Navratri: A Celebration Of Power And Righteousness 

 

Navratri (one of the most celebrated and important festivals of the Hindu calendar) gives mankind the path to spiritual growth by the story of Goddess Durga.

The Legend Of Goddess Durga :

It is believed by Hindus, that an evil tyrant Mahishasur  was given a boon by the creator of the world Brahma that no man or god shall kill him. 

Blinded by ego and arrogance, his torturous deeds troubled the demigods of heaven. 

This led them to praying to the holy trinity ( Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) for salvation from this demon who had taken over the heavens and posed a terrible threat to the tranquillity and stability of the world.

Hearing the distressful prayers of the demigods, the holy trinity decided to take immediate action.

Combining their powers, the divine female energy produced burst into the form of Goddess Durga (the one who is invincible).

Portrayed in a motherly image, she is adorned with all the illustrious weapons of the gods in her ten arms as well as the trident.

The battle with Mahishasur lasted for nine nights until the tenth night where she used the trident to end tyranny and establish righteousness.

To commemorate her victory over evil, Navratri (the festival of nine nights) is a celebration where Hindus usually fast and many perform garba to acknowledge the divine feminine power.

Durga puja is performed as a tribute to Goddess Durga all over India by Hindus and is a significant part of this glorious festival.

This divine tale teaches us how ignorance and arrogance will never prevail as long as there is morality and righteousness in the world.

Here’s what some Hindus have to say about this festival:

" Navratri has great spiritual importance for me and it provides one with a sense of mental stillness  and wellbeing " (Ganesh Ghatia)

" It signifies women empowerment " (Sejal Patel)

 

On the whole, Navratri is a festival close to people's spirituality and religious beliefs and for many, a way to enlighten themselves and remove obstacles on their path to achieve success.