Navratri

Navratri, 'The Festival of Nine Nights', is celebrated during the first nine days of the Hindu month of Ashvin (September-October) which coincides with the end of the rainy season. This season is considered to be an auspicious one as it is generally associated with the sowing of seeds, and watching new seeds sprout - a sign of prosperity and abundance. Most people consider it the best time of the year to undertake or start new ventures.

It commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over a demon, 'Mahishasur', hence she is also called 'Mahishasuramardhini'(Goddess who slained Mahishasura) . Endowed with power, by the blessing of Lord Shiva the demon started destroying innocent people. The gods invoked Goddess Durga and asked for her help. The goddess, astride a lion fought with the demon and cut off his head.

It is an occasion for vibrant festivities throughout the country. During Navarathri, devotees of Durga fast and pray for health and prosperity. Different manifestations of Durga or shakti are worshipped every night. Devotees and young enthusiasts dance the Garba or Dandiya-Raas throughout the night, in keeping with the exuberant nature of this festival. The Navarathri festival celebrations at Ahmedabad and Baroda are famous throughout Gujarat. Here the evenings and nights are occasions for the fascinating Garba dance. The women dance around an earthen lamp while singing devotional songs accompanied by rhythmic clapping of the hands. In Punjab, Navarathri is a period of fasting.


In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka dolls called Bommai kolu are placed and decorated. Goddesses Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswathi are worshipped for three days. Gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets are exchanged. Scenes culled from various stories in the epics and puranas are displayed.
The internet has only brought more colors into these celebrations with e-greetings and now there are temples which conduct even e puja...
http://www.eprarthana.com/sify/navarathri/navarathri.asp