Navratri is a nine days festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. Navratri is a Sanskrit word which means nine nights. During these nine nights and ten days, Goddess Durga is worshipped in 9 different forms, known as Navdurga. The tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashami when idols of Goddess Durga are immersed into the water body.
Navratri is celebrated in most Indian states. However, Navratri is very popular festival in the western states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and the southern state of Karnataka. On the very first day of Navratri, Goddess Durga is invoked into a Kalash with full Vedic rituals along with chanting of Mantras. The invocation and dwelling of Goddess Durga into the Kalash is known as Ghatasthapana or Kalashsthapana and is done at an appropriate time of the day.
In West Bengal Navratri is celebrated as Durga Puja. In West Bengal, Goddess Durga is worshipped on the last three days of Navratri and these three days are famously known as Durga Saptami, Durga Ashtami and Durga Navami. It would be correct to say that Durga Puja in West Bengal is a smaller version of 9 days Navratri. Kalparambha and Bilva Nimantran during Durga Puja, which is done on the sixth day of Navratri, is symbolically the same as Ghatasthapana or Kalashsthapana in other states.
Jyoti Kalash, Kumari Puja, Sandhi Puja, Navami Homa, Lalitha Vrat and Chandi Path are other famous rituals and events which are observed during the 9 days of Navratri.
Day 1 – Shailaputri: The first aspect of DurgaShailaputri is born out of Shaila, which means that which is extraordinary, One who is born out of the peak of an experience is Shailaputri.
Day 2 – Brahmacharini: the second aspect
Brahma means infinity, and Brahmacharini is the one who moves in infinity.
Another meaning is the virgin aspect of Mother Divine- this energy is virgin, it’s like the sun rays, though it is old, yet it is fresh and new. The newness is depicted in the second form of Durga.
Day 3 – Chandraghanta: the third aspect
Chandraghanta means Chandra, the moon or related to the mind, that which charms the mind, that which is the embodiment of beauty. Wherever anything appears beautiful to you, it is because of the Mother Divine’s energy there.
Day 4 - Kushmanda: the fourth name
Kushmanda means a ball of energy, of prana. Whenever you experience immense energy or prana, know that this is one aspect of Durga, the Mother Divine.
Day 5 - Skandamata: the fifth aspect
Skandamata is the motherly energy, she is like your own mother. Skandamata – the mother of all the 6 systems, the 6 schools of knowledge – Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Vedanta and Uttara Mimamsa; 6 angas or limbs of the Vedas, called the Shadangas. These include: Jyotish or astrology, music and then many other disciplines – the meters, phonetics, 64 different disciplines of art and science, of knowledge. Skandamata is the mother of all this wisdom.
Day 6 - Katyayani: the sixth aspect
Katyayani is that which is born out of the seer or witness aspect of consciousness; that consciousness which has the intuitive ability.
Day 7 - Kaalratri: the seventh aspect
Kaalratri is the deep dark energy, the dark matter, that houses an infinite universe, that brings solace to every soul. If you feel happy and comfortable, it is the blessing of the ratri. Kaalratri is that aspect of Mother Divine which is beyond the universe, yet brings solace to every heart and soul.
Day 8 - MahaGauri: the eight aspect
MahaGauri is that which is so beautiful, that gives momentum and ultimate freedom in life. That brings you ultimate liberation.
Day 9 - Siddhidhaatri: the ninth aspect
Siddhidhaatri brings perfection in life and siddhis., Her blessings bring many miracles in life. What we think is impossible, she makes it possible.
And on the last day, the 10th day, Vijaydashami – you end the Navaratri with celebrations, emotionally charged, spiritually charged, and intellectually uplifted.
