Navratri is a famous festival of India, dedicated to the worship of the goddess “Durga”. The word Navratri comes from Sanskrit, where “Nav” means “Nine” and “Ratri” stands for “Night”. So, the whole word Navratri means nine nights. Means this festival is celebrated for nine nights and ten days in which nine forms of goddess Durga are worshiped. The nine forms of Durga are Shailputri, Brahmcharni, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.

happy navratri 2013Navratri begins from the bright fortnight of the lunar month “Ashwin”. According to the English calendar, it falls in the month of September or October. All the nine days from Ghat-Asthapana to Maha-Navami are celebrated with very obeisance and the last day is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra after Durga Visarjan. Navratri is widely celebrated across the India but it is a major festival of some states of North India like West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab.

From one month ago statue makers begins their work to make a major statue of Maa Durga. In Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with famous Dandiya-Rass and Garba dances. In Bihar and Bengal, Durgashtami is celebrated with a great joy. People also enjoy a big fair with their family. Children buy different toys and enjoy rides. After completion of nine days, we celebrate tenth day as Dussehra. On Dussehra people make a major mannequin of Ravana. Lord Rama renounces an arrow to combust-off the mannequin of Ravana.

In 2013, Navratri will be celebrated from October 5 to October 13. The Maha-Navami and the Dussehra will fall on the same date October 13. Wish you a “Happy Navratri 2013” from SAG Mart family.