We were lucky to be in Rishikesh to witness the Navratri (nine nights) festival where the feminine energy is celebrated for nine days. We got to know about the festival from our hosts who invited Nora and us to join them for the celebrations. We read up a little bit about the festival and it was really nice to know that the feminine aspects/energy is celebrated all across the country and different aspects of a female life are given so much importance. We are sharing what we learned about this festival here.
This festival is celebrated for nine nights in honour of the divine feminine, Devi (Durga). These nine days are solely dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine avatars/forms. Each day is associated to an incarnation of the goddess. And here are the nine avatars -
Day 1: Shailaputri (Celebrated as a Daughter)
On the first day of the celebrations, the feminine is celebrated for her role as a daughter. The daughter of the Himalayan Mountains, Parvati is celebrated for this day's celebration. The color of the day is red and people who celebrate this day wear red colored clothes.
Day 2: Brahmacharini (Celebrated as a Single Women)
On the second day, the feminine is celebrated as a single women who is said to symbolise bliss and calm. Parvati as her unmarried self, Sati, is celebrated on this day. The peacock blue is the colour code of this particular day.
Day 3: Chandraghanta (Celebrated as a Wife)
On the third day, the feminine is celebrated as a Wife. The third day commemorates the worship of Chandraghanta - the name derived from the fact that after marrying Shiva, Parvati adorned her forehead with half-chandra (half moon). She is the embodiment of beauty and is also a symbol of bravery. Yellow is the colour of the third day, which is a vivacious colour.
Day 4: Kushmanda (Celebrated as a life creating force, a Pregnant Woman)
On the fourth day, feminine is celebrated for her life creating force, her energies and ability to create and bring a new life into this world. The goddess Kushmanda is worshiped on this day. Believed to be the creative power of universe, Kushmanda associated to the endowment of vegetation on earth and hence, the color of the day is Green. She is depicted as having eight arms and sits on a Tiger.
Day 5: Skandmata (Celebrated as a Mother)
On the fifth day, feminine is celebrated as a mother. Goddess Skandmata, is worshiped on this day. She is the mother of Skanda (or Kartikeya). The color Grey is symbolic of the transforming strength of a mother when her child is confronted with danger. She is depicted riding a ferocious lion, having four arms and holding her baby.
Day 6: Katyayani (Celebrated for her courage)
On this day, the feminine is celebrated for her courage. Katyayini is celebrated on this day. Born to a sage Katyayana, she is an incarnation of Durga and is shown to exhibit courage which is symbolized by the color Orange. Known as the warrior goddess, she is considered one of the most violent forms of Goddess Parvati. In this avatar, Kātyāyanī rides a lion and has four hands.
Day 7: Kalaratri (Celebrated for her ferociousness)
On this day, feminine is celebrated for her ferociousness. Considered to be the most ferocious form of Goddess Durga, Kalaratri is revered on this day. It is believed that Parvati removed her fair skin to kill the demons Sumbha and Nisumbha. The color of the day is White. On Saptami (seventh day), the Goddess appears in a white colour attire with a lot of rage in her fiery eyes, her skin turns black. The white colour portrays prayer and peace, and ensures the devotees that the Goddess will protect them from harm.
Day 8: Mahagauri (Celebrated for her intelligence and peacefulness)
On the eighth day, feminine is celebrated for her intelligence and peacefulness. Goddess Mahagauri is celebrated on this day, who symbolizes intelligence and peace. The color associated to this day is Pink which depicts optimism.
Day 9: Sidhidatri (Celebrated for the gifts of her knowledge and nourishment)
On the last day of the festival also known as Navami, people pray to Siddhidhatri for her knowledge and nourishment. Sitting on a lotus, she is believed to possess and bestow enlightenment/liberation. Here she has four hands. Also known as Saraswati Devi (Goddess of knowledge). The light blue colour of the day portrays an admiration towards nature's beauty.
