Navratri is a Hindu festival celebrated all across India and around the world. Navratri is when people celebrate goddess Durga’s victory over the demons. It is to show women’s strength and importance to the world. There are 9 goddesses that are celebrated during this time: Maa Siddhidatri, Maa Kaalratri, Maa Shailaputri, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Bhramacharini, Maa Skandamata, Maa Katyayani, and Maa Mahagauri. It is celebrated over the course of 9 days, during which some people choose to fast. They also pray and do pooja. Pooja is a way to worship gods and goddesses. On the last day, people break their fasts and eat puri, chole, and halwa. Puri is wheat flour mixed with oil and water and then fried. Chole is a chickpea curry. Halwa is an Indian pudding. Hindus also give money and halwa to the children in their family and/or distribute it in a temple/gurudwara. Navratri is celebrated 2 times a year, during the changing of weather. There are many different ways that people celebrate Navratri such as dancing and singing. This is how my family and I celebrated.
“May this Navratri bring love, peace, prosperity, humanity, harmony to your life, and your loved ones.”
