PROMINENT STORIES BEHIND THE CELEBRATION OF NAVRATRI FESTIVAL

 

This festive season is essentially about the power of good defeating the power of Evil and restoring Dharmic balance when the wicked tilt the scale says an expert in the field of Religious studies. Abiding to those words, here are the prominent stories behind the celebration of Navaratri festival.

The word Navratri is derived from two Sanskrit words—'nava' meaning nine and 'ratri' meaning night. The legend associated with Navratri speaks about the great battle that took place between the powerful demon Mahishasura and Goddess Durga.

 The divine light that came out of all the gods during the puja created Maa Durga. The fight between Maa Durga and Mahishasura lasted for ten days. Goddess Durga slayed the demon king on the tenth day, and hence the day it is celebrated as Vijaya Dashami, symbolising the victory of good over evil.

 Navratri is devoted to the worship of Maa Durga and her nine avatars - known as Navadurga. The 9 days of Navratri are dedicated to the worship of 9 forms of the Goddess – Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalaratri, Mahagauri, Durga or ParaShakti.

Celebrated by Hindus with enthusiasm, there are four types of Navratri. The one celebrated this month is Shardiya Navratri. It falls in autumn in the lunar month of Ashwin.

 Navratri signifies 'good over evil' and for this very reason, everyone celebrates this festival with utmost importance. This festival is a sign of good over evil and how Goddess Durga triumphed over the demon Mahishasur, to free the land of all evil.

 In another context Navratri or  Dusshera is celebrated to mark Lord Rama's victory over the demon Ravana that signifies the triumph of good over evil. On Dussehra, huge effigies of Ravana are burnt with fireworks which symbolize the quelling of darkness by light.

 During Navratri, one can witness the recital or enactment of the epic 'Ramayana'. The tenth day marks the ultimate fight between Lord Rama and Ravana. Lord Ram courageously kills the ten-headed demon by shooting an arrow in his navel, which is the source of his power. Ravana dies and Lord Ram hails victory. Because Lord Ram killed demon king Ravan on this day. Thus to commemorate the incident celebrate Dushehra is celebrated. Burning of Ravan is symbolic of eliminating the evil inside us.

 The other source says that the custom of celebrating Durga Puja in the autumn was initiated by Lord Ram in the Ramayana- the story about the 'Akaal Bodhon- Durga Puja is the celebration of the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasur's assassination at the hands of Goddess Durga.

 The significance of Durga Puja has also been inscribed in the great Hindu epic 'Ramayana'. It is said that Rama before going on a war with Raavan did chandi-puja and invoked the blessings of Durga so that he could become invincible. Durga then divulged the secret to Rama how he could kill Raavan.

 

These mythological stories were for the good of humans and to prove that truth triumphs and good wins over the evil.