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Navratri is celebrated by the Hindus
Navratri starts from the 1st of Ashwin and ends on the 10 day of Ashwin month in Hindu calendar
Mythological significance
Navratri is a Sanskrit word which means nine nights, that is 'Nava' means nine and 'Ratri' means night. During Navratri people worship the nine forms of the Shakti Devi. The two periods that are taken as blessed opportunities for worshipping the Shakti /Devine mother are the spring and the autumn season. Navratri is a celebration of goddess Durga the incarnation of holy form of Shakti/power. The last day that is the tenth day of the Navratri is the Vijaydashmi. On these ten holy days the various forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped with great devotion and respect.
Celebration of Navratri
Actually Navratri is celebrated five times in a year. There are as follows the Vasant Navratri, The Sharada Navratri, Ashadh Navratri, the Magha and the Navratri.
- The Vasant Navratri: This Navratri is the festival which is celebrated for nine nights and ten days. During this festival nine forms of Mata Durga are worshiped. This is also well-known as the Chaitra Navratri. The last and the tenth day of this festival is known as the Rama Navratri.
- Gupta Navratri: This is also called as the Ashadh Navratri or Shakambhai Navratri or the Gayatri Navratri. This festival is devoted to the nine forms of mother goddess. This is celebrated in the Ashadh month of the Hindu calendar.
- Sharana Navratri: This is one of the most significant Navratri among all the 5 Navratri and hence called as the Maha Navratri. This Navratri is celebrated in Ashwin month according to the Hindu calendar. It is also well-known as the Sharad Navratri.
- Poushya Navratri: In this Navratri the nine days are devoted to the nine forms of mother goddess which falls in the 9th month of Pousha. Poushya is celebrated during the Poushya Shukla Paksha.
- Magha Navratri: This is also known as the Gupta Navratri; in this the 10 days and 9 nights are devoted to the 9 appearance of Shakti mother goddess. This is celebrated in the month of Magha, during Magha Shukla Paksha.
Vasant Navratri
Vasant Navratri is observed during the Vasant Rutu that is the beginning of the summer. This is also well-known as the Chaitra Navratri this comes in the month of Chaitra.
During this festival on the first three days Mata Durga is worshiped, next 3 days Mata Lakshmi is worshiped and finally the last 3days Mata Saraswati is worshipped. The main aim behind the order is that Mata Durga destroys all the evil and bad propensities lurking that are wandering in the devotees mind, then mata Lakshmi implants great qualities in the mind of the devotees and finally the mata Saraswati will offer knowledge to her true devotees.
Garba:
During this festival the youngsters organize the dandiya party for the nine days in the evening after the Puja of the Shakti. These people dance for the whole night on the last day.
Traditional food
In Navratri there are varieties of traditional recipes that are prepared for the nine days they are as follows Aloo chaat, arbi-yam oondhiya, kele ki sabzi, pumpkin chutney, Navratri salad suji ka dhokla and panchamritham.
Navratri is the main festival of the Gujarathis. They enjoy this with great happiness and fervir. This festival is colorful and is full of light as there is lighting and pandals are decorated everywhere in the city.
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