‘Navratri’ meaning ‘nine nights’ marks the battle that took place between Durga and demon Mahishasura and celebrates the victory of Good over Evil. Goddess Durga and her nine Avatars is worshipped in these nine days.
Each day is associated with an incarnation of the Goddess. The nine forms of Goddess Durga are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidhatri.
Navratri also symbolises the removal of darkness from our lives by establishing victory over evil.
The devotees, who perform Navdurga worship keep vow for nine days according to their resolutions. Some people do the foodless fasting while some take food after breaking the fast in the evening. Also, some people only take a fruit diet or milk in fasting during Navratri.
The 10th day is celebrated as Dussehra to celebrate the victory of Lord Ram over the demon-king Ravana. In many regions, Dussehra is considered an auspicious time to begin educational or artistic pursuits, especially for children.
In Kerala, the books are placed for Puja on the Ashtami day in own houses, traditional nursery schools, or in temples. On Vijaya Dashami day, the books are ceremoniously taken out for reading and writing after worshiping Sarasvati. This day is considered auspicious for initiating the children into writing and reading, which is called Vidyarambham.
However, due to the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, this year there is restraint in the celebrations. Let’s all pray with much devotion to Maa Shakti to get this world rid of the pandemic.
