Celebrate Navaratri 2024
October 3 - 11, 2024
JAI MA! CELEBRATE SHAKTI AT THE PARANITYA NARASIMHA TEMPLE!
Shardiya Navaratri
October 3-11
Prayers begin at 6pm each day in the Yagna Tent outside of the main temple.
Each night will include:
Kalash Puja, Yagna, & Abhishekam to the Divine Mother followed by Shayan Arati and Prasadam.
Navaratri is a 9-night festival celebrating Goddess Durga’s victories over the demons that represent the negative qualities that keep us from realizing our true, eternal self. The Divine Mother, in the form of Durga Maa, is the Remover of Miseries. She appears in 9 different forms, each an embodiment of the qualities that one needs to advance on the spiritual path.
DID YOU KNOW?
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each night we worship a different aspect of the Divine Mother with special prayers, pujas, and bhajans.
Day 1 – Shailaputri Devi, red color
On this first night, Goddess Shailaputri is venerated (‘Shaila’ is another name for the Himalayan mountains and ‘Putri’ means ‘the daughter’). We celebrate the extraordinary focus and determination She had in Her sadhana in order to gain Lord Shiva as Her husband. Shailaputri is the most powerful and glorified of all the nine forms of Durga. She took the aspect of Shailputri to destroy pride and the demons of ‘too much’ and ‘too little’. We pray to Her to help us surrender to the Divine.
Day 2 – Brahmacharini Devi, white color
On the second night of Navaratri, we venerate Brahmacharini Devi. We pray to the Divine Mother in this form for discipline in our sadhana and to advance on the spiritual path.
Day 3 – Chandraganta Devi, orange color
On the third night of Navaratri, we celebrate Goddess Chandraghanta. Although fearsome in this aspect with all Her arms and weapons, She is actually the goddess of peace and tranquility, and spreads a sense of calm all around Her. Chandraghanta gives the blessing of delight in our spiritual practice, and is therefore a powerful ally along the spiritual path.
Day 4 – Kushmanda Devi, blue color
On the fourth night of Navaratri, we celebrate Kushmanda Devi. When there was darkness everywhere and there was no existence of the universe, Goddess Kushmanda created the universe with a smile.
Day 5 – Skanda Mata, yellow color
The sixth night of Navaratri honours Katyayani Devi. She can be strict and disciplining, but She is compassionate and pure of heart and gives us the strength and ability to overcome fears, diseases and miseries of life.
Day 6 – Katyayani Devi, peacock green/blue color
The sixth night of Navaratri honours Katyayani Devi. She can be strict and disciplining, but She is compassionate and pure of heart and gives us the strength and ability to overcome fears, diseases and miseries of life.
Day 7 – Kalaratri Devi, dark color
On the seventh night we celebrate Kalaratri Devi. This form of Durga has a complexion dark as night which symbolises infinity. Goddess Kalaratri is the Devi that accepts everything from the Devotee, not only the good, but all the negative qualities. She just absorbs them.
Day 8 – Maha Gauri Devi, light color
On the eighth night of Navaratri, we worship Gauri Devi. She is the Mother of compassion and peace and reflects the great radiant light within us all. When we renounce our animal qualities and let go of the limitations of our mind, the Mother will bestow Her Grace upon us to help us attain the Divine.
Day 9 – Siddidhatri Devi, red color
On the final night of Navaratri, we celebrate Siddhidatri Devi, who is an aspect of Maha Lakshmi. She is the One who delivers success and knowledge. We pray to Siddhidatri Devi to bestow on each one the grace of Love and wisdom.
The festival concludes with Dussehra, the victory day when Durga Maa’s triumph over the demon Mahishasura is celebrated.