Navratri including two words Nav+Ratri. 'Nav' means 'nine' 'Ratri' means 'nights'. Thus Navratri is the festival of nine nights. It is celebrated for nine nights in honor of goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswat every year in the Hindu month of Ashvin (September-October) although as the dates of the festival are in relation to the Hindu calendar (which is based on the Moon), the festival may be held for a day more or a day less relying on the calendar. It coincides with the closing stages of the rainy season. This season is well thought-out to be an auspicious one as it is normally associated with the sowing of seeds, and watching new seeds sprout - a sign of prosperity and abundance. Most people regard it the best time of the year to undertake or start new task.
Worshipping of Different Goddess :
These foremost nine days of Navratri festival are divided and devoted to the Trinity of God worshiped in a female form. The worshiped of originally three days for Durga 'Godess of Valor' worshiped, three days for Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and three days for Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge and Art).
1st - 3rd day of Navratri - In the beginning day of Navratri, a small mud bed is prepared in the Puja Room of the house and barley seeds are sown on it. On the tenth day, the shoots are about 3 - 5 inches in length. After the Puja, these seedlings are pulled out and bestowed to devotees as a blessing from God. Initial three days are dedicated to Durga Maa, "Goddess of power and energy". Her various manifestations, Kumari, Parvati and Kali are all worshipped in these days.
4th - 6th day of Navratri - During these days, Lakshmi Maa "Goddess of peace and prosperity" is worshipped. On the fifth day of Navratri, is known as Lalita Panchami, it is traditional, to gather and display all literature available in the house, light a lamp or 'diya' to pray to Saraswati Maa "Goddess of knowledge and art".
7th - 8th day of Navratri - Last and the final days are devoted to Saraswati Maa to get the spiritual knowledge. It in turn will free us from all earthly bondage. Other Than on the 8th day of this colourful festival, yagna (holy fire) is performed. Ghee (clarified butter), kheer (rice pudding) and sesame seeds form the holy offering to Goddess Durga Maa.
Festivity of Navratri:
Navratri is celebrated by all Hindus at the same time in different ways in different parts of India . In the northern country, the first nine days of this festival, calledNavaratri, is generally observed as a time for rigorous fast, followed by celebrations on the tenth day. In western country, especially in Gujarat , nine nights of Navratri are spent in song, dance and merriment. Garba is an elegant form of dance, wherein women dressed in exquisitely embroidered Choli, Ghagra and Bandhani Dupattas, dance gracefully in circles around a pot containing a lamp. In eastern country in Bengal , the Durga Puja is the foremost festival during Navratri. It is celebrated with cheerfulness and dedication through public ceremonies of "Sarbojanin Puja" or community worship. The earthen pictures of Goddess Durga, accompanied by those of, Saraswati,Ganesha and Kartikya, are taken out on the tenth day in a triumphal procession to the nearby river, where they are ceremonially immersed.
Mahanavami:
The festival of Navratri culminates in Mahanavami. On this day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young lasses representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered food mainly consisting kala chana, halwa and poori in addition new clothes or gifts by the worshiper. This ritual is performed in most parts of the country.
