PARAGRAPH ON NAVRATRI FESTIVAL
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Navratri Festival is celebrated by Hindus with great devotion for 10 days. Idol of Goddess Durga is worshipped during Navratri. People stay awake the whole night during the 9th day of Navratri and play Dandiya and Garba. This festival is celebrated by all Hindus and has special significance in Gujarati community.
History of Navratri Festival
One of the fiercest daemons, Mahishasura undertook severe penance to obtain a boon that he cannot be killed by a male, underestimating at his own cost the power of the female form, and started creating havoc everywhere. To stop him, Shakti took a very beautiful form of Durga and told him that she would marry him if he defeats her in a battle. It is believed that they battled for 9 days, and on the 10th day, Durga killed Mahishasura. Therefore the 10th day is called Vijayadashmi, day of the victory.
During the period of 9 days of navratri, 9 forms of Durga, called nav-durga, are worshiped in the following order:
Shailaputri : She is the primal energy of the trident Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and was born as daughter (putri) to Himalayas (shaila - mountains)
Bhrahmacharini : This form represents penance and austerity leading to blissfulness and moksha
Chandraghanta : Represented as 10-armed mother riding a lion, she adores a bell-shaped (ghanta) moon (chandra), and is slayer of evil forces.
Kushmanda : Literally meaning "little warmth cosmic egg", she is the creator of the universe
Skandamata : She is the mother of Skanda, or Karthikeya, the chief warrior of Gods.
Katyayani : As daughter of sage Katyayan, she is a fierce form of Durga.
Kaalratri : As death of Kaal (time), she showcases the other side of life - death. She is the most terrible and ruthless form of Durga.
Maha Gauri : She represents calmness and grants wisdom to her devotees.
Siddhidatri : The fulfiller of all the wishes and giver of boons.
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Hindus celebrate Navratri festival in order to worship the specific nine forms of Goddess Durga. She is the Hindu Deity of Power. It is a phenomenally important festivals of the Hindus and is rejoiced every year all over the country. The word Navratri is taken from Sanskrit language, it means ‘Nine nights’. This old epic festival of Navratri continues for straight nine days. Followed by the tenth day Vijaya Dashmi, or say Dussehra festival.