The Navratri Festival.

          The Navratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin. The festival is celebrated for nine nights once every year during the beginning of October, although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a day less.

        Hindu festival of worship of Shakti and dance & festivities. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit,nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi is worshiped.They are:-

1.  Shailaputri.

2.  Brahmacharini

3.  Chandraghanta

4.  Kushmanda

5.  Skandamata

6.  Kaatyayani

7.  Kaalratri

8.  Mahagauri

9.  Siddhidaatri

                    Millions of Hindu women consider Navaratri each year's primary festival, the one they can most deeply connect to. Many see it as a way to commune with their own feminine divinity. A widespread practice honors the Goddess in every woman by inviting young girls to the family's home, feeding them and offering new clothes. Navaratri is a time to present to the Goddess our silent requests.We pray morning and evening, the women fast.

                 On the tenth day, Vijayadashami, the festival culminates in the triumph of the Goddesses over the demon Mahishasura.

                At the end of the celebration, in all Her glory, the exquisitely crafted Durga murti, with countless adornments, is taken to a river, where it is immersed.It is said that this final ritual returns the Goddess to Her eternal home in the Himalayas--until next year's Durga Puja.