The Nine Shades of Navratri

Navratri is the widely observed festival in India where goddess Durga, the symbol of wisdom and purity is worshipped the nationwide.

It is the celebration of good being triumphant over evil and the festival spans for nine days when the millennia soak in festive hues with bright clothing and a spirited heart. The key highlight of the festival is ‘Garba’, the traditional dance which is performed throughout the nine days by the devotees. Garba is symbolic of Lord Krisna indulging in merriment with his Gopis in the sacred land of Vrindavan.

In the due course of Navratri, Goddess Durga and her nine avatars are worshipped with utmost devotion. It is said that worshipping the goddess insulates the lives of devotees against all kinds of evil and they are sorted for a prosperous future.

The childless seek blessings of goddess to have a child, the unemployed seek her blessings to be placed in his dream job, the ailing seek her blessings for riddance from the diseases and goddess never disappoints her devotees, it is said.

However, this one begs a question as to why there are nine shades of Navratri. Well, perhaps because the nine avatars of the goddess being worshipped during the nine days time is the answer for the question. We will hereby discuss about the nine avatars of the goddess and why they are so significant:

Mata Shailaputri:

She is first among the avatars who are worshipped. The devotees wear yellow in the day she is worshipped. This day is going to fall on 10th October, 2018.

Mata Brahmacharini:

She is the second in the nine avatars of the goddess who is worshipped in the second day of Navratri. Her devotees wear the color green in the day she is worshipped. The day is going to fall on 11th October, 2018 .

Mata Chandraghanta:

Mata Chandraghanta is the third among the nine avatars who is worshipped during the third day of Navratri. Her devotees wear Grey in the day she is worshipped. This avatar of the goddess symbolizes serenity, peace, beauty and bravery. The day will fall on 11th October, 2018.

Mata Kushmanda:

Kushmanda Mata is the fourth avatar among the nine avatars of goddess durga who is worshipped during the fourth day of Navtarti. She is known to be the creator of the Universe and the color her devotees wear at the day she is worshipped is Orange. This day will fall on 12th October, 2018.

Skandamata:

Skandamata is known to be the main face of Maa Durga who has slain the demons. The day she is worshipped is called Panchami and her devotees wear white at the day she is worshipped. This day will fall on 13th October, 2018.

Mata Katyayani:

She is the sixth avatar of goddess Durga hence worshipped in the sixth day of Navratri. Her ardent devotees wear Red as this is the color that symbolizes her. This day will fall on 14th October, 2018.

Mata Kaalratri:

She is the seventh avatar of goddess Durga hence worshipped in the seventh day of Navratri. She is believed to shield her devotes from all sorts of evils. She ushers them into happiness and freedom as they worship her. The day she is worshipped is called Saptami and her devotees wear the color blue on this day. It will fall on the 15th October, 2018.

Mata Mahagauri:

Mahagauri is worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri and her color is Pink. She is said to purify her devotees of their sins. This day will fall on 16th October, 2018.

Mata Siddhidatri:

She is worshipped in the ninth day of Navratri as for being the ninth avatar of goddess Durga. She is believed to have supernatural powers and her day is an auspicious day for the female devotees. Purple is the color of Mata Siddhidatri. This day will fall on 17th October, 2018.

These are the nine consecutive days in the 2018 calendar when the nine avatars of goddess Durga will be worshipped. This is the reason why Navratri has nine shades.