Navratri is a festival of complete devotion, fasting, fun and enjoyment. The festival is celebrated for Nine days and it symbolizes victory of good over evil. During these nine days, nine forms of shakti are worshipped. The dates for this festival are decided according to the lunar calendar. Navratri commences on the first day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin(September-October).

Story:

The legend of Navratri goes back to the time, when mighty demon Mahishasur worshiped Lord Shiva and obtained the power of eternity. Very soon he started misusing his power, killing innocent people and set out to win all three loks. Everybody was traumatized and the Gods appealed to Lord Shiva to get rid of Mahishasur. For this, all three trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined their powers and created a divine female power, Durga. She was beautiful and Mahishasur got completely magnetized. He approached Goddess Durga with an intention to marry her. Goddess Durga agreed to this proposal but on a condition that Mahishasur would defeat her in a battle. He was proud of himself and agreed to this condition immediately. The fierce battle took place for 9 days, and at the end of ninth day goddess Durga beheaded the powerful demon Mahishasur. The nine nights came to be known as Navratri and the tenth day came to be known as Vijaydashmi.

Celebrations:

All Hindus celebrate this festival in various forms all over India. The nine days are devoted into worship of God in female form, three days Durga, three days Saraswati, and three days for Lakshmi.

West Bengal:

In West Bengal it is celebrated as Durga Puja, magnificent, huge and beautiful idols of goddess Durga are worshipped for nine days. People offer prayers, perform devotional songs and dances before the idols. The tenth day, grand processions are taken out, and the idols are immersed in water.

Gujarat:

The Navratri celebrations of Gujarat and its Garba Raas are popular all over the world. These nine days, whole of Gujarat is trapped in the extravaganza of Navratri celebrations. The most prominent part of the whole celebration is Garba and Dandiya Raas, in which people from all walks of life come together to enjoy and dance in concentric circles.

Southern India:

In southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu it is celebrated by inviting people home and enjoying festivities, the process is called as Golu or Bombegolu.

Celebration in Udaipur:

At various places in Udaipur, Puja Pandals are set and people perform Dandiya in front of the idols of goddess Durga. Udaipur witnesses nine days of complete devotion that can be seen in almost all temples of mother goddess and nine nights of absolute enjoyment with Dandiya Ras. The tenth day is marked as Vijay Dashmi. On this day huge effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhkaran are burnt, after enacting a small part from Ramayana. Udaipurites enjoy it a lot and gather in large numbers at Gandhi ground to see it.

Navratri symbolizes health and prosperity. It is a festival of happiness enjoyment and devotion complete with Dandiya and Garba raas.

Other Navratri Related Stories

1. This story relates to Ramayana. In these nine days, Lord Ram worshipped Lord Shiva for power and strength to free Sita by killing Ravana. The nine days came to be called as navratri and the final day when Lord Ram killed Ravana came to be known as Vijaydashmi or Dusshera.
2. It is also believed that Daksha’s (king of Himalayas), beautiful daughter Uma wanted to marry Lord Shiva. She worshiped Lord Shiva and also managed to please him. Lord Shiva came to marry Uma, but the tiger skin clad Lord Shiva displeased Daksha, and he broke off all relationship with his daughter and son in law. One fine day he organized a yagna and did not invite Lord Shiva and Uma. Uma got angry and set herself ablaze by throwing herself in the agnikund of the Yagna. Since then it is believed that Uma along with with Ganesh, Kartik, Saraswati and Laxmi and two of her best friends or ‘sakhis’, comes to visit her parent’s home during Navratri.