On the first three days of Navratri, the goddess is invoked as a powerful spiritual force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.
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The nine nights of celebration which precede the festival of Dussehra or Vijayadashmi, is known as Navratri. There was a time when the world was in the demonic grip of Maheshasura (a demon who had taken the form of a buffalo). The boon of invincibility, made him all powerful, for no man could ever defeat him in battle.
Maheshasura conquered the heavens, and possessed the palace of the gods. The gods pleaded with Shiva for help. Shiva appealed to Parvati, who used her shakti and a goddess appeared from the dark. Durga is the tamasic (dark) incarnation of Parvati. The gods bowed before Durga and offered her their powerful weapons. While the gods watched, Durga battled Maheshasur.
On Vijayadashmi, Durga won back the heavens and earth from Maheshasura when she thrust her trident into his chest and killed him. Navratri is a festival of worship,dance and music celebrated over a period of nine nights.It is celebrated from the first to ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha of the Hindu Calendar for the worship of the Goddess Durga.
Goddess Durga is believed to exist in many forms like Goddess Bhavani, Jagdamba,Mahakali and many many other names.
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.
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Devotees perform the ‘devi-sthaapna’ in their homes wherein they invite the Goddess and perform ‘pooja-path’ for nine days.
Gujaratis perform their traditional dances ‘Garba’ &’Dandiya-Raas’ during Navratri. The women-folk dance in a circle, singing ‘Garbas’ or traditional songs.’Dandiya-Raas’ is played with wooden sticks or ‘dandiyas’. Apart from Gujrat,Garbas are performed in other states & cities like Mumbai. Beautifully decorated ‘mandaps’are set up for playing garba & dandiya by various cultural societies,housing commitees & youth social groups. Young men-women wear colourful traditional dresses and play Garba with great enthusiasm.
The mood of Navratri is very colourful & unique. In West Bengal, Navratri is celebrated as ‘Durga-pooja’which is the most important festival in that part of India.Celebrations of Durga-pooja in Bengal are similar to celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra. Idols of Goddess Durga are worshipped for nine days in beautifully decorated ‘pandaals’. It is a public festival. On the tenth day,the ‘Visarjan’ or immersion of idols in sea waters is performed. In various parts of India,the ‘Ram-Leela’ is performed during Navratri.
Ram-Leela is a stage enaction of Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama. The day after Navratri,i.e.,tenth day, is observed as ‘Dassera’ or ‘Vijayadashmi’. It marks the victory of good over evil. It is believed that on this day, Lord Rama had killed the demon Ravana. So, on Vijayadashmi, effigies of Ravana are burnt all over India. During the first nine days of Asvina (aaso) month of Hindu calendar we honor “Divine Mother”.
Three days for Durga (Goddess of valor) three days for Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and three days for Sarswati (Goddess of Knowledge) are devoted to the Trinity of God worshipped in a female form. It is Sakti, identical to the Brahma (absolute) of Vedanta.
 The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the wife 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.
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On the fifth day (Lalita Panchami), it is traditional, to gather all books, light a lamp and invoke Sarswati (Goddess of knowledge and art).
Artisans will rest their “tools” and offer them worship. The eighth and ninth day, it is traditional to perform “Yagna” or Havana (sacrifice offered to the fire- purification and symbolic burning ceremony) to honor “Divine Mother” and bid her farewell.
Some devotees also observe “fast” for 1 day or all the nine days testing their ability to control their senses and create more energy “Sakti”. The tenth day, also known as Vijaya Dasami (day of Victory over evils), Dasara or Dussehra is significant to launch new activities or beginning of learning. In Northern India, huge effigies of Ravana are burnt to celebrate Rama’s conquest of the demon on the Tenth day.
There are parades or Ram lila in many localities. In eastern India, the festival is known as Durga Puja where the images are created, worshipped for 10 days and immersed in the sea. In southern India, houses are decorated with displays of dolls, toys and images of the Gods. In western India, the traditional Garb dance is performed nightly primarily by the ladies. Currently, however Dandiya (with disco beats) has taken a fancy with many men or women as they go in a trance like state with non-stop music.
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Ma Jay Aadhya Shakti જય આધશિકત આરતી
Jaya aadhya shakti,
maa jaya aadhya shakti,
Akhand brahmand nibhavyan,
Akhand brahmand nibhavyan,
padave pragatyan ma,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Dwitiya bay swaroop,
Shiva shakti janoo,
maa Shiva shakti janoo,
Bramha Ganapati gaavun,
Bramha Ganapati gaavun,
har gaavun har maa,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Tritiya tran swaroop,
Tribhuvan man betha,
maa tribhuvan man betha,
Traya thaki taraveni,
Traya thaki taraveni,
tun taraveni maa,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Chote chatura mahalaxmi,
sacharachar vyapya,
maa sacharachar vyapya,
Char bhuja chau deesha,
Char bhuja chau deesha,
pragatya dakshina maa,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Panchame pancha rushi,
Panchame goon padame,
maa panchame goon padame,
Pancha sahast tyan sohiya,
Pancha sahast tyan sohiya,
panche tatwo maa,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Shasthi tun Narayani,
mahisasur maaryo,
maa mahisasur maaryo,
Nar naree na roope,
vyapa saghade maa,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Saptami sapta pataal,
sandhya saveetri,
maa sandhya saveetri,
Gau ganga Gayatree,
Gau ganga Gayatree,
gauri geeta maa,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Asthami astha bhooja,
aayee ananda,
maa ayee ananda,
Surinar moonivar janamya,
Surinar moonivar janamya,
Devo daityo maa,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Navami navakul naag,
seve navadurga,
maa seve navadurga,
Navaratri naa poojan,
Shivratri naa arachan,
kidha nar brahma,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Dashami dash avatar,
jay vijiya dashmi,
maa jay vijiya dashmi,
Rame ram ramadya,
Ravan rodyo maa,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Ekadashi agiyarash,
katyayani kaamaa,
maa katyayani kaamaa,
Kaam doorga kalika,
Kaam doorga kalika,
Shyama ne raama,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Barase bala roop,
Bahuchari Amba maa,
maa Bahuchari Amba maa,
Batuk Bhairava sohiye,
Batuk Bhairava sohiye,
Tara chhe tuja,
maa jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Terase tulaja roop,
tun taruni mata,
maa tun taruni mata,
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv,
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv,
Guna tara gata,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Chaudashe chauda roop,
chandi chamunda,
maa chandi chamunda,
Bhava bhakti kain aapo,
Potani kai stapho,
sinha vahani,
maa jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Shivashakti ne aarti,
je koyee gaashe,
maa je bhaave gaashe,
Bhane shivananda swami,
Bhane shivananda swami,
sukha sampati thaassey,
har kailashe jaashe,
maa Amba dukha harashe,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Eke ek swaroop,
antar nava darasho,
maa antar nava darasho,
Bhola bhoodar na bhajata,
maa Amba ne bhajata,
bhavasaagar tarasho,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
Bhava na janoo,
bhakti na janoo seva,
maa na janoo seva,
Mata na daas ne raakho,
Mata na daas ne raakho,
charnamrit leva,
om jay om jay om maa jagadambe
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