A Hindu festival, commonly known as Shardiya Navratri, talks about worshipping nine avatars of Goddess Shailaputri or Pratipada, Brahmacha, Maalika, Vaishnavi, Kaumari, Varahi, Indrani, and Chamunda.
Navratri is celebrated by Hindus worldwide to honor the divine feminine. It is a time of worship for the goddesses and an opportunity for personal renewal through fasting, prayer, and meditation.
Shardiya Navratri 2022 - When Does It Starts?
Significance of the festival
During Navratri, women observe fasts during the day and eat only vegetarian food in the evening. The festival begins with the worship of Goddess Shailaputri on Pratipada (the first day), followed by nine days of worshipping each of these goddesses one after another.
A Hindu festival that lasts for nine days and nine nights brings together the people to rejoice and celebrate the utter strength that the women in the world hold. This can be truly seen in the history of India, where women ruled the world like warriors.
It is observed in the autumn season and celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.
The significance of Navratri is that it helps people to focus on their spirituality and be thankful for all the blessings they have received in life.
How is it celebrated?
On this day, people celebrate the divine feminine. It is celebrated for nine days and nights, with each day dedicated to a different form of the goddess.
The festival is observed by women and men alike, who dress up in their finest clothes and jewelry and apply mehndi to their hands and feet. The celebration includes dancing, singing, storytelling, and other acts of devotion.
The festival is conducted for nine days (including one night), with the ninth day being considered the most important day of all.
The ninth day marks Dusshera or Vijaya Dashmi, which celebrates the victory of good over evil. On this day, people playfully chase away all negative thoughts from their minds to ensure peace for another year ahead.
Navratri is celebrated twice in the year. Once in the month of March-April and once in the month of October-November. The festival is the most important festival to the Bengali community in India.
However, different communities have different ways of commemorating the victory of evil over the good on this day.
The festival begins on the first day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin (October or November) with Dussehra, which celebrates Rama's victory over Ravana. The festivities include:
- Fireworks.
- A competitive dance called Garba can last until sunrise.
- A ritual where married women offer gifts to their mothers-in-law to thank them for all they have done for them.
Conclusion
An auspicious festival rings in the victory of good over evil and rejoices with people to celebrate the wonderful women of India, starting from ancient history. A woman has immense strength and this day truly showcases that.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the nine days of Navratri?
Navratri is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in India and Nepal. This festival is celebrated in the month of Chaitra and usually lasts for nine days.
The word Navratri means "nine nights" in Sanskrit, referring to the nine days of celebration during this festival. Navratri is one of the four Navratri Hindus observe in a year. This Navratri falls in the auspicious month of Chaitra.
2. Which day of Navratri is today, 2022?
The Hindu festival of Navratri lasts nine days, with each day dedicated to a different aspect of Devi Shakti. The first three days are celebrated as Mahalaya, Sharad, and Shitala.
Vijaya, Jhulan, Kajali, Dol, and Teej are the next five days. The last day is known as Dashami or Dusshera. Today is Vijaya Dashami.
The word 'pratipada' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Prati-padam', which means 'first step'. 'Chaitra' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'chitrana', which means "white".
3. When did Navratri start in 2022 April?
Navratri is celebrated every year in India. It starts on the first day of the lunar month of Kartik. (October-November) and ends on the tenth day, known as Dussehra.
The festival celebrates nine different forms of Devi or Shakti, which are Parvati/Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and others.
Navratri is celebrated to worship Goddess Durga for her victory over the demon Mahishasura and to celebrate her triumph over evil forces.