Do u know why hindus celebrate navaratri?

Question

The number nine is closely associated with the process of Creation in the cosmic time cycle. It is considered puran or complete. Any number multiplied by nine gives a figure that adds up to nine. Ratri means night. The Rigveda states that creation came about when everything was covered in the darkness of night. Navratra signifies the concept of ‘Back to Godhead’

Nav means nine and Ratri means night. These nine nights occur on equinoxes when the sun is vertically overhead at the equator. The Cosmic Mother is worshipped during these 9 days. The number nine is closely associated with the process of Creation in the cosmic time cycle. It is considered puran or complete. Any number multiplied by nine gives a figure that adds up to nine.

Ratri means night. The Rigveda states that creation came about when everything was covered in the darkness of night. Navratra signifies the concept of ‘Back to Godhead’. The entire cosmic cycle consists of three phases: Creation, Preservation and Diss

and Dissolution. If one was to split each part into triads, then 3 times 3 would be 9.

The universe is composed of 36 ‘tatvas’ and there are 360 ‘tithis’ in a lunar year. Both numbers add up to 9. The No 9 is the highest number. After the number 9, comes the 0. In order to truly worship the Lord either become complete (with all the great qualities) like the number 9, or empty (devoid of ego, or in a state of total surrender) like the 0.

What Is Navratri?
Well, it is the nine days when we are suppose to thank the female principle of nature and the goddesses connected to them. As the agricultural communities had free time only in the evenings (days being too busy with manual labour in the fields), evenings and nights were chosen as the ideal times to celebrate the festival of the goddesses. In brief, the nine nights are dedicated to the three main goddesses of Hinduism—Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

The first three nights are dedicated to the goddess of action and energy.

Her different manifestations viz Kumari, Parvati and Kali are worshipped during these days. They represent the three natures or classes of womanhood—the virgin young girl, auspicious wife or mother and the angry old hag! This is not a criticism of women, just a classification. It helps us recognise the different aspects of our own nature.

Lakshmi is worshipped for the next three days in her various aspects as the goddesses of peace, plenty and bliss. Fulfilment is more important than wealth itself. As the goddess of wealth, she governs not just the bank balance, but also such basic things as family, friends, food etc.

Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge. Not just the knowledge of how to earn a living, but how to ‘live’ as well.

She is the goddess of the spiritual knowledge and the knowledge that frees us from this bind of Samsara. She is worshipped during the final three days of the Navratri.

The nine nights are there for us to revel in the knowledge of the goddesses that live within us, imbibing us with their spiritual energy and power. Used for the good, they help liberate us from the mire of this world. Use these energies unwisely, and they will snare us in the maya of this world. We should meditate of these aspects of the nine nights that was the reason they originally came into being. For the ardent devotees of Maa nine divine nights are the utmost heavenly bliss.

Answer 1

Navratri, Navaratri or Navaratra is a Hindu festival of worship and dance. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit; Nava - Nine and Ratri - nights. The festival is celebrated for nine nights twice every year during mid-March and the beginning of October, although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the Hindu lunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a day less depending on the calendar.

Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses. On the first three days, the goddess is invoked as a powerful spiritual force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. During the next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the daughter of brahma as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence, the worship for nine nights.

During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. A period of introspection and purification, Navaratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures.

On the tenth day of October Navratri, the holiday of Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.

Answer 2

I thot you wanted an answer to your question, but there you go, giving details of a lesser known explanation of this aspect of the festival.

To add to what you said, Hinduism is the only religion that 'celebrates' every instance in life. Be it change in seasons (Holi), be it exalting the feminine power within this universe (dussera / navrathri) be it the virtues of good winning over evil (diwali) or even a prosperous crop season (sankranti). Hindu weddings are so much fun and enjoyment too. Isn't that wonderful !

Answer 3

Beautiful beleifs. I'm glad you all are worshipping in peace and not killing non-beleivers in the process. Beautiful.