Sharan Navaratri (often referred to simply as Devi Navaratri) is a significant Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the Goddess Durga and her nine forms. It usually occurs in the lunar month of Ashwin (September-October) and spans nine nights and ten days. This festival is celebrated with great devotion across India and other parts of the world where Hindu communities reside. The various forms of Devi Durga worshipped vary from location to location. Some of the forms worshipped according to various scriptures are as follows.
| Day | Date | Tidhi | Sri Durga Form(CLICK the Links for Ashtottaram) | Sri Lalita Devi Alankarana | Ashtottaram | Saree color | Prasadam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 03-Oct-2024 | Padyami | Shailaputri | Sri Swarna Kavachalankrita Durga Devi | Gold | MILK Pongal. | |
| 2 | 04-Oct-2024 | Vidiya | Brahmacharini | Bala Tripurasundari | Bala Tripura sundari Ashtottaram | Light Pink | Katte Pongal |
| 3 | 05-Oct-2024 | Tadhiya | Chandraghanta | Gayatri | Gayatri devi Ashtottaram | Orange | Coconut Rice |
| 4 | 06-Oct-2024 | Chaviti | Kushmanda | Annapurna | Annapurna devi Ashtottaram | Yellow Sandal Wood | Curd Rice/Ksheerannam |
| 5 | 07-Oct-2024 | Panchami | Skanda Maata | Lalita Tripura Sundari | Lalitha devi Ashtottaram | Gold | jaggery pongal |
| 6 | 08-Oct-2024 | Shashti | Katyaini | Mahalakshmi | MahaLakshmi Ashtottaram | Pink | kesari |
| 7 | 09-Oct-2024 | Saptami | Kalaratri | Saraswati | Saraswati devi ashtottaram | White | Tamarind rice ,Pesaru buralu |
| 8 | 10-Oct-2024 | Astami | Maha Gowri | Durga Devi | Durga Devi Ashtottaram | Brown/Red | Chakkera Pongali |
| 9 | 11-Oct-2024 | Navami | Siddhi Dhatri | Mahishasura Mardini | Mahishasura Mardini Ashtottaram | Sky Blue | Pulihora and Vada |
| 10 | 12-Oct-2024 | Dasami | Vijaya Dasami | Sri RajaRajeshwari Devi | Sri RajaRajeshwari Devi Ashtottaram | Green/Gold Orange | Curd Rice |
Navadurga and significance of each day of Navaratri
Devi is worshipped in 9 forms known as Navadurga. The significance of each day of Navratri is attached to a form of the Mother Divine.
First Day – Shailaputri
On the first day, Devi Shailaputri is worshipped. In this form, Devi Parvati is revered as the daughter of Himalaya Raja. Shaila means extraordinary or rising to great heights. The divine consciousness represented by Devi always surges from the peak. On this first day of Navratri, we propitiate Devi Shailaputri so that we may also attain the highest state of consciousness.
Second Day – Brahmacharini
On the second day, Devi Brahmacharini is propitiated. Devi Brahmacharini is the form of Devi Parvati in which she undertook severe penance to have Lord Shiva as Her consort. Brahma means divine consciousness and achar refers to behavior. Brahmacharya is the behavior or an act that is established in divine consciousness. This day is especially sacred to meditate and explore our inner divinity.
Third Day – Chandraghanta
On the third day, Devi Chandraghata is the presiding Devi. Chandraghata is the special form that Devi Parvati assumed at the time of Her marriage with Lord Shiva. Chandra refers to the moon. The moon represents our mind. The mind is restless and keeps moving from one thought to another. Ghanta is a bell which produces only one kind of sound always. The significance is that when our mind is established at one point, i.e Divine, then our prana (subtle life force energy) gets consolidated leading to harmony and peace. This day thus signifies withdrawing from all vagaries of the mind, with a single focus on Mother Divine.
Fourth Day – Kushmanda
On the fourth day, Mother Divine is worshipped as Devi Kushmanda. Kushmanda means a pumpkin. Ku means little, ushma means energy and anda refers to egg. This entire universe which arose from the cosmic egg (hiranyagarbha) is manifested from an infinitesimal energy of Devi. A pumpkin also represents prana as it has the unique property of absorbing and radiating prana. It is one of the most pranic vegetables. On this day, we worship Devi Kushmanda who showers us with Her divine energy.
Fifth Day – Skandamata
Skandamata means Mother of Skanda. On the fifth day, the motherly aspect of Devi Parvati is worshipped. In this form, she is the mother of Lord Karthikeya. She represents motherly affection (vatsalya). Worshiping this form of Devi brings abundance of wisdom, wealth, power, prosperity and liberation.
Sixth Day—Katyayani
On the sixth day, Devi manifests as Katyayani. It is a form that Mother Divine assumed to annihilate the demonic forces in the universe. She was born from the anger of the gods. She is the one who slayed Mahishasura. As per our scriptures, anger that supports dharma (righteousness) is acceptable. Devi Katyayani represents that divine principle and form of the Mother Divine who is behind natural calamities and disasters. She is the anger that arises in creation to restore balance. Devi Katyayani is invoked on the sixth day to put an end to all our inner foes that are an obstacle on the path of spiritual evolution.
Seventh Day – Kalaratri
On the seventh day, we invoke Devi Kalaratri. Mother Nature has two extremes. One is terrifying and devastating. The other is beautiful and serene. Devi Kalaratri is a fierce form of Devi. Kalaratri represents the dark night. Night is also considered an aspect of Mother Divine as it is night that brings solace, rest and comfort to our souls. It is only at night that we get a glimpse of infinity in the skies. Devi Kalaratri is that infinite dark energy that houses innumerable universes.
Eighth Day – Mahagauri
Devi Mahagauri is that which is beautiful, gives momentum and freedom in life. Mahagauri represents the beautiful and serene aspect of Nature. She is that energy which propels our lives and also liberates us. She is the Devi who is worshipped on the eighth day.
Ninth Day – Siddhidatri
On the ninth day, we worship Devi Siddhidatri. Siddhi means perfection. Devi Siddhidatri brings perfection in life. She makes the impossible, possible. She takes us beyond the ever reasoning logical mind to explore the realm beyond time and space.