Navratri is a festival celebrated by Hindus by worshiping goddess Durga with lots of joy. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga killed the demon king Mahishasur, who had defeated and terrorized the devas. Navratri primarily commemorates this momentous event in various ways.
Navratri is a nine day festival, celebrated in the month of “Ashwin” (Ashwin is a month in the Hindu lunar calendar which usually falls in October). Navratri is celebrated with nightly dances in the state of Gujarat. But the same Goddess Durga is worshipped for similar lengths of time in many other parts of India. In West Bengal, Durga Puja lasts ten days. The entire state closes down for a week for the celebrations. In Nepal, it is the national festival called Dashain and lasts for the same length of time. The Goddess is worshipped in many other parts of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari for lesser duration.
Legend has it that when the demon Mahishasur defeated and terrorized the devas, they went to the highest trinity of Hindu pantheon – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. On hearing the devas, the trinity were wrathful and their wrath gave out light from their faces. The lights combined and Durga emerged out of it. The trinity also bestowed her with a number of weapons. Durga then confronted Mahishasur and his army of demons and slew all of them, thus relieving the people and devas from great terror.
The day of her final victory is especially celebrated in many parts of India, mostly in the north, as Vijayadashami. As it happens, Vijayadashami is also the day, according to Hindu mythology, when Lord Rama finally vanquished and killed Ravana. This day, therefore, has enormous significance for Hindus in terms of fighting injustice and oppression. Vijayadashami is celebrated also by burning enormous effigies of Ravana and his lieutenants.
Many people choose to fast on all or some of these nine days. In most parts of the country, different kinds of worship rituals are conducted. In Gujarat, several sites in every city and town become the congregating place for people to come and perform traditional Gujarati dances known as Garba and Dandiya. In West Bengal, literally thousands of “pandals” are erected where the statue of Durga is placed for the duration of the festivities. At the end of the ten day period, the deity is taken in a procession to the nearest river or lake and immersed ceremoniously.
This is indeed the most festive period of the year for Hindus. Being a part of it will make you feel connected to glorious Hindu heritage and tradition.