Navaratri

Currently it is the most auspicious time of year, by Hindi lore, to generate change in our lives. The mother goddess will help us replace negative beliefs with more generous and vital ones. The nine days is known as Navaratri. During the festival it is wise to worship the three divine goddesses, Saraswati (Goddess of learning and speech), Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth and prosperity), and Durga (Goddess of strength and courage).

Navaratri is said to be the battle that occurred between the Goddess and the asura (demon). The battle lasted 9 days and 9 nights. Finally, on the tenth day, the Goddess killed the demon. The battle represents our own oppertunity to purge our inner demons.

On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.