Sharad Navartri Festival

Sree Durgadevyey Namaha

Navaratri, the festival of nine nights and is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. The word Navaratri litterally means nine nights, nava means nine and ratri means nights. The nine days have great religious signficance as Goddess Durga, the divine mother had destroyed the evil force during this period. The nine days Navaratri festival is held twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra (Mar-Apl) as Vasanta Navaratri and then in Aswayuja (Sept- oct) as Durga Navaratri.According to Hindu calender, Navaratri is observed on the first day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Aswayuja. In 2011 the dates of Navaratri starts in this september 28th and the date of Mahanavami is October 5th. The nine days long Navaratri festival will be celebrated from Sept 28th to Oct 5th in this year. This Maha Navaratri celebrates Durga's destruction of the Mahishasura buffalo demon. Durga devi is also known as Mahishasuramardini after this event- destroyer of the Mahishasura (Demon). 

Navaratri is divided into sets of three days, each devoted to a different aspect of the supreme Goddesses.i.e. Maha Durga (Kali), Maha Lakshmi, Maha Saraswati. The first three days are dedicated to Goddess Durga, the Goddess of courage. Nex three days to Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, and the final three days are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of wisdom and knowledge.

These nine days also have a special significance for unmarried girls. These girls are treated as nine forms of the Goddess.In kanya puja nine young girls are invited in houses and are freasted with more verities of sweets and food items. Devotees also present certain gifts like colthes, fruits etc.Some people go to the temple for these nine days to perform puja, and also perform Durga Saptashati. Other than these three mother Goddess, devotees also worship Gayatri , Lalitha , Annapurna and RajaRajeswari Devi during Duga Navaratri.

Three important aspects of life, the power of courage, the power of wealth and the power of knowledge are provided during Durga Navaratri to all the devotees who worship Goddess Shakti. Navaratri ends with Vijayadashami on the tenth day and also called Dussehra. Dussehra day is considered an auspicious day.It is a time-honoured belief that if any new venture is started on this day, it is bound to be successful. 

Yadevi Sarva Bhuteshu, Shanti Rupena Sansitha

Yadevi Sarva Bhuteshu, Shakti Rupena Sansitha

Yadevi Sarva Bhuteshu, Mantra Rupena Sansitha

        Namastasyai, Namastasyai, Namastasyai, Namo Namaha