Navaratri

This is an autumn festival celebrating the feminine aspect of Shakti.
Devotion continues for 9 nights (Navaratri means ‘nine days’) and on day 10 the victory of Rama over Ravanna the demon is celebrated.

The goddess is worshipped in various forms – as spiritual force (Durga), giver or spiritual wealth (Lakshmi) and goddess of wisdom (Saraswati).

Women congregate in the mandir and dance to remember the gopis who danced all night with Krishna. The special dances at the festival are called garba and danga ras.

In India celebration of the festival varies but often includes fireworks and the community gathering together to see large paper and bamboo figures of Ravanna being set on fire.

In West Bengal the festival is called Durga Puja and images of Durga are carried through the streets.

In Britain the celebration can be very big and sometimes special halls are hired for the dancing.