is the protective mother of the universe, sitting astride a lion or tiger, the multi-limbed Durga battles the forces of evil in the world.

Who is the mother of Maa Durga?

Maa Durga is the form of Mother Goddess in Hinduism. The Devi Puranas state that Durga is the warrior manifestation of Goddess Adishakti. Durga means the Invincible One. Therefore, Goddess Adishakti is the Divine Mother of the Universe who had taken birth on Earth as Parvati to win and woo Shiva.

Who gave weapons to Durga?

Once Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati combined to incarnate as Durga, the ten-armed super-goddess received gifts and boons from the other gods. Shiva gave her his trident, Vishnu gave her his Sudarshan Chakra, and Brahma gave her his kamandalam of holy water and wisdom,

Why does Durga have a lion?

We must forgive ourselves and others for mistakes and/or any hurt we may have caused. Durga Maa is depicted as riding on a lion or a tiger. A tiger symbolizes unlimited power. Thus, Goddess Durga symbolizes the Divine forces (positive energy) that is used against the negative forces of evil and wickedness.

What is the meaning of the Sankranti?

Makar Sankranti: Marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path, and the six-month Uttarayana period. Makar Sankranti is also called as Uttarayana - the day on which the sun begins his northward journey.

How do we celebrate Sankranti?

In Bihar and Jharkhand, the festival is celebrated on 14–15 January. On 14 January, it is celebrated as Makar Sankranti or Sakraat or Khichdi (in local dialects). As in other parts of country, people take baths in rivers and ponds and feast upon seasonal delicacies as a celebration of good harvest.

What does the festival of Makar Sankranti represent?

Makar Sankranti. Makar Sankranti is one of the most important festivals of the Hindu calendar and celebrates the sun's journey into the northern hemisphere, a period which is considered to be highly auspicious. There is a wide variation in the celebration of Makar Sankranti though out India, in particular the name.

Why do we celebrate Makar Sankranti on January 14 every year?

The festival Makara Sankranthi is a solar event making it one of the few Hindu festivals which fall on the same date in local calendars every year: 14 January, with some exceptions when the festival is celebrated on 15 January. Makar Sankrantiis believed to be a time for peace and prosperity.

What is Maha Shivratri?

Maha Shivaratri a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the god Shiva. There is a Shivaratri in every luni-solar month of the Hindu calendar, on the month's 13th night/14th day, but once a year in late winter and before the arrival of summer, marks Maha Shivaratri which means "the Great Night of Shiva"

What is the significance of Maha Shivaratri?

Maha Shivaratri is an annual festival dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, and is particularly important in the Shaivism tradition of Hinduism. Unlike most Hindu festivals which are celebrated during the day, the Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at night.

Why do we celebrate mahashivratri?

The festival is celebrated on the new moon day in the month of Maagha according to the Hindu calendar. The day is celebrated to venerate Lord Shiva, an important deity in Hindu culture. ... From that day onwards, the night came to be known as Maha Shivratri and people began worshipping Shiva with a great enthusiasm.

What is the Maha Shivaratri festival?

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated over three or ten days based on the Hindu luni-solar calendar. Every lunar month, there is a Shivaratri (12 per year). The main festival is called Maha Shivaratri, or great Shivaratri, and this is on 13th night (waning moon) and 14th day of the month Phalguna (Magha).

What is the story behind Shivaratri?

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva.It is also known as padmarajarathri. ... Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva. It is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day of the Maagha or Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar.