Nava Durga

Navaratri  is  a festival celebrated with great aplomb  among Indians. The word” Navratri”  can be split into two words ‘Nava’ which means  Nine and ‘ratri ‘ means nights.  Navarati  is  a festival of nine  nights  where  each day one divine swaroop of mother out of the nine forms of shakti manifestations are worshipped.

Each goddess has a different form and a special significance. Nava Durga, if worshipped with religious fervor during Navaratri, it is believed, lift the divine spirit in us and fill us with renewed happiness.All the nine names of goddess are narrated in ‘Devi Kavacha’ of the ‘Chandipatha’ scripture.

In some places, First three days of Navratri puja rituals are dedicated to Goddess Durga. And the next three days to Goddess Lakshmi and the final three days are to Goddess Saraswathi.

    First day of Navratri – Kalasha Sthapana (Kalasha Pooja) or Ghata Sthapana – Shailaputri Puja

    Second day of Navratri – Preeti Dwitiya – Brahmacharini Puja

    Third day of Navaratri – Chandrakanta pooja or Chandraghanta puja

    Fourth day of Navaratri – Kushmanda pooja

    Fifth day of Navratri – Skandamata Puja – Lalitha Panchami

    Sixth day of Navratri – Katyayani Puja – Maha Shashti or Durga Shashti

    Seventh day of Navratri – Kaalratri Pooja – Durga Saptami or Maha Sapthami

    Eighth day of Navaratri – Maha Gauri Pooja – (Durgashtami Puja/Maha Ashtami/Veerashtami)

    Ninth day of Navaratri – Siddhidatri Puja – (Mahanavami/Maharnavami or Durga Navami) 

    Tenth day of Navratri – Aparajitha Puja or Shami Pooja – Vijaya Dashami or Dasara

In south India, Saraswati Puja is observed on the seventh day of Navaratri which is also observed as Durga Saptami or Maha Saptami. In Bengal and other East Indian states, Durgashtami (the eighth day of Navratri) is the biggest event among Navratri festivals.

Nava Durga  means ‘Nine Durga matas’ whose presence is invoked  on the nine days and blessings are sought by the Indian households.

Nava Durgas 

v ShailaPutri

v Brahmacharini

v Chandraghanta

v Kushmanda

v Skandamata

v Katyayani

v Kaalratri

v Maha Gauri

v Siddhiratri