Navratri Vrat Katha

There are two main Navratris each year: Chaitra (March–April) and Sharadiya (Ashvin, September–October). Traditionally, on the first day kalash sthapana is done, barley is sown and an unbroken lamp is lit. Over nine days the nine forms of the Mother, from Shailputri to Siddhidatri, are worshipped. Many devotees fast on fruit. On Ashtami or Navami young girls are worshipped as the Devi (kanya pujan), and after Sharadiya Navratri comes Dussehra.

The first katha comes from the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Puran. An asura named Mahishasur had a boon that no man could kill him. Full of pride, he defeated the devas and seized heaven. The suffering devas went with Brahma to Shiv and Vishnu. Hearing their pain, a great radiance rose from the anger of all the gods, and from that radiance the Devi appeared.

Every deva gave the Devi a weapon: Shiv his trident, Vishnu his discus, Indra his thunderbolt, and the Himalaya a lion to ride. The Devi destroyed Mahishasur's huge army. Mahishasur kept changing form as he fought, now a buffalo, now a lion, now an elephant. At last the Devi slew him, and the devas sang her praise.

The second katha is told in the Devi Bhagavat Puran. After Sita was taken away, Shri Ram sat deeply worried in Kishkindha. Then Narad Muni came and advised him to keep the Navratri vrat in the month of Ashvin. He told Ram that great devas and sages too had taken refuge in the Devi in hard times.

Shri Ram fasted for nine days and worshipped the Devi with full rites. According to the katha, on the night of Ashtami the Devi appeared on her lion and blessed him with victory. After this Shri Ram had the bridge built across the sea and marched towards Lanka. That is why Vijayadashami follows Navratri: the festival of good winning over evil.