Navratri- Festival to Honor Womanhood

 It is the festival of women power – Goddess  Durga. Goddess Durga, the epitome of power or shakti, is worshipped during Navratri. It is believed the goddess had nine forms and she is worshipped in these forms during the nine-night festival

Depending on the region, different forms of the Goddess Durga are worshipped. The forms are:

·         Durga, the invincible

·         Bhadrakali, the auspicious and fortunate

·         Amba or Jagdamba, Mother of the universe

·         Annapoorna, the giver of food

·         Sarvamangala, the giver of joy all around

·         Bhairavi, the terrifying

·         Chandika, the violent

·         Lalita, the beautiful

·         Bhavani, the giver of life

·         Mookambika, the one who listens

It is said that without observing Kanya Pujan, the sadhana or devotion to Maa Durga during Navratri is considered incomplete. This is because the festival of Navratri is a celebration of worshipping feminine divinity in the form of Shakti, i.e. Durga. And Kanya or virgin girls or young girls (below the age of puberty) are considered Shakti incarnate.

Did you know - Navratri - the nine-day festival to honor Maa Durga is also a festival to honor womanhood? And this is why people observe Kanya Pujan? Kanya Pujan is an essential ritual in Navratri as it honours the divine feminine energy

Knowing all this, worshiping womanhood for the nine days is not the way to pay respect. Still in India Women is not safe. Let’s pledge on this Navratri to take one step ahead for women empowerment. Let’s make this holly place safe for all as half the population is women. Let the women roam freely where they want, strengthen them and allow them to do what they desire.