Navratri
For Shardiya Navratri Puja Samagri, include essential items favoured by Goddess Durga to ensure a successful worship. Other important items for the puja are an earthen pot, barley, soil, an urn filled with water, cardamom, clove, camphor, moli (sacred thread), a whole betel nut, rice, coins to place in the urn or pot, five leaves of Ashoka or mango tree, a coconut, a red dupatta or chunni, flower garlands, makeup products, ittar (perfume), vermilion or sindoor, flowers, Durva grass, and fruits.
People who worship the goddess Durga during Navratri may do so in one of her many forms, such as Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri, or Siddhidayini. In order to receive their heavenly benefits, they simultaneously worship the three principal manifestations of Goddess Shakti—Durga, Saraswati, and Lakshmi.
To commemorate this occasion in accordance with their customs, families and friends get together. People in Gujarat perform the Dandiya dance, keep fasts, and devote their time to prayer. India’s eastern regions observe Navratri as Durga Puja.
It is celebrated as Navratri in North India, with nine days of fervent Mother Goddess worship concluding with Dussehra. The burning of Ravana’s effigy during Dussehra symbolises the victory of good over evil.
The Nine Days of Navratri - Goddesses and Colours
Day 1: Maa Shailputri – Yellow (representing nature, joy and brightness, energy, and new beginnings).
Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini – Green (representing growth, nature, fertility, and devotion).
Day 3: Maa Chandraghanta – Grey (representing courage, balance and overcoming darkness with calm).
Day 4: Maa Kushmanda – Orange (representing warmth, enthusiasm, creativity, optimism, determination, and cosmic energy).
Day 5: Maa Skandamata – White (representing purity, peace, serenity and maternal love).
Day 6: Maa Katyayani – Red (representing fierce power, passion, love and action).
Day 7: Maa Kalaratri – Royal Blue (representing strength, courage, divine energy, and removing darkness).
Day 8: Maa Mahagauri – Pink or Peacock Green (representing optimism, grace, individuality and uniqueness and compassion).
Day 9: Maa Siddhidatri – Purple or Violet (representing ambition, achievement, and spirituality).
