Navaratri is celebrated two times in a year, first in the month of Chaitra (March- April) and second time in the month of Ashwani (September – October). It is continuously celebrated for nine days in deep devotion of goddess Maa Durga. As per Hindu mythology, goddess Durga exists in many forms. These various forms of the Goddess are Uma, Gauri, Parvati, Jagatmata, Kali, Chandi, Ambika and Bhairavi, etc. and is worshipped during this nine-day long festival. People worship her by referring to her as Mata Sherawali as the first appearance of her was sitting on a tiger.
Chaitra Navaratri or the nine (nava-) nights (-ratri) of Durga, are celebrated in the first 9 days of the bright half of the month of Chaitra (starting from the day after Amavasya). This period of nine days heralds the onset of spring and also marks the beginning of the new year for the hindu calendar in most parts of India.
The nine-day festival honors the role of three prinicipal female Goddesses in the Hindu pantheon – Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The period of Chaitra Navaratri concludes with Ramanavami on the tenth day of the festival. Three days each are devoted to the worship of Maa Durga, the Goddess of Valor, Ma Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Maa Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge.
People keep fasts, go to temples, and sing devotional prayers during these nine days. In homes people place the images of goddess Durga and worship her by singing devotional songs and bhajans. Most of the people visit temples that are beautifully decorated with lights and flowers.Evenings give rise to the religious dances in order to worhip Goddess Durga Maa.
On the eighth and the ninth day people end Navratri by calling young girls to their home and giving them delicious items to eat.
