Navaratri is a Hindu festival that is celebrated over the course of nine nights and ten days. It is a time when Hindus worship the goddess Durga and celebrate her victory over the demon Mahishasura. During this festival, many Hindus observe fasts and perform rituals and puja (worship) to the goddess. There are four different types of Navaratri, which are celebrated at different times throughout the year. These are:
- Chaitra Navaratri: This Navaratri is celebrated during the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April), and is also known as Vasanta Navaratri. This Navaratri is associated with the creation of the universe and the beginning of the Hindu calendar.
- Ashadha Navaratri: This Navaratri is celebrated during the Hindu month of Ashadha (June-July), and is also known as Gayatri Navaratri. This Navaratri is associated with the goddess Gayatri and her five faces, which represent the five elements of nature.
- Sharad Navaratri: This Navaratri is celebrated during the Hindu month of Ashwin (September-October), and is also known as Maha Navaratri. This is the most important Navaratri and is associated with the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
- Paush Navaratri: This Navaratri is celebrated during the Hindu month of Paush (December-January), and is also known as Shatila Ekadashi. This Navaratri is associated with the goddess Annapurna and the worship of the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi.
During each Navaratri, Hindus perform puja to the goddess and observe fasts. On the ninth day, known as Maha Navami, the goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of a Kumari, or young girl. The tenth day, known as Vijayadashami, marks the end of the festival and is associated with the goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura.
In some parts of India, Navaratri is also celebrated with the performance of the traditional dance form of Dandiya Raas, which involves dancers dressed in colourful costumes holding sticks and performing complex dance steps to the beat of traditional music. So these are the 4 different types of Navaratri that we celebrate.
Overall, Navaratri is a time of worship, celebration, and joy for Hindus, and is an important festival in the Hindu calendar.
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