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Description

A time for dance, music and devotion.
A feeling of joy & happiness.
A festival when the young-hearts throb with excitement and energy and the older generation is full of devotion.
So what is 'Navaratri' all about?
Navratri is a festival of worship, dance and music celebrated over a period of nine nights (Nav-nine and Ratri-nights). It is celebrated from the first to ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha of the Hindu Calendar for the worship of the Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is believed to exist in many forms like Goddess Bhavani, Jagdamba, Mahakali etc. The first nine days of the Ashwin are devoted for worshipping the Divine Mother -'MAA'. These nine days are divided and devoted to the Trinity of God worshipped in a female form - three days for Durga (Goddess of valor) three days for Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and three days for Sarswati (Goddess of Knowledge and Art). The eighth and ninth day, it is traditional to perform Yagna (sacrifice offered to the fire) to honor Divine Mother and bid her farewell.
During Navratri, Gujaratis perform their traditional dances Garba & Dandiya-Raas.
The tenth day, also known as Vijaya Dasami (day of Victory over evils), Dusshera is significant to launch new activities or beginning of learning. It signifies the good winning over the evil. It is believed that on this day, Lord Rama had killed the demon Ravana. So, on Dusshera, effigies of Ravana are burnt all over India.

Navaratri is a festival of pure happiness and is one of the most auspicious occassions.