Navaratri

Learning Objective:

To understand the significance of Navaratri in Hinduism

Today we will learn...

What is Navaratri?How many Days Does it Last?Which Goddesses are celebrated?Who is Durga?How does the community celebrate?What is Dasera?

What is Navaratri?

Navaratri (nine nights) is one of the greatest Hindu festivals.

It symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Navaratri takes place at the beginning of October

around harvest time. Navaratri festival is celebrated for nine days. Navaratri is also known as Durga Puja. During this period, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are

worshipped as three different appearences of Shakti.

Why Nine Nights & Days?

Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess.

On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.

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 mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.

Durga, the Mother Goddess

• The festival is dedicated to Durga, the mother goddess who also represents power. Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura after a relentless battle lasting nine days and nights.

What Happens During Navaratri?

• Having Feasts• Wearing New Clothes• Dances

How do they celebrates Navaratri?

Navaratri is a festival in which God is adored as Mother. It is said that Shiva gave permission to Durga to see her mother for nine days in the year and this festival also remembers this visit. Families make an attempt to return home on these days, and leave on the tenth.

To celebrate a good harvest ,women plant nine different kinds of food grain seeds in small containers during these nine days and then offer the young saplings to the goddess.

During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. Navaratri is traditionally a good time for starting new ventures.

Dasera (Dussera) Celebration

• The tenth day of the festival is called Dasera(Dussera), and marks the triumph of good over evil, and also the motherhood of God.

• In northern parts of India, Hindus also celebrate Rama's victory over Ravana during this time.The ten days represent the ten heads of Ravana, and each day is used by Hindus to get rid of bad characteristics, such as lust and jealousy. The tenth day is known as the Day of Victory.

Durga Puja is particularly important for Hindus in Bengal. After having worshipped her for nine days, her image is taken to the streets in a procession and there is much celebration and dancing.To mark Durga leaving her mother after the nine day visit, her image is cast into water.

Navaratri

Learning Objective:

To understand the significance of Navaratri in Hinduism

Today we will learn...

What is Navaratri?How many Days Does it Last?Which Goddesses are celebrated?Who is Durga?How does the community celebrate?What is Dasera?

Extension:What is the Significance of each day of Navaratri?

Homework

Handwritten Essay

Target Grade C:What is Navaratri?

Target Grade B:Explain what happens during the Navaratri fesitivities.

Target Grade A/A*As above, but include the significance of Navaratri to Hindus.