Content

• Introduction
• Name of the festival
• The concept of Navaratri
• Importance of Sharad Navaratri
• Why it is celebrated
• When it is celebrated
• Rituals of Navaratri
• Which part of India it is celebrated the most
• Ecological significance

Introduction

Navaratri is nine days festival which is followed by Dasara or Vijayadashami on the next day. It is celebrated in the month of Ashwin. During these ten days, Shakti is worshipped in various forms all over India.  Mainly the festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her various manifestations.

Name of the festival

Title of the festival is in Sanskrit. It has two words, Nava and ratri which means nine and nights. The word Navaratri is very common in all Indian languages, but the original Sanskrit word is Navaratram which is compound word. The compound type is Dvigu and it gives the meaning as ‘the group of nine nights’.

The concept of Navaratri

Navaratri festival is celebrated fives time in a year according to the Hindu calendar.

1.   Vasanta Navaratri: Vasanta Navaratri, dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) is celebrated in the spring season (March–April). Hence, it is known as Vasanta Navaratri. Alternatively it is known as Basanta Navaratri. It comes in the month of Chaitra, the first month of Hindu calendar, hence this Navaratri is also known as Chaitra Navaratri. It is also known as Chandika Navaratri due to the importance of her worship during this period. The ninth day of the festival is celebrated as Ramanavami, the birthday of Rama. Hence, the festival is known as Rama Navratri.

2.   Gupta Navaratri: Gupta Navaratri is also dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Ashadhathat is the months of June or July according to Gregorian calendar. Hence, this Navaratri is known as Ashadha Navaratri. This festival is also famous as Gayatri or Shakambhari Navaratri. Gayatri and Shakambari, Goddess of vegetables are the majors female divinities worshipped during the festival.

3.   Sharada Navaratri: This is the most important among all Navaratris. Hence it is simply called as Maha Navaratri (the Great Navratri). It is celebrated in the month of Ashvina. Sharad Navaratri, is celebrated during Sharada season (beginning of winter, September–October) which gives a suitable reason for its title.

4.   Paush Navaratri: Paush Navaratri is celebrated in the month of Paush (December–January according to Gregorian calendar).

5.   Magha Navaratri: Magha Navaratri in celebrated the month of Magha (January–February).

Importance of Sharad Navaratri

Among all the Navaratris, Sharada Navaratri is very significant and popular. It is celebrated with great zeal and zest all over India. It is popularly known as the Navaratri festival.  This popularity and importance of Sharad Navaratri is mentioned in the Dharmasindhu as,

navara~Sabd: AaiSvanaSau@lap`itpdmaarBya mahanavamaIpya-ntM        

iËyamaaNakma-naamaQaoyama\ È (Dharmasindhu 129. 2)

Navaratrashabdah Ashvinashuklapratipadamarabhya mahanavamiparyantam kriyamanakarmanamadheyam

(Navaratri word denotes the spiritual acts performed in the period from first day to ninth day of the first half of Ashwin month.)

Hence only Sharad Navaratri is commonly known as Navaratri. Festival of Navaratri is celebrated for nine nights and ten days. The last tenth day is known as Vijayadashami, the tenth day of the victory. Goddess Durga and her form are worshipped during this Navaratri hence it is also known as Durga Navaratri.

Why it is celebrated

The famous story of Sati is commonly given as the reason for the celebration of the Navaratri.

Sati was the daughter of Daksha. Lord Shiva was pleased with Sati’s worship and married her. Daksha was against their marriage but could not stop it. Then after some time Daksha arranged a sacrifice to which everyone except Lord Shiva was invited. Sati visited the sacrifice place, got insulted due to the behaviour of her mother and father. Hence she sacrificed herself in the fire. Lord Shiva was sorrowful when he discovered this. He lifted Sati’s body on his shoulder and started dancing madly.

Then Lord Narayana cut Sati’s body into pieces with his Chakra. The pieces fell from the shoulder of the dancing Shiva and scattered throughout the Indian subcontinent. Shiva was pacified when the last piece fell from his shoulder. Since those places are known as ‘Shakti Piths’ or energy pits.

In the next birth, Shakti born as Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya became the wife of Shiva.  Parvati took the form of Durga for killing demons in this birth. Hence her worship started in the form of Durga Navatratri.  

