Navratri, the Festival of Nine Nights, is celebrated every year in the month of Asvin (September- October) in honour of the mother aspect of God.
The Goddess is the personification of Power, or ‘Shakti’. She is known by many names : Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Chandika, Durga, Bhavani, Ambika. Her main task is to destroy evil. In her hands( shown as four, eight or ten) she hold weapons of various types. The number of hands is symbolic of strength. She sits on a lion which represents the aspect of courage and valour which is the essence of Devi Durga. Durga is known as Mahishasuramardini, the slayer of the demon Mahishasura. The word ‘Mahisha’ means ‘buffalo’, a symbol of lethargy and inertia. These are the qualities that impede the spiritual and material progress of an individual and need to be destroyed.
