Exploring Navratri 2024: The Meaning Behind the Nine Days of Celebration

Navratri, the word which on hearing the beautiful ornaments, the nine forms of Mataji and everyone’s favorite garba starts echoing in everyone’s mind. This festival that comes every year is the identity of Gujaratis all over the world. As it is said that “wherever there is a Gujarati, there is a Gujarati forever” so it can also be said that “wherever there is a Gujarati, there is a Garba”. So not only Gujarat but the entire country and half the world is aware of garba and its color and is also dyed in its color.

But where did this word Navratri come from? Where did the Navratri festival begin? What reason and what kind of faith is behind the nine nights of Navratri? Apart from Garba, what is there in Navratri which is a part of Navratri festival itself, let’s know about it.

History of Navratri:

The history of Navratri is well known for the victory of truth over falsehood, the story behind which is that there was a demon named Mahishasura who had a face like a buffalo and was very cruel in nature. This Mahishasura did a lot of penance for many years and Lord Shiva was pleased with his penance. And gave Mahishasura the boon of immortality but along with it Lord Shiva told him that “You will not die from any man but if there is a powerful woman you will die. Hearing this Mahishasura was happy and began to think himself very powerful. In time he overcame common people and The vulnerable people started to be tortured and harassed and harassed.

Mahishasura’s torment brought Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh i.e. Lord Shankar together and they decided to create a power that would kill Mahishasura and free the innocent people from his torment. So they created Maa Durga and gave her all kinds of projectile weapons. Ma Durga then challenged Mahishasura to a battle which Mahishasura accepted and Durga fought Mahishasura and during this battle which lasted for 9 days Mahishasura and Avanva took the forms, however Ma Durga defeated him and killed him on the ninth day. So Navratri is celebrated as the victory of truth over falsehood and the victory of divine power over evil power.

According to another story, when Lord Shriram’s war with Ravana was about to begin, Lord Shriram started worshipping different forms of Durga and on the ninth day he worshipped different nine forms of Mataji and killed Ravana on the tenth day i.e. Dussehra day. Hence Navratri is celebrated as the victory of truth over demonic power. Due to such a glorious history, Navratri holds great spiritual and Vedic significance. In which nine different forms of Mataji are worshipped for nine days.

When Navratri will be celebrated:

Every year Navratri falls on a different date and tithi, according to the Hindu calendar this year Navratri celebrations will start from October 3 and end on October 12 and October 13 will be celebrated as Dussehra.

On the nine days of Navratri, nine different forms of Mataji are worshipped:

Worship of Shailputri on the first day – Shailputri is worshipped on the first day of Navratri (October 03, 2024, Thursday), Shailputri is a form of Parvati also known as Parvatputri.

માં શૈલપુત્રી નો મંત્ર

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं शैलपुत्र्यै नम:

Worship of Brahmacharini on the second day – In Brahmacharini there is only one form of Durga who comes in the form of penance and worship in man. Brahmacharini is worshiped on the next day (October 4, 2024, Friday).

માં બ્રહ્મચારિણી નો મંત્ર:,

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नम:

On the third day Ma Chandraghata Puja – Ma Chandraghata is also a form of Durga with a crescent moon on her head. Chandraghata is worshiped on the third day (October 05, 2024, Saturday).

માં કુષ્માંડા નો મંત્ર:,

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चन्द्रघंटायै नम:

Worship of Skandamata on the fifth day – Skandamata is the mother of Kartikeya, on whose lap Lord Kartikeya reclines and is worshiped as the goddess of knowledge and prosperity. Skandamata is worshiped on the fifth day of Navratri (October 07, 2024, Tuesday).

માં સ્કંદમાતા નો મંત્ર:,

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं स्कंदमा‍तायै नम:

Worship of Ma Katyayani on the sixth day – The sixth form of Ma Durga i.e. Ma Katyayani who has a sword in one hand and a lotus in the other, is worshiped on the sixth day of Navratri (October 08, 2024, Wednesday).

માં કાત્યાયની માતા નો મંત્ર:,

ॐ क्रीं कात्यायनी क्रीं नम:

Worship of Kalratri on the seventh day – Kalratri is the most Rudra form of Durga, which is the time for the demonic power and is worshiped on the seventh day of Navratri (October 09, 2024, Friday) for the victory of truth over falsehood.

માં કાલરાત્રિ નો મંત્ર:,

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कालरात्र्यै नम:

Worship of Mahagauri on the eighth day – Mahagauri Mata also has a form of Durga, holding Damru in one hand and Trishul in the other. In Mahagauri is worshiped as the goddess of mercy and compassion, who is worshiped on the eighth day of Navratri (October 10, 2024, Saturday).

માં મહાગૌરી નો મંત્ર:,

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं महागौर्ये नम:

Worship of Siddhidatri on Ninth Day – Siddhidatri is named Siddhidatri as she fulfills the desires and wishes of her worshipper, is the ninth form of Durga and is worshiped on the ninth day of Navratri (October 11, 2024, Sunday).

માં સિદ્ધિદાત્રી નો મંત્ર:,

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं सिद्धिदात्र्यै नम:

Celebration of Navratri in India:

Navratri is celebrated in almost every state and every part across India. Navratri is also celebrated in different countries of the world in a grand manner and people participate in it enthusiastically. Which is a proud thing for Gujarat. Navratri is also the state festival of Gujarat. An international level festival of Vibrant Navratri is also organised by the Government of Gujarat at Ahmedabad. Navratri is celebrated in different ways in other states like Gujarat.

As in Maharashtra “Ghatasthapana” is performed in which a garba is set up and worshipped and worshipped by women. In which Ma Mahalakshmi, Ma Saraswati and Ma Kali are worshipped. So in South India Navratri festival is celebrated as “Golu”, in which people of South India make a small construction like steps and install small idols of God and Mataji on it. and worships and worships him. Then on the ninth day Havan is performed and this festival is completed with great enthusiasm.

Similarly in East India Navratri is celebrated as Durga Puja, an important festival of West Bengal. In which they set up a huge statue of Maa Durga and worship and worship her nine forms. In which on the seventh day of Navratri they set up the idol of Maa Durga. And celebrates it till Dussehra.

Celebrated in different ways at different places, holy rituals like puja thali, fruit-flowers, prasad and aarti are performed for nine days. And on the tenth day nine girls are invited and worshiped in a solemn way. Which is considered a very important ceremony.