Detailed Information about Navratri Festival & Its Importance

Among the many festivals celebrated in India, Navratri is one of the most popular and grandly celebrated festivals, when the entire country comes alive with celebrations. This is a festival dedicated to goddess Durga and is celebrated for nine nights and ten days. The name Navratri means nine nights in Sanskrit. The final and the tenth day of the festival is called Vijayadashami which is more popularly celebrated as Dussehra. During the first 9 days different forms of Shakti or Devi is worshiped. This festival is celebrated in almost all the states of India among different communities like Bengalis, Guajarati, Assamese, Marathi, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Telgu, Tamil, Malayalis, Oriyas and many other communities. The practice of playing Garba and dandya during this festival is very popular in Gujarat. This practice has spread to other parts of India as well. Besides celebrating and worshipping the different forms of Shakti, this festival also marks the victory of good over evil and spreads the message of peace, love and camaraderie.

This festival is usually celebrated in the month of September - October or the Hindu month of Asvin. People construct huge pandals, perform continuous puja, dance, sing and celebrate it with great fun and enthusiasm. They festival may be celebrated in different ways in different regions of India however the spirit remains the same. Even though there are five different types of Navaratri celebrated in the whole of India at different times of the year, the Sharad Navratri or the Durga Puja or Dussehra is the most popular and grandest of them all. People decorate their houses, wear new clothes, cook tasty delicacies, visit their friends and families and bring alive the spirit of harmony and friendship.

On this festival all of the people have equal fun, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor. They forget all their past sorrows and problems and melt in the festive spirit of joy and celebration.

Navaratri brings lots of joy and happiness in families and spreads the brotherhood and love to one and all.