Navratri Celebrations: 9 nights of worshipping the Goddess Mother

Navratri is the festival of nine nights in which nine incarnations of Goddess Shakti are worshipped. Each of them is worshipped on each of the nine days. The nine goddesses worshipped are:

MAA SHAILPUTRI- She is worshiped on 1^st day. The deity was born as Sati-daughter of Daksha and wife of Lord Shiva. She took rebirth as Parvathi- daughter of Himalaya and the consort of Lord Shiva and is closely associated with him.

MAA BRAHAMCHARINI- She is worshiped on 2^nd day. It means, under constant meditation. She is a peaceful form and is also known as Uma. This form was undertaken by Sati and Parvathi in each of their births to attain Lord Shiva as husband. Women all over India perform fasts based on the strict austerities followed by Brahamcharini.

MAA CHANDRAGHANTA- She is worshiped on 3^rd day. She is so called because of crescent moon worn by her on the head. This is the anger look of the goddess. It shows that, if the calm deity is provoked she can become terrible and malevolent.

MAA KUSHMANDA- She is worshiped on 4^th day. This Goddess has the energy of universe. As she has eight hands, the holy power is known as - Ashtbhuja. She is with a smiling face which is believed to end the eternal darkness and beginning of new light.

MAA SKANDAMATA- She is worshiped on 5^th day. She is the mother of Skanda who is also known as kartik. He is the general of Lord's army and most handsome God. The mother is holding the child on her laps. She is benevolent in this form.

MAA KATYAYANI- She is worshiped on 6^th day. She is so called as being daughter of sage Katya. Though she is daughter form of Durga and epitome of love, she can get angry to defend the righteous and good.

MAA KALRATRI- She is worshiped on 7^th day. This form of Shakti destroys ignorance and darkness. It is the most violent form of Shakti. In this, she likes the blood of the demon depicting that violent Mother Nature can create havoc and eliminate all the dirty evil.

MAA MAHAGAURI- She is worshiped on 8^th day. This form depicts purity. It was when Lord Shiva with water from river Ganga cleaned the soil and dust from the body of Parvathi when she did penance to seek Lord Shiva as her husband.

MAA SIDDHIDATRI- She is worshiped on 9^th day. In this form Mother Goddess showers knowledge on the devotee. She removes ignorance.

On the first day, the epitome of Maa Shakti is set up. She is worshipped with water and vermicelli sprinkled on her. Decorated with lots of flowers and festoon bestowed on her, the prayer service is started. A dry cow-dung cake is the main item of this ritual. It is lighted properly and then pair of cloves for each family member is burnt in that. The fire can be made fierce using camphor and ghee. The prayers and rhymes for the goddess are chanted. For next seven consecutive days, the devotees light the lamp and chant prayers. After worshipping these nine deities, comes the day of Ram Navmi. On the day of Ram Navmi, the ritual of inviting 7-11 girls with 2-3 boys under adolescence is prevalent. After serving food as an oblation in temple, it is served to the children who are considered as a replica of Gods and Goddesses.

Besides worshipping, Navratri is also celebrated as a grand festival of pomp and show, dance and music. Though it is celebrated all over India, Gujarat and West Bengal have a special position. In Gujarat, a dance style called Garbha is performed with sticks. West Bengal on the other hand arranges a great lavish prayer ceremony of goddess Durga.

Maa Shakti or Durga is omnipotent. If worshipped with true devotion she becomes benevolent and showers prestige, power and wealth on all her true devotees. So, feel devoted to this epitome of supreme power and brighten your life with the light of her blessings.

Lazoi wishes Happy Navratri to all!