The Hindu holiday Navratri is considered auspicious. The nine-day celebration honors Goddess Durga. This year’s event will take place nationally from Thursday, October 2 to October 12, 2024. The respected holiday features prayers, fasting, singing, dancing, and a variety of other cultural activities.
While there are four forms of Navratri, most people are aware with the Sharad Navratri, which is observed in the fall. This celebration is very popular in the northern and western areas of India.
The name ‘Navratri’ means ‘nine nights’, and its origins are deeply ingrained in Indian culture’s spiritual system.
The key story behind the festival is the battle between Goddess Durga and demon Mahishasura. He was a powerful demon, who received a boon from Lord Brahma, making him invincible against any man or God. However, after receiving the boon from Brahma, he became arrogant and wreaked havoc on heaven and earth.
Gods were unable to defeat the demon, so they approached Goddess Durga for help because she was created by combining all the gods’ powers and emerged as the ultimate embodiment of feminine strength and power. Thereafter, She mounted a lion and headed to have a fierce battle with Mahishasura that lasted for nine days and nights and she finally defeated the demon. Hence, every year people observe Navratri, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
The Navratri festival is sacred in the context of the Hindu religion which forms an integral part of the cultural calendar of the country. The festival is devoted to the Goddess power called ‘Shakti’. Throughout the nine nights of the festival, Goddess Durga is worshipped. Each day symbolises the nine forms of Durga in different parts of life, power, knowledge, wealth and so on.
The nine-day festival holds great meaning and has a long history of being celebrated across the country. The festive season begins with people from different communities worshipping Goddess Durga, and marking the victory of light over darkness. Apart from pujas, thousands of devotees, especially in Gujarat, celebrate the festival with the Garba dance. Parallelly, grand Durga Pujas are organised across the country, making it a festival of devotion-filled fasting and prayers.
The much-anticipated Navratri festival also offers a chance for reflection and renewal. Like every year, this year too, Navratri will continue to unite people, symbolising strength, devotion and the victory of light over dark.
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Source: Business Standard
