Navratri festival sacred
to the Mother Goddess are celebrated in the month of October / November. It is a festival of worship,dance and music celebrated over a period of nine nights.It is celebrated from the first to the ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha of the Hindu Calendar for the worship of the Goddess Durga.
This festival commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over a demon, Mahishasur.
During Navratri, devotees of Durga fast and pray for health and prosperity.
They also perform the 'devi-sthaapna' in their homes wherein they invite the Goddess and perform 'pooja-path' for nine days without consuming any food.
It is an occasion for vibrant festivities throughout the country.
Amba or Jagdamba: mother of the world; Annapurna: giver of food and plenty; Sarvamangala: auspicious goddess;
Bhairavi: terrible, fearful, power of death; Chandika or handi: violent, wrathful, furious; Lalita: playful; and Bhavani: giver of existence.
Idols of the Goddess Durga are elaborately decorated and worshipped in elaborate pandals for nine days, and on the tenth day immersed in a river or pond. Each day during this festival has religious significance for the devotees.
