Navratri is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of India, celebrated over 9 nights (and 10 days) every year in the autumn. Theoretically, there are four seasons of Navratri every year, but the most observed one is the Sharada Navratri, which is celebrated in the honour of Devi Durga. In each part of India, it has a different significance, but it sees a common theme in the way that it represents the victory of good over evil.
There are different reasons as to why it is celebrated, but according to the most common one, each of the nine days is dedicated to Durga’s nine avatars. Mahishasura, the king of demons waged a war against the Gods in Heaven, after he received a boon that no man could kill him.
Since he considered him to be extremely strong, he believed that no woman could defeat him anyway, and hence took this boon to be that of immortality.
He defeated the Gods led by Indra, who then approached the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh for help. The three of them pooled in their divine power to create Devi Durga, who would eventually defeat Mahishasura. She kept fighting with him and the demon kept changing his form to confuse the Goddess.
During these days, Durga took nine avatars, and hence, on each day of Navratri, a different avatar of Goddess Durga is worshipped.
They are Goddess Shailputri (Day 1), Goddess Brahmacharini (Day 2), Goddess Chandraghanta (Day 3), Goddess Kushmanda (Day 4), Goddess Skandamata (Day 5), Goddess Katyayani (Day 6), Goddess Kaalratri (Day 7), Goddess Mahagauri (Day 8) and Goddess Siddhidatri (Day 9).
Finally, on the last day, Mahishasura turned into a buffalo and this is when he was slain by the Goddess with her Trishul. The tenth day became Vijaya Dashami or the celebrations of the victory of good over evil. In eastern parts of India, Navratri is hence known as Durga Puja.
Image credits: Hindu Devotional Blog
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