Navratri is a very important
Hindu festival celebrated in
India, which is devoted to
Goddess Durga. The festival is
celebrated with great reverence
and faith across the country.
Navratri stretches over a period
of nine days, with each of the
nine days being dedicated to
one of the nine forms of the
Goddess/
As Durga, she is the goddess
beyond reach; as Bhadrakali she
is the power of time; as Amba
or Jagdamba, she is mother of
the world; as Annapurna, she is
giver of food and plenty; as
Sarvamangala, she is the
auspicious goddess; as Bhairavi
she represents the fearful power
of death; as Chandika or
Chandi she is violent, wrathful,
furious; as Lalita she is playful;
and as Bhavani, giver of
existence.
One legend of
Navratri relates to the Hindu
epic Ramayana. It goes that
Lord Rama worshipped
Goddess Durga in nine aspects,
for nine days, in order to gather
the strength and power to kill
Ravana. He wanted to release
Sita from the clutches of
powerful demon king Ravana,
who had abducted her. Those
nine nights became to be known
as Navratri and the tenth day,
on which Lord Rama killed
Ravana, came to be called
Vijaya Dashmi or Dusshera,
signifying Rama's (good)
triumph over Ravana (evil).
On Vijaya Dashami day, the
books are ceremoniously taken
out for reading and writing after
worshiping Sarasvati. Vijaya
Dashami day is considered
auspicious for initiating the
children into writing and
reading, which is called
Vidyarambham.
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