Navratri
Meaning & Significance
• Navratri literally translates to nine (“nav”)
nights (“ratri”)
• It is celebrated to mark the beginning of
autumn on the lunar calendar (Sharad
Navratri)
• Worship the Devis (Durgamaa,
Laxmimaa, Sarawatimaa)
• The 10th day celebrated as Dusshera, or
Vijaydashami, the victory of good over
evil
Rituals of Navratri
• First Three Days
o
The goddess is separated as a spiritual force called Durga also
known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities.
• Second Three Days
o
The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is
considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees
inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth.
• Last Three Days
o
The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of
wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life,
believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine
femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.
How it’s Celebrated
•
•
North Indian Traditions
o Garba-Raas: Folk dance, began in Gujurat
o Vrat (fasting) is kept all nine days to worship the
Mother Goddess in her different forms
o The culmination of Navratri is also celebrated as
Dussehra, Dus (10) hara(lost), meaning the day that
Ravan, the 10-headed demon, was vanquished by
Ram
South Indian Traditions
o In South India, people set up steps and place idols
on them. This is known as golu.
o In Kerala, three days: Ashtami, Navami, and Vijaya
Dashami of Sharad Navaratri are celebrated as
Sarasvati Puja in which books are worshipped. The
books are placed for Puja on the Ashtami day in own
houses, traditional nursery schools, or in temples.
Traditional Foods
Discussion
• How does your family celebrate
Navratri?
• What is your favorite part of the
holiday- Garba? Saraswati Puja?
Food?
• What does Navratri mean to
you?