15 Amazing things to know about Navratri

Navratri is one of the oldest religious festivals in India. It is celebrated for 9 days by the Hindu Community in India in a ceremonial way. The festival holds much importance in West Bengal but is celebrated all over the country in different ways. 

To familiarize you more about the Navratri festival, the following are 15 amazing facts about the holy festival- Navratri;

1.  As the name suggests, Navratri festival is celebrated for nine days continuously. These nine days are devoted to nine goddesses. It simply means that these nine days are devoted to goddess Durga and her other 9 forms. Navratri is a Sanskrit word where Nav means nine and Ratri means nights.
   
2. The nine forms of Goddess Durga are Durga, Bhadrakali, Amba, Annapoorna Devi, Sarvamangala, Bhairavi, Chandika, Lalita, Bhavani and Mookambika.
   
3. These nine days of Navratri festival are known as, Pratipada, Dwitiya, Tritiya, Chaturthi, Panchmi, Shasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, and Dashmi.
   
4. The dates of Navratri festival are decided as per the lunar calendar. 
   
5. The Navratri festival is celebrated four times in a year for continuous nine days. March/April, June/July, September/October, December/January, January/February are the months in which Navratri is celebrated.
   
6. The Navratri festival which is being celebrated presently is known as Sharad Navratri. The four type of Navratri festival are; Vasant Navratri, Ashadha Navratri, Magha Navratri and Sharad Navratri. But more important is given to Sharad and Vasant Navratri only.
   
7. Sharad Navratri is considered as the most important Navratri. And it symbolizes the slaying of Mahishasur by goddess Durga.
   
8. A celebration of Navratri festival also symbolizes embracing of autumn and spring. 
   
9. The end of those nine days of Navratri or the tenth day welcomes the festival of Dussehra. Dussehra is celebrated because, on this day, Lord Rama triumphed over the devil king Ravana in Lanka.  This incident is explained clearly in the holy book- Ramayana. The Dussehra festival is celebrated all over North India by setting the huge statues of the demon king on fire. This represents the victory of good over bad.
   
10. After 20 days of Dussehra, the holiest Hindu festival- Diwali is celebrated. The celebration of Diwali represents the time when Lord Rama along with Lord Hanuman, Lakshman and Sita.
    

11. A fancy Durga Pooja is celebrated in West Bengal during these nine days of Navratri festival. In the period of Navratri, statues of goddess Durga defeating the buffalo demon- Mahishasur is exhibited in all the temples in West Bengal, India. These statues are praised for five days and then on the sixth day, these statues are placed in a river. The Durga Pooja is the biggest festival celebrated in Bengal.
    
12. During these nine days of Navratri, Gujarat and Mumbai are known for their extravagant and beautiful Garba celebration. The Garba celebration also continues for these nine days. Garba is a form of dance performed in a circle.
    
13. This festival is known as ”Golu” in Tamil Nadu. There, they set various settings that display their culture and heritage.
    
14. Sharad Navratri is celebrated in the months of July/August in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
    
15.  Navratri is celebrated as a royal festival in Karnataka. Markets and houses are decorated including the Mysore Palace. And with Online Pune Florist you can avail for the necessary items required for Vidhi Puja.