Navaratri, “The Nine Nights,” is a festival that begins on the first day of the bright lunar fortnight in the month of Asvayuja and goes through the tenth lunar day, thus covering nine nights. This time period usually falls in the month of October. Navaratri is the main festival for worshipping Devi, and is celebrated throughout India. In some areas, the Navaratri festival is known as Durga Puja, Durgotsava, or Dussera.

        Navaratri celebrates the triumph of good over evil. There is a section of the Mahapurana Markandeya Purana which is called the Devimahatmyam or Durgasaptasati or Chandi which tells the story of how Durga in the form of Mahishasuramardini defeated Mahishasura and thereby saved the universe from being overrun by evil. Navaratri focuses on worshipping Devi in three forms: Durga, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati.

        At our Temple, Navaratri worship has become more elaborate every year. Our Navaratri worship is centered on the murti of Devi Parvati known as Bhramarambika, or “Bee Mother.” In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, there is a story about how Devi sent a swarm of bees to destroy an asura who had a boon to be protected from every kind of attack except bee stings. On the first day of Navaratri, Parvati is dressed as Bala Tripura Sundari. On the fourth day, she is dressed as Mahalaksmi. On the eighth day, she is dressed as Sarasvati. On the ninth and final day, she is dressed and worshipped as Durga in the form of Mahishasuramardini, the “Slayer of the Buffalo Demon.” On the Saturday evening that falls during the nine day period, there is a recitation of the Lalitasahasranama with kumkum archana performed by women devotees. Throughout the nine days, there are homas, abhishekams, and recitations which create a divine and blissful atmosphere.