3/18/2018 Navaratri - Wikipedia

Navaratri
Navaratri (Sanskrit: नवराि , literally "nine
Navratri festival
nights"), also spelled Navratri or
Navarathri, is a nine nights (and ten days)
Hindu festival, celebrated in the autumn
every year. It is observed for different reasons
and celebrated differently in various parts of
the Indian subcontinent.[3][1] Theoretically,
there are four seasonal Navratri. However, in
Navratri celebrates either Durga or
practice, it is the post-monsoon autumn
Rama victory over an evil demon,
festival called Sharada Navratri that is the
depending on the region[1]
most observed in the honor of the divine
feminine Devi (Durga). The festival is
Also called Durga Puja
celebrated in the bright half of the Hindu Observed by Hindus
calendar month Ashvin, which typically falls Type religious, social
in the Gregorian months of September and
Celebrations 9 days
October.[3][4]
Observances stage setting, prayers,
In the eastern and northeastern states of plays, image
India, the Durga Puja is synonymous with immersion or bonfire
Navratri, wherein goddess Durga battles and Begins Ashvin Shukla
emerges victorious over the buffalo demon to Prathama
help restore Dharma. In the northern and
Ends Ashvin Shukla Navami
western states, the festival is synonymous
with "Rama Lila" and Dussehra that 2018 date 9 Oct, Tue – 17 Oct,
celebrates the battle and victory of god Rama Wed
over the demon king Ravana.[1] In southern (Vijayadashami: 18
states, the victory of different goddesses, of Oct, Thu)
Rama or Saraswati is celebrated. In all cases, 2019 date 29 Sep, Sun - 8 Oct,
the common theme is the battle and victory of Tue [2]
Good over Evil based on a regionally famous (Vijayadashami: 8th
epic or legend such as the Ramayana or the Oct, Tue)
Devi Mahatmya.[3][4] Frequency annual
Related to Dussehra

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Celebrations include stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, and
chanting of the scriptures of Hinduism. The nine days are also a major crop season cultural
event, such as competitive design and staging of pandals, a family visit to these pandals
and the public celebration of classical and folk dances of Hindu culture.[5][6][7] On the final
day, called the Vijayadashami or Dussehra, the statues are either immersed in a water body
such as river and ocean, or alternatively the statue symbolizing the evil is burnt with
fireworks marking evil's destruction. The festival also starts the preparation for one of the
most important and widely celebrated holidays, Diwali, the festival of lights, which is
celebrated twenty days after the Vijayadashami or Dussehra.[8][9][1]

Contents
Etymology and nomenclature
Dates and celebrations
Significance of Each Day
Day 1: Shailaputri
Day 2: Brahmcharini
Day 3: Chandraghanta
Day 4: Kushmunda
Day 5: Skandmata
Day 6: Katyayani
Day 7: Kalratri
Day 8: Mahagauri
Day 9: Sidhidatri
Regional practices
Eastern India and West Bengal
North India
Bihar
Gujarat
Goa
Karnataka
Kerala
Maharashtra
Tamil Nadu
Telangana
Animal Sacrifice
Outside India
Other religions
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See also
Notes
References
Bibliography

Etymology and nomenclature

The word Navratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning
nights.[4]

Dates and celebrations

According to some Hindu texts such as the
Shakta and Vaishnava Puranas, Navaratri
theoretically falls twice or four times a year. Of
these, the Sharada Navaratri near autumn
equinox (September-October) is the most
celebrated, and the Vasanta Navaratri near
spring equinox (March-April) is next most
significant to the culture of Indian
subcontinent. In all cases, Navaratri falls in the
bright half of the Hindu luni-solar months. The
celebrations vary by region, leaving much to the
creativity and preferences of the Hindu.[4][10][11]

1. Sharada Navaratri: the most celebrated of

the four navaratris, named after sharada
which means autumn. It is observed the
lunar month of Ashvin (post-monsoon, In Northern, Central and Western
September–October). In many regions the states of India, the Ramlila play is
festival falls after autumn harvest, and in enacted during Navratri by rural
others during harvest. artists (above).
2. Vasanta Navaratri: the second most
celebrated, named after vasanta which
means spring. It is observed the lunar
month of Chaitra (post-winter, March–April). In many regions the festival falls after
spring harvest, and in others during harvest.
The other two navratris are minor and observed regionally or by individuals:[12]

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