Navratri: Meaning, History, Significance & Why It Is Celebrated

Each of the nine nights honors a distinct form of Goddess Durga, known collectively as the Navadurga, and each form represents a quality such as strength, wisdom, courage, purity, or compassion.

Navratri is observed widely across India and among Hindu communities around the world, with regional traditions ranging from Garba dancing in Gujarat to Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal and doll displays known as Golu in South India.

Navratri Meaning

The Navratri meaning is rooted directly in its name: nine nights set aside for the worship of Shakti, the divine feminine energy. In Hindu tradition, the first nine days of the lunar cycle following the new moon are considered feminine in nature, making this period especially suited to honoring Devi in her many aspects.

The festival is not confined to a single deity; it moves through three goddesses over its course, beginning with Goddess Durga, continuing with Goddess Lakshmi, and closing with Goddess Saraswati, so that strength, prosperity, and wisdom are each given their place.

Why is Navratri Celebrated?

To understand the reason for the celebration of Navratri, you should be familiar with the mythology behind this festival, i.e., the war between Goddess Durga and the demon buffalo, Mahishasura.

According to the Devi Mahatmya, part of the Markandeya Purana, Goddess Durga took nine days and nights to defeat Mahishasura on the tenth day; this victory of good over evil is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.

Apart from the myth related to Navratri, here are other reasons for celebrating this festival:

• People worship the divine force of Shakti for nine days in search of blessings from three goddesses, namely Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, for strength, wealth, and wisdom, respectively.

• This celebration takes place during ritu sandhi, a spiritually significant transition period into a new season; fasting and rigorous discipline during this period prepare one's body and mind to adjust to the new season.

• At the individual level, Navratri provides nine days of introspection, purification, and revival, culminating in victory on the tenth day.

Why Do We Celebrate Navratri for 9 Days?

A common question tied to the festival is why Navratri is celebrated for 9 days rather than some other number. Several explanations exist side by side, and they are not mutually exclusive.

• The mythological explanation traces back to the nine-day battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura, with the tenth day marking her victory.

• The theological explanation points to the nine forms of Goddess Durga, known as the Navadurga: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri, with one day dedicated to each.

• The spiritual explanation divides the nine nights into three sets of three, moving through tamas, rajas, and sattva, representing the shedding of negative tendencies, the building of energy and virtue, and the attainment of clarity and purity.

• The seasonal explanation ties the nine days to the lunar cycle and the shift between seasons, a period considered ideal for disciplined practice.

Navratri Days: The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga

Each of the Navratri days is associated with a specific form of Goddess Durga and a particular quality or virtue. While the colors associated with each day vary by region and by year, the goddess and her attribute remain consistent across most traditions.

Day	Goddess (Form)	Core Attribute
1	Shailaputri	New beginnings and devotion
2	Brahmacharini	Discipline and inner discipline
3	Chandraghanta	Peace and courage
4	Kushmanda	Vitality, knowledge, and joy
5	Skandamata	Strength combined with maternal compassion
6	Katyayani	Valor and determination
7	Kalaratri	Fierce protection against negativity
8	Mahagauri	Purity, calm, and intelligence
9	Siddhidatri	Fulfillment and spiritual attainment

Many households also structure the nine days around three goddesses rather than nine individual forms, dedicating the first three days to Goddess Durga, the middle three to Lakshmi, and the final three to Saraswati.

To better understand the spiritual significance of these nine avatars and discover the ideal rituals, prayers, and offerings for each day, consult with verified experts on Astroyogi.

Types of Navratri

There are several different types of Navratri observed across the Hindu calendar, though only two receive widespread public celebration.

• Sharada Navratri, also called Sharad Navratri, falls in the month of Ashvin, roughly September to October, and is the most prominent and widely celebrated of the four. It concludes with Dussehra.

• Chaitra Navratri takes place in the month of Chaitra, roughly March to April, and closes with Ram Navami, the birth celebration of Lord Rama.

