Navaratri
The festivity of Navaratri is celebrated in honor of the nine incarnations of Durga, the feminine aspect of the Divine. It is celebrated twice a year, in the month of chaitra (April-May) and asvayuja (September-October), in the two important periods of change in nature: the beginning of the summer and of the winter. The festivity of the Durga puja run throughout India and, despite the variations of style, it is essentially aimed at the worship of the Shakti and the Devi in her various powers. Navaratri starts in the bright summer of asvayuja, in commemoration of the victory of Durga on the demon Mahisa. The image of the Devi is worshipped for nine days and, on the tenth, is it paraded through the villages’ and cities’ streets. Durga is the consort of Siva with whom she lives on Mount Kailash. In these nine days, she descends on earth to give herself to humanity, while on the tenth, she travels back to her divine abode.
In Bengala, the Durga puja is a magnificent celebration and all families gather to celebrate it. Each devotee expresses the ability to create through painting or carving the effigy of the Devi on clay. The inhabitants of this region, who are very devoted to the Mother, save money to buy, in this occasion, new saris and shining clothes to offer Her. On the second day of Durga puja, the statues are submerged in the water. The first three days of Navaratri are dedicated to Durga who helps man to defeat the demons and to purify the mind
The subsequent three days are dedicated to Lakshmi who represents the most Sattvic aspect of the Devi, being the Goddess of abundance, prosperity and purity of the soul. Her murti is often represented with two lotus flowers in her hands, the symbols of purity, while with the other hands she distributes riches to humanity, riches that are not only material, but also mostly spiritual. The last three days of the festivities, on the other hand, are dedicated to Sarasvati, the holder of divine knowledge, with whose help man can progress spiritually. She holds the vina in her hand, an instrument that contains the sacred cosmic sound.
It is through worship and devotion to Sarasvati that man can obtain the full knowledge of the Self. Through purification and knowledge, man can finally overcome the wheel of rebirth. On the ninth day of Navaratri, all those who use tools to work, instrument to play, books to study or even account books, bring them on the worship altar to offer them in the devotional puja to the Devi who, in return, will offer wisdom and knowledge. All the objects are returned with the yellow sandal paste with red sign of curcuma at the center. Nothing escapes the blessings of the Divine.