When it is celebrated

The festival of Navaratri is celebrated for the nine days in the Sharad (winter) season.

AaiSvanaSau@lap`itpid dovaInavara~armBa: È (Dharmasindhu 129. 2)

Ashwinashuklapratipadi devinavaratrarambhah

(Navaratri begins on the first day of the first half of the Ashwin month.)

The Navarathri festival has to be celebrated in the first or bright half of the month of Asvina (September – October).  It starts on the pratipada, first day of the month and continues till the ninth day navami. Then on the tenth day, on the day of Vijayadashmi or Dasara it ends.

Rituals of Navaratri

Though Navaratri is a nine day festivals, Nibandha literature suggests that one should practice it according to one's own family tradition which is known as Kulachara. These Kulachara can be for last seven, five, three, two or one day by worshipping family goddess. Normally following verse is recited during the worship of family goddess,

mama sahkuTuMbasyaamaukdovatap`IitWara savaa-pcCaMitpUva-k dIGaa-yauQa-napu~aidvaRiwSa~ujayakIit-laaBap`mauK … È

Mama sahakutumbasyamukadevatapritidwara sarvapchchantipurvaka dirghayurdhanaputradivruddhishatrujayakirtilabhapramukha…

People observe fast and worship goddess Durga. They also avoid meat and alcoholic drinks during Navaratri.

Mainly people worship various forms of Shakti. There are also various forms of her worship such as Ghatasthapana, Durgapuja, Saraswatipuja. Mainly first three days are celebrated for Goddess Durga, next three for Lakshmi and last three for Saraswati. Worshipping these three Goddesses symbolizes the worship of strength, wealth and wisdom accordingly.

Ghatasthapana –

Ghatasthapana is normally practiced on the first day of Navaratri and continues till the ninth day. Shakti is worshipped in the form of Ghat (pot). Normally flower decorations are changed daily which is known as Mala (flower garland) worship. People light lamp in front of goddess for day and night. It is known as Akhanda Dipa. During the worship mainly women or girls are honored with worship and gifts.

his description of rituals to be practiced during Ghatasthapana is given in Dharmasindhu as,

A~ navara~o GaTsqaapnaM p`atma-Qyaa*nao p`daoYakalao caoit i~kalaM iWkalaM vaa svasvakuladovatapUjanaM saPtSa%yaaidjapao|KND dIp: Aacaarp`aPtmaalaabanQanaM ]pvaasana@tOk Ba@taid inayama … È (Dharmasindhu 132.1)

Atra navaratre ghatasthapanam pratarmadhyahne pradoshakale cheti trikalam dwikalam va swaswakuladevatapujanam saptashatyadijapokhanda dipah acharapraptamalabandhanam upawasanaktaika bhaktadi niyama…

(During Navaratri Kalasha, auspicious pot should be installed, then in the morning, afternoon or evening or in all the three times people should worship their family goddess, lamp should be lighted continuously, and people should follow custom of reciting Durgapatha, tying flower garlands, fasting, etc.)

        Some people keep that Ghata on the heap of soil and sow nine or five types of grains in that. Then on the last they immerse those sprouted grains along with the goddess. This type of worship correlates with the mother earth worship.

Durga Puja –

       Mainly Durga worship starts on the fifth day of the navaratri. Idol of goddess Durga with ten hands, sitting on lion in the form of Mahishasurmardini is installed for the worship. Then there are also idols of Ganesh, Kartikeya, Lakshmi and Saraswati in worship.

        On the first day goddess is welcomed by using the branch of Bilva tree as it is her favorite tree. This ritual is known as Bodhana. On the second day ritual of Adhivasa is performed in which priest touches the goddess with auspicious objects and invokes the goddess for purity.

        On the seventh day Kalabahu or Kadali vadhu is installed near Ganesh as his wife. This Kalabahu made by decorating a bunch of nine herbs. Next two days Mahasnana, great bath of goddess takes place. During the ritual, a mirror is kept in front of the goddess and all the rituals are performed to the reflection of the goddess. Then Bali (victim) is offered to goddess Durga. Offering sacrifice to Goddess Durga is very significant in Durgapuja which is mentioned in Vratakoumudi as,

na tqaa bailadanaona puYpQaUpivalaopnaO: È                                                 

yaqaa santuYyato maoYaOma-ihYaO-ivanQyavaaisanaI ÈÈ                                                              

Na tatha balidanena pushpadhupavilepanaih                                         

yatha santushyate meshairmahishairvindhyavasini

(Goddess Vindhyavasini obtains pleasure by the sacrifice of ram and buffalo than the offering of Rice, flowers, Dhupa, lamp, vilepana.)

