Navratri is one of the major and significant festivals celebrated all over India wherein Goddess Durga is worshipped. Basically, it is a festival of nine days where various forms of Devi Durga are worshipped. Many people observe fast during this auspicious festival and visit temples to seek the divine blessings. People believe that offering prayers to the Goddess every day gives them complete satisfaction and peace of mind.

In the year 2019, Navratri starts from 06^th of April to 14^th April.

The history behind the Navratri celebration

According to the Hindu mythology, there was a very powerful demon king known as the Mahishasura who had acquired mighty powers by worshipping Lord Shiva. He started tormenting those who took the name of the Lord other than him. He began to consider himself as a God.

To stop the evil practices of the demon, the holy trinity of God (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) came together and combined their powers to create Goddess Durga. When Mahishasura saw the Goddess, he was attracted towards her beauty that he sent her a proposal for the marriage. The Goddess agreed to marry him but on one condition that the Mahishasura have to defeat her in a battle. The demon king who was very proud of his powers immediately accepted the challenge. The battle between the Goddess and Mahishasura lasted for nine nights and at the end of the ninth night, the demon king was killed by the Goddess. From then on, the nine days came to be known as the Navratri.

People fast during these nine days in order to please the Goddess and seek her blessings for the prosperity of family and business. The temples and idols of Goddess in various parts of the country are beautifully decorated. Kanya Pujan (worshipping girls) is held as they are regarded as they signify Goddess Durga. Girls are offered various things to eat such as the halwa, poori, chana, coconut, sweet, money, and other gift items.