• Magha Navratri occurs in January or February and is often referred to as Gupt Navratri, meaning secret, since it tends to be observed more privately or by specific spiritual traditions.

• Ashadha Navratri falls in June or July and is also known as a Gupt Navratri, observed on a smaller and more individual scale.

Among these different types of Navratri, Sharada and Chaitra draw the largest public celebrations, while the Gupt Navratris in Magha and Ashadha are followed mainly by dedicated practitioners of Shakta traditions.

Navratri Rituals

There are differences in Navratri rituals from one region to another; however, some rituals are practiced by all Hindu groups, irrespective of location.

• Ghatasthapana, also known as Kalash Sthapana, takes place on the first day. It consists of installing a sacred pot containing water, mango leaves, and a coconut to invoke the goddess's presence.

• Puja and aarti are performed every day during the nine days of celebration, along with chanting the Durga Saptashati or other devotional hymns and offering flowers, agarbattis, and food.

• Fasting, also called "vrat," is widely practiced. Devotees follow a limited diet that includes only certain foods, such as fruit, sabudana, and flours made from buckwheat or water chestnut. Grains, lentils, onions, and garlic are not allowed.

• Garba and Dandiya Raas are popular in Gujarat and western India. Community dancing around a shrine or idol of the goddess is done.

• Pandal hopping is an integral part of the celebrations in Kolkata and eastern India. Elaborate temporary shrines are erected, displaying images of Goddess Durga.

• Golu, also called Kolu, is a South Indian tradition of displaying dolls and figurines on stepped platforms, often paired with Ayudha Puja, a ceremony honoring tools and instruments of daily work and learning.

• Kanya Pujan, sometimes called Kanjak, takes place on the eighth or ninth day and involves inviting young girls into the home, honoring them as living forms of the goddess, and offering them food and gifts.

Navratri History

Navratri can be traced to the Devi Mahatmyam, or the Durga Saptashati, a section of the Markandeya Purana that recounts the various battles fought by Goddess Durga against evil powers such as Mahishasura and Shumbha-Nishumbha. It was this section of literature that helped establish the supremacy of Goddess Durga's Shakti and laid the foundation for the festival.

However, throughout the ages, Navratri has been enriched by various regional customs such as Garba dances in Gujarat, Durga Puja in Bengal, and Golu displays in the South.

In many parts of northern India, the festival is also linked to the Ramayana, with the Ramlila enacting scenes from Rama's life across the nine nights and culminating in the burning of effigies of Ravana on Dussehra.

Difference Between Navratri and Durga Puja

Navratri and Durga Puja are closely related but not identical. Navratri is the full nine-night observance of the Navadurga and, in many traditions, of Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati as well.

Aspect	Navratri	Durga Puja
Region	Pan-India	Mainly West Bengal, Assam, and eastern India
Duration	Full nine nights	Concentrated in the final four to five days, Maha Shashthi through Dashami
Core Focus	Navadurga, and in many traditions Lakshmi and Saraswati	Durga as Mahishasuramardini, slayer of Mahishasura
Key Rituals	Daily Navadurga worship, fasting, Garba, Golu, and Kanya Pujan	Elaborate pandals, clay idols, Sandhi Puja, Sindoor Khela
Culmination	Vijayadashami	Immersion of the idol on Dashami

About Navratri: Quick Facts

Navratri is a nine-night Hindu festival honoring the divine feminine, most closely associated with Goddess Durga and her nine forms.

It commemorates Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura and is observed mainly during Sharada Navratri in September and October and Chaitra Navratri in March and April, with additional Gupt Navratris observed more privately in Magha and Ashadha.

The festival includes fasting, daily worship, community dances such as Garba, doll displays such as Golu, and dramatic retellings such as Ramlila, and it concludes with Vijayadashami or Dussehra, the day associated with the victory of good over evil.