        Kalika Purana gives the list of animals to scarified as victim in front of Goddess as,

pixaNa: kcCpa: ga`a*yaa ma%syaa navaivaQaa maRgaa: È                                     

maihYaao gavayaao gaavaSCagaao baBa`USca SaUkr: È                                         

K=\gaSca kRYNasaarSca gaaoiQaka SarBaao hir: È                                      

 Saadu-laSca narScaOva svagaa~ÉiQarM tqaa È                                  

caiNDkaBaOrvaadInaaM balaya: pirkIit-ta È

Pakshinah kachchapah grahya matsya navavidha mrugah                                              

mahisho gavayo gavashchchago babhrushcha shukarah                                                                     

khangashcha krushnasarashcha godhika sharabho harih                                                     

shardulashcha narashchaiva svagatrarudhiram tatha                                                   

chandikabhairavadinam balayah parikirtita

Saraswatipujana –

        Saraswati the goddess of learning is also worshipped during this period. People install an idol of Saraswati and worship her along with the instruments of learning such as book, notebook and pen.

Which part of India it is celebrated the most

Navratri is a very important and major festival allover India. It is celebrated in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka by performing Garaba dance. This festival is also celebrated with great zeal in Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, and Madhya Pradesh.

North India – In North India, all three Navaratris are celebrated with much fervor by fasting on all nine days and worshiping the Mother Goddess in her different forms. Goddess Durga is worshipped during the Sharad Navaratri.

Dramatic performance of Ramalila is special program of the Navaratri in the North and central India. Every day of the Navaratri story of Rama is performed in part by part and Ravanadahana is celebrated on the last day of Dasara. 

Gujarat & Rajasthan – In Gujarat and Rajasthan Goddess is worshipped in the form of clay pot and lamp. Garaba and Dandiya ras, folk dance is performed in front of the goddess for all nine days. This unique and mind blowing dance form is famous all over the world. 

Maharashtra – Ghatasthapana is prominently celebrated in Maharashtra. Then as in Gujarat, the folk dance of Garaba is also celebrated in Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, Hadaga or Bhondala is specially performed during Navaratri.  It is mainly celebrated by women or young girls by dancing around the picture of an elephant.

Goa - The Saraswat Brahmins in Goa worship their family goddess during the festival. These are the famous ten goddesses, Shantadurga, Aryadurga, Mahalasa, Katyayani, Mahamaya, Kamakshi, Vijayadurga, Bhumika, Mahalakshmi and Navadurga.

South India – In Kerala, Ashtami, Navami, and Vijaya Dashami, that is eighth, ninth and tenth day of Sharad Navarathri are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja in which books are worshiped. The books are placed for Puja on the Ashtami day in homes, traditional schools, temples, etc. & Tamil Nadu. Worshipping of goddess Chamundeshwari, a form of Durga starts from Navaratri onwards. This celebration is famous for Golu that is display of dolls in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Bengal & Orissa – The last four days of Sharad Navaratri is celebrated as Durga puja in East India, Bengal, Orissa and Assam. Elegantly crafted and decorated life-size clay idols of Durga in the form of Mahishasurmardini are installed privately and publically. These idols are worshiped for five days and immersed in the river on the fifth day of Dasara. In Bihar, Bengal, Assam and Orissa, the goddess Kali, an appellation of Durga, is also worshipped as a symbol of Shakti (Power).

Ecological significance

Vasant and Sharad Navaratri are marked as the beginning of spring and autumn seasons. These are considered to be important conjunction of climatic and solar influence. Hence these two periods are celebrated as sacred days for the worship of Shakti.

The celebration of Sharada Navaratri represents the harvest festival because during this period only second season of harvest starts. Hence grains are sprouted during the festival as part of ritual which symbolizes harvesting. Hence eating grains is prohibited at some places as part of ritual.