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Sunday, Jul 06, 2008
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Navratri
Navratri is one of the holy festivals of hinduism.
It is a festival of nine nights, during which we worship goddess of shakti.
When the supreme being begins to manifest its cosmic energy, it is
variously known as Sakti, Devi or Divine Mother, who assumes many forms
according to the tasks to be preformed by her. She is also known as Durga,
Lakshmi or Sarawati in her destructive, protective, and knowledge giving
roles respectively. These three aspects of the Divine Mother are worshipped
during Devi Navaratri puja, the nine nights.
Navratri festival is observed twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra
and then in Aswayuja. It lasts for nine days in honour of the nine
manifestations of Durga. During Navaratri (the word literally means "nine
nights") devotees of Durga observe a fast. Brahmins are fed and prayers
are offered for the protection of health and property.
Significance
Durga or the destructive aspect of the divine mother is worshipped during
the first three nights. On the succeeding three knights, her protective
aspect of Lakshmi and on the last three nights, her knowledge aspect or
Saraswati are worshipped. The significance of this order is that first durga
destroys all the evil propensities lurking in the minds of her devotees;
then lakshmi implants divine qualities in the devotees' minds and finally
saraswati bestows true knowledge to her devotees. The tenth day known as
Vijaya Dasami, commemorates the victory of knowledge over ignorance of
goodness over evil.
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Important Indian Festivals |
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