The specific rituals that are practised are different in different parts of the country. You can read a sample of these rituals and prayers that are performed at this link - https://rgyan.com/en/festival-detail/navratri-puja-vidhi
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| Nora being celebrated as one of the forms of the feminine |
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| Nora along with other children who were invited by our hosts to celebrate nine forms of the feminine |
This festival is celebrated for nine nights in honour of the divine feminine, Devi (Durga). These nine days are solely dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine avatars/forms. Each day is associated to an incarnation of the goddess. And here are the nine avatars -
Day 1: Shailaputri (Celebrated as a Daughter)
On the first day of the celebrations, the feminine is celebrated for her role as a daughter. The daughter of the Himalayan Mountains, Parvati is celebrated for this day's celebration. The color of the day is red and people who celebrate this day wear red colored clothes.
Day 2: Brahmacharini (Celebrated as a Single Women)
On the second day, the feminine is celebrated as a single women who is said to symbolise bliss and calm. Parvati as her unmarried self, Sati, is celebrated on this day. The peacock blue is the colour code of this particular day.
Day 3: Chandraghanta (Celebrated as a Wife)
On the third day, the feminine is celebrated as a Wife. The third day commemorates the worship of Chandraghanta - the name derived from the fact that after marrying Shiva, Parvati adorned her forehead with half-chandra (half moon). She is the embodiment of beauty and is also a symbol of bravery. Yellow is the colour of the third day, which is a vivacious colour.
Day 4: Kushmanda (Celebrated as a life creating force, a Pregnant Woman)
On the fourth day, feminine is celebrated for her life creating force, her energies and ability to create and bring a new life into this world. The goddess Kushmanda is worshiped on this day. Believed to be the creative power of universe, Kushmanda associated to the endowment of vegetation on earth and hence, the color of the day is Green. She is depicted as having eight arms and sits on a Tiger.
Day 5: Skandmata (Celebrated as a Mother)
On the fifth day, feminine is celebrated as a mother. Goddess Skandmata, is worshiped on this day. She is the mother of Skanda (or Kartikeya). The color Grey is symbolic of the transforming strength of a mother when her child is confronted with danger. She is depicted riding a ferocious lion, having four arms and holding her baby.
Day 6: Katyayani (Celebrated for her courage)
On this day, the feminine is celebrated for her courage. Katyayini is celebrated on this day. Born to a sage Katyayana, she is an incarnation of Durga and is shown to exhibit courage which is symbolized by the color Orange. Known as the warrior goddess, she is considered one of the most violent forms of Goddess Parvati. In this avatar, Kātyāyanī rides a lion and has four hands.
Day 7: Kalaratri (Celebrated for her ferociousness)
On this day, feminine is celebrated for her ferociousness. Considered to be the most ferocious form of Goddess Durga, Kalaratri is revered on this day. It is believed that Parvati removed her fair skin to kill the demons Sumbha and Nisumbha. The color of the day is White. On Saptami (seventh day), the Goddess appears in a white colour attire with a lot of rage in her fiery eyes, her skin turns black. The white colour portrays prayer and peace, and ensures the devotees that the Goddess will protect them from harm.
Day 8: Mahagauri (Celebrated for her intelligence and peacefulness)
On the eighth day, feminine is celebrated for her intelligence and peacefulness. Goddess Mahagauri is celebrated on this day, who symbolizes intelligence and peace. The color associated to this day is Pink which depicts optimism.
Day 9: Sidhidatri (Celebrated for the gifts of her knowledge and nourishment)
On the last day of the festival also known as Navami, people pray to Siddhidhatri for her knowledge and nourishment. Sitting on a lotus, she is believed to possess and bestow enlightenment/liberation. Here she has four hands. Also known as Saraswati Devi (Goddess of knowledge). The light blue colour of the day portrays an admiration towards nature's beauty.
The specific rituals that are practised are different in different parts of the country. You can read a sample of these rituals and prayers that are performed at this link - https://rgyan.com/en/festival-detail/navratri-puja-vidhi
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