नवरात्रि की शुरुआत देवी दुर्गा की आराधना से की जाती है, 9 दिन का व्रत रखा जाता है। जबकि गीता अध्याय 6 श्लोक 16 में कहा गया है कि व्रत-उपवास करने अर्थात् भूखे रहने से कभी भक्ति सफल नहीं होती।

Navratri is a celebration of Shakti. A celebration of Prakriti.

We pray to her and ask her to bestow health and wellness on us, which i feel she does in several ways.

Each navratri my views have changed a little, every year. As a kid, ofc it used to be very literal like there are nine goddesses and we worship them. Then came the phase when i learned that we have four navratri in a year and it corresponds to a change in seasons.

Yesterday i was listening to a podcast and i heard some really interesting symbolism.

Shailputri- as the name suggests, she is the daughter of mountains or rather the king of mountains. Her name binds her to her father. Her identity is from her father, much like our identity remains tethered to our parents during childhood.

Brahmacharini- this form tells a story of ma Parvati during her tap to attain lord Shiva. We all tire away in our work, each day and every day to reach out goals.

Chandraghanta- here she is in her complete Durga form. She's weilding several weapons. It signifies and tells us how she's now an accomplished woman, a woman who has worked extremely hard and continues to do so but now she's has gained a footing in the world. She has started carving out an identity for herself.

Kushmanda- she is quiet similar to chandraghanta in her appearance, the only difference is she that she's now holding a pot in her hand. A pot of honey. Honey symbolises womb. She's has entered her motherly nurturing state and is ready to create a life.

Skandamata- mother of skanda. She no longer a holds weapons and is solely focused on her kid. Like every other ma, her entire life is currently devoted to her kid. He's the centre of her universe.

Katyayani- she takes form of Durga. She shows everybody how a woman's life doesn't end with motherhood. She is leaving behind all the ties, she isn't anyone's daughter, or wife or mother. She's her.

Kalaratri- or Kali. She is quite a sight to look at. Specifically taking such a form to scare away demons. Anyone who points fingers at her, anyone who dares call her weak- she demolishes such allegations.

Mahagauri- after going through every phase of her life. The process initiated at katyayani is now complete. She is free from boundations and gauri is now mahagauri. The one who has realised.

Siddhidatri- she looks like ma lakshmi. She's a giver. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and advancement in material and spiritual world is really the end goal. She's calm and smiling, she has accomplished enough in her life and she's now sharing it with everyone around her.

- Dr. Vineet

Alta

Day 2 : Brahmacharini

Maa Brahmacharini, worshipped on the second day of Navratri, is symbolic of the severe penance carried out by Goddess Parvati.