navarathiri nights celebrations

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

MAA SHAILPUTRI-she is worshiped on 1st 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 2nd 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 3rd 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 4th 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 5th 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 6th 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 7th 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 8th 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 9th day. In this form Mother Goddess showers knowledge on the devotee. She removes ignorance.