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NAVRATRI BY: ANUPAMA RAO
Navratri is the nine-day Hindu festival that happens in the months of September-October. Although there are four Navratris, the one celebrated in the lunar month of Sharad, or postmonsoon is the most popular. Signifying the victory of good over evil, it has been associated with the Ramayana, one of the epics in Indian mythology, as well as Goddess Parvati in the form of Durga defeating the buffalo demon, Mahishasur. It celebrates the nine forms of Goddess Durga, also known as Navadurga. Each of the nine days is dedicated to one form of the Navadurga with a special significance. DAY 1: Maa Shailputri. She is the daughter of the King of Mountains, Himawan since “Shail� means mountain. She is the embodiment of the Holy Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva); and is mounted upon a bull, carrying a trishula (trident) and a lotus. DAY 2: Maa Brahmacharini. In the celibate form of the Goddess, she practices penance and hard austerity. She carries a Japa mala (rosary beads) and a kamandalu (oblong water pot) and is always seen barefoot.
DAY 3: Maa Chandraghanta. After marrying Lord Shiva, she wears a crescent moon on her head which is shaped like a bell. Mounted upon a tigress, she carries a trishula (trident), Gada (mace), sword, and a kamandalu (oblong water pot) in four left hands and keeps the fifth in Varada Mudra (palm facing outward with the fingers pointing down). In her four right hands, she carries a Kamala (lotus), arrow, Dhanush (bow), and Japa mala (rosary beads) while the fifth hand is in Abhaya Mudra (palm facing outward with the fingers pointing up). DAY 4: Maa Kushmanda. The breakdown of this name of Goddess Durga: Ku, meaning little; Ushma, meaning energy; and Anda, meaning egg (in this case, cosmic egg). This form of Durga is believed to be the liberator of the energy into the universe as she resides in the center of the Sun. Mounted upon a lion, she has a kamandalu (oblong water pot), Dhanush (bow), arrow, and a lotus in her right hands while holding an Amrit Kalash (pot of elixir), Japa mala (rosary beads), Gada (mace), and Chakra (discus).
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