Why do we celebrate Navratri, The Nine Days Festival?

Indians celebrate many big festivals throughout the year, and one of them is Navratri which is devoted to Goddess Durga.

- Purvi Talreja

Navratri is a Sanskrit word made by combining two words, Nava," meaning nine, and Ratri," meaning nights. It occurs four times a year; two times, it is secret, and people hardly know about them, and the other two are known to everyone and celebrated with devotion. Out of the two known Navratris, one is Chaitra Navratri which occurs in March and April, during the Spring season, and the other is Sharda Navratri, which occurs in September and October, during the Autumn season.

Sharda Navratri is considered to be the biggest Navratri among the four. It is celebrated for nine nights or ten days). The nine days are dedicated to nine incarnations of Goddess Durga, and the tenth day is called Vijayadashami" the winning day, the tenth day). The festival is celebrated for the win of good over evil. Goddess Durga had killed the demon buffalo king Mahishasura and emerged victorious.