1. Navratri and the Nine Durga Goddesses

2. Goddess Durga The embodiment of feminine and creative energy Also known as the Divine Mother She protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying vices She is sitting upon a Lion

3. First Avatar - Shailputri 1 st night devoted to Maa Shailputri Shail means Mountains She carries a Trident and a Lotus She is sitting upon a bull

4. Second Avatar - Bhramcharni 2 nd night devoted to Maa Bhramcharni She personifies Love and Loyalty She carries a Kumbha and a Rosary Rudraksha is her most adorned ornament

5. Third Avatar - Chandraghanta 3 rd night devoted to Maa Chandraghanta She personifies Supreme Bliss and Knowledge She is prayed to for protection from harm She has 10 hands, from which 8 have weapons She is riding on a Tiger

6. Fourth Avatar - Kushmanda 4 th night devoted to Maa Kushmanda She is prayed to for curing ailments and sorrows She has 8 hands, holding weapons and a mala She is riding on a Tiger

7. Fifth Avatar - Skandmata 5 th night devoted to Maa Skandmata She is prayed to for fulfilling ones desires She has 4 hands, holding two lotuses and her son She is riding on a Lion

8. Sixth Avatar - Kaatyayani 6 th night devoted to Maa Kaatyayani She is prayed to for granting the wishes of her devotees She has 4 hands, holding a lotus and a sword She is riding on a Lion

9. Seventh Avatar - Kaalratri 7 th night devoted to Maa Kaalratri She is prayed to for removing sins and clearing obstacles She has 4 hands, holding a cleaver and a torch She is riding on a Donkey

10. Eighth Avatar - Mahagauri 8 th night devoted to Maa Mahagauri She is prayed to for purification and the removal of sins She has 4 hands, holding a trident and drum She is riding on a Bull

11. Ninth Avatar - Siddhiratri 9 th night devoted to Maa Siddhiratri She is prayed to for acquiring great powers (Siddhis) She has 4 hands, holding a chakra, mace, lotus flower and conch She is riding on a Lotus

13. NAV-RATRI NAV-RATRI (nine-nights), is for the nine days when we thank the female principle of nature and the goddesses connected to them. The nine nights are dedicated to the three main goddesses of Hinduism - Parvati, Lakshmi and Sarasvati.

14. NAV-RATRI The first three nights are dedicated to the goddess of action and energy. Her different manifestations: Kumari, Parvati and Kali are worshipped during these days. They represent the three natures/ classes of womanhood - the virgin young girl, auspicious wife/ mother and the angry old hag! This is not a criticism of women, just a classification. It helps us recognize the different aspects of our own nature.

15. Kumari, the virgin young girl

16. Parvati: Auspicious wife/mother

17. Kaali, the angry old woman This is not a criticism of women. The classification helps us recognize different aspects of our own nature

18. Maa Lakshmi Lakshmi is worshipped for the next three days in her various aspects as the goddesses of peace, plenty and bliss. Fulfillment is more important than wealth itself. As the goddess of wealth, she governs not just the bank balance, but also such basic things as family, friends, food etc.

19. Maa Saraswati Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge. Not just the knowledge of how to earn a living, but how to "live" as well. She is the goddess of the spiritual knowledge and the knowledge that frees us from this bind of Samsara. She is worshipped during the final three days of the Navratri.

20. NAV-RATRI The nine nights are there for us to revel in the knowledge of the goddesses that live within us, imbibing us with their spiritual energy and power. Used for the good, they help liberate us from the mire of this world (help us attain NIRVANA). Use these energies unwisely, and they will snare us in the maya of this world. We should meditate these aspects of the nine nights, that was the reason they originally came into being.

21. This festival is devoted to the Mother Goddess known with different names as Durga, Kali, Bhavani, Amba, and Chandika, has been celebrated in it's most unique and different ways in various parts of India and abroad with devotional songs, bhajans and cultural programs with the world renowned Garba or Dandiya Raas in the state of Gujarat. Maa Durga

22. This festival is celebrated in most unique and different ways in different parts of India and abroad with devotional songs, bhajans and cultural programs

23. with the world renowned Garba or Dandiya Raas in the state of Gujarat.

24. sanjay_asati@yahoo.co.in