Navratra: cultural importance
Navratra, meaning 'nau ratri'- nine nights and 10 days, where 10th day is celebrated as dussehra. Navaratri is famous festival of Hindus which is celebrated four times in a year i.e. magh, chaitra, ashadh, ashwin. Each night of Navaratri nine avatar of devi 'mahalaxmi', 'mahasaraswati' and 'mahakali' are worshipped. Their avatars are sequenced as: The first 3 days are dedicated to 'mahakali' and their forms for power and strength. 1. Shailputri mata 2. Brahmacharini mata 3. Chandraghanta mata The 4th, 5th, 6th day of Navaratri are dedicated to 'mahalaxmi' and their forms for peace and prosperity. 4. Kushmanda 5. Skandmata 6. Katyayani The 7th day is dedicated to knowledge bearer 'mahasarswati'. On 8th day of Navaratri, 'yajana' is held for mahakali. 7. Kalratri 8. Mahagauri 9. Siddhidatri The 9th day is known by the name 'Mahanavmi'. On this day 'Kanya poojan' is held where nine kanya(girls) are worshipp...