Navratri is here, and everyone has geared up to celebrate it with utmost zeal and enthusiasm. Wherever you will go, you are going to find lights, huge pandals, idols of Maa Durga and of course beautiful chaniya cholis being sold accompanied by dandiya.
Now that the enthusiasm and devotion are not ready to leave their place, it is very important to know the reason behind the big celebration and also some facts that are not known to many, some stories that simply went unheard. There are different reasons as to why this festival is so big and lavish in India. Various religions claim to have different stories to tell us, we thought of compiling it all for you in the form of listicles.
Read further, and you will find some new and interesting facts about Navratri. :)
Did you know the meaning of Navratri?
According to an article, the word Navratri literally means 'nine nights'. Although, there are four navratris that are observed around a calendar year, but we generally celebrate two.
The big significance.
As per an article, Navratri is a celebration of Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura. To end the atrocities of the demon, the Gods created Durga. Mahishasura wanted to marry her as he was fascinated by her beauty. Durga agreed on the condition that he had to defeat her in a battle before marrying her, the battle went on for nine days and nine nights. On the tenth day, Durga emerged victorious as she killed the evil, buffalo-headed demon.
Do you know anything about buffalo sacrifice?
The reason behind buffalo sacrifice.
Mahishasura had the head of a buffalo. So the unfortunate animal is sacrificed during Navratri in many parts of the country. The animal has to be beheaded with a single stroke. Usually, priests recite a mantra in the ear of the animal before the sacrifice, to free it from the cycle of life and death.
The secret behind nine days.
Nine different days of Navratri signify nine Goddess, during the nine nights, nine different forms or avatars of the Devi are worshipped – a different form each night.
Lord Rama worshipped Durga.
A legend says that Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga's nine forms over nine days. As a result, he was granted the strength to kill the evil Ravana and free Sita.