Navratri, the festival of nine nights is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. According to the Hindu calendar, Navratri begins from the first day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin which usually coincides with the end of the rainy season.

The nine days have great religious significance as Goddess.

Durga, the devine  mother, had destroyed the evil force (in the form of the demon Mahisashura) during this period.

The festival is celebrated with true devotion and purity all over the country. People from various sections of the society irrespective of caste and creed celebrate this festival by visiting temples and offering pujas at the Mother’s feet.

In some places special puja samarohas are also held by setting the images of Mother Durga on beautifully decorated pandals. Temples dedicated to Shakti also make arrangement for pujas and bratas to mark thesenine days as true symbols of devotion and adoration towards the divine mother

Durga Puja or Navaratri Festival

Navratri Festival commences from Oct 8 and will end on Oct 16. Dashera falls on Oct 17. These nine days are considered the most auspicious days and during these days Goddess Durga is worshipped.

Durga, the mother goddess of the Hindus and a form of Devi and Shakti is believed to have manifested in various forms, and Navadurga are believed to be the most sacred forms of Durga. According to a Hindu tradition, it is believed that there are three major forms in which Durga manifested herself, namely, Maha Saraswati, Mahalaxmi and Mahakali who are the active energies of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra respectively, without these goddesses the gods will lose all their powers. These three forms of Durga further manifested in three more forms each, and thus emerged the nine forms of Durga, which are collectively called Navadurga or Nine Durgas. Navadurga are famously worshipped during the Autumn Navratri or the Nine days, initiating the devotees into a period of festivities according to Hindu calendar. It is said in our sacred scriptures that at the time of creation the Divine Mother took form and set in motion the wheel of menifation. She bestowed her healing spirit and regenerative energy into the womb. According to Vedic seers and Rishis a woman`s feminity cannot exit apart from her Shakti.

Adi-Parashakti is the concept of ultimate Shakti the ultimate feminine power inherent in all creations. This sect of Hinduism named Shakta worships the Goddess Devi in all her menifastations

Parvati or Durga

Parvati or Durgais considered the supreme Sagun form of Adi-Parashakti with her consort Lord Rudra. The color of her vestment is white which depicts she is Sarva Gun Sampann.

Saraswati

Saraswati: The first partial expansion of Adi- Parashakti is Goddess Saraswati who is the giver of Knowledge, wisdom, learning, art, spirituality and devotion (Bhakti). She is the prime deity of Satva Gun. Her Nirgun form is sound energy. The color of her vestment is yellow.

Mahalaxmi

Mahalaxmi:The second partial expansion of Adi- Parashakti is Goddess Mahalaxmi. She is the Goddess of fortune. She is the original power of Lord Narayan. She is the giver of all kinds of wealth and pleasure and is primary deity of Rajas Gun. Her Nirgun form is Light. The color of her vestment is red.

Mahakali

Mahakali: She is the third partial expansion of Goddess Adi- Parashakti. She is the Goddess of spiritual fulfillment. She is the giver of Salvation. She is the original power of Lord Shiva. She is the primary deity of Tamas Gun. Heat energy is her Nirgun form. The color of her vestment is blue.