Navaratri Festival on March 30th

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Festival of Navratri The festival of Navratri (nav = nine and ratri = nights)

lasts for 9 days with three days each devoted to worship of Maa Durga, the

Goddess of Valor, Ma Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Maa Saraswati, the

Goddess of Knowledge. During the nine days of Navratri, feasting and fasting

take precedence over all normal daily activities amongst the Hindus. Evenings

give rise to the religious dances in order to worhip Goddess Durga Maa.The 9

nights festival of Navratri begins on the first day of Ashwina of the bright

fortnight. Seeds are sown, sprouting is watched, the planets are consecrated,

and on the 8th and 9th days, Goddess Durga, Vijayashtami and Mahanavami are

worshipped. The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who

vanquished demons are cited.

Rituals & Celebrations

The ritual worships of Ambaji is usually performed with Sat Chandi Yagna and

other worships, in Yagnashala of the Chachar Chowk, which is decorated and

illuminated with colorful lightings from all corners, during these period of

Navratri. The devotees also enjoy Devi Darshan, Ohm Havan and Traditional Garba

Dances. More Specifically during the period of Vasantik Navratri (in Chaitra

Month), all the eight days and nine nights have its own importance as per

Shakti Sampraday and hence the celebration starts from the first day of Chaitra

Mas, by breading Jawara, one kind of Holy Grass in and over a pot with Garbh

Deep, burning therein and the devotees use to dance and enjoy Garba Nritya

around these Garbh Deep, with the Garba songs of Mata Ambaji. For all Nine Days

of Chaitri Navratri an Akhand Dhoon of Jai Ambe Ma jai Ambe for days and nights

continuously is organized by the Sangs of Pilgrims from Mehsana District every

year in Chachar Chowk, since more than 60 years.

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Significance of 9 Nights

1st - 3rd day of Navratri On the first day of the Navaratras, a small bed of

mud is prepared in the puja room and barley seeds are sown on it. These initial

days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy. 4th - 6th day

of Navratri During these days, Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity

is worshipped. 7th - 8th day of Navratri These final days belong to Saraswati

Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This in turn will

free us from all earthly bondage. But on the 8th day of this colourful

festival, yagna (holy fire) is performed. Mahanavami The festival of Navratri

culminates in Mahanavami. On this day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls

representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped.