Navaratri means 9 Ratri/ Nights of Worshiping the forms of Shakti/ Durga/ Devi.
Importance of Navratri
Navaratri is a festival that is widely celebrated in different forms and traditions in India. This festival is for 9 days and is observed to worship various forms of Maa Durga/Divine Mother/ Shakti/Devi. Navaratri is the festival that falls in the month of Ashwina so it’s also called Ashwina Navaratri, during the Sharad Ritu/ Autumn season hence it’s also called Sharad Navaratri.
This festival is grandly celebrated in Andra Pradesh (with Nava Durga Avatarams), Telangana(Batukamma), Gujarat (with Kalasha sthapana and Mataji ki Aarti followed by Garba {a traditional dance form to the worship goddess}), Maharastra, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal (this festival is celebrated with mass gatherings, placing big idols of Goddess Durga and the last three days are most important here Durga Sapthami, Durga Astami and Durga Navami) many other states celebrate in their own traditional ways which I am yet to explore.
In Andra Pradesh Sharad Navaratri is the time of the year where we worship the Goddess Durga/ Ammavaru/ Maatha in form of Nava-Durga’s for 9 Days. The Vijayawada Kanaka Durga temple is famous for the Navaratri Poojas and observing the 9 avataram’s to Ammavarau at this particular time of the year.
“Prathamam Shailaputrii-[I]ti Dvitiiyam Brahmacaarinnii |
Trtiiyam Candraghanntte[aa-I]ti Kuussmaanndde[aa-I]ti Caturthakam ||
Pan.camam Skandamaate[aa-I]ti Ssassttham Kaatyaayanii Tathaa |
Saptamam Kaalaraatrish-Ca Mahaagaurii-[I]ti Ca-Assttamam ||
Navamam Siddhidaatrii Ca Navadurgaah Prakiirtitaah ||
Uktaany[i]-Etaani Naamaani Brahmannai[a-E]va Mahaatmanaa ||”
Lets see the importance of each day and simple slokam’s for beginners like me this Navaratri:
Navaratri Day 1
On the first day, Ammavaru is worshipped in the form of Shailaputri. Shailaputri is the form of Ammavaru who got married to Lord Shiva . (Shaila means Mountain and Putri means daughter of )
Prasadam: Kattu Pongal is the favorite prasadam for Shailaputri roopam Ammavaru.
Dress Color: Grey.
Basic Pooja for the day
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Vandhe vaanchita-laabhaaya chandra-Ardha-krta-shekharaam
Vrssa-Aaruuddhaam shuula-dharaam Shailaputrii yashasviniim ||”
- Recite Devi Astotaram
Navaratri Day 2
On the second day, Ammavaru is worshipped in the form of Brahmacharini. This form of Ammavaru is worshipped for attaining the utmost concentration for achieving success in one’s Goals/penance, to gain stable mind.
Prasadam: Pullihora
Dress Color: Orange
Basic Pooja for the day:
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Dadhaana Kara padmaabhyaam akssamaalaa kamannddaluu
Devii prasidatu mayi Brahmacaarinnyaii-anuttamaa ||”
- Recite Devi Ashtottaram
Navaratri Day 3
On the third day, Ammavaru is worshipped in the form of Chandraghanta Devi. In this form Ammavaru has a Chandrudu/moon in the form of Ghanta/ bell on her forehead, so she is called Chandraganta Devi. She is worshiped for vanishing all the sins of her disciples. She is famous for hearing out her disciple’s miseries and curing/ getting rid of them as soon as possible.
Prasadam: Coconut Rice/ Kobari Annam
Dress Color: White
Basic Pooja for the day:
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Pinnddaja pravara-Aaruuddhaa canda kopaastrair yutaa
Prasaadam tanute mahyam chandraghanntteaa-Iti Vishrutaa ||”
- Recite Devi Ashtottaram
Navaratri Day 4
On the fourth day, Ammavaru is worshipped in the form of Kushmanda Devi. It is believed that she is the first creator of the universe so she is also known as Adi Shakthi Devi. This form of her’s has 8 hands/ bhuja so she is also known as Ashta Bhuja Devi. Majorly worshipped for attaining good health.
Prasadam: Allam Garelu
Dress Color: Red
Basic Pooja for the day:
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Suraasampuurnna kalasham rudhir-aaplutam-eva ca da-dhaanaa hasta padmaabhyaam kuusshmaannddaa shubhadaa astu mee ||”
- Recite Devi Ashtottaram
Navaratri Day 5
On the fifth day, Ammavaru is worshipped in the form of Skandhamaata. Worshipping Ammavari this form will help the people to gain the strength to attain their goals. With constant belief and worship of Skandamaatha one can untimely attain Moksha. Mostly women and mother in the family pray for the wellbeing of the kids as it is believed goddess took the form of mother to protect her child ( represents the ultimate strength and love of a mother).
Prasadam: Perugu Annam/ Curd Rice
Dress Color: Royal Blue
Basic Pooja for the day:
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Simha ah asana gataa nityam Padma ah ashrita kara dvayaa
shubha daahstu sadaa devii Skandamaataa yashasvinii ||”
- Recite Devi Ashtottaram
Navaratri Day 6
On the sixth day, Ammavaru is worshipped in the form of Katyayani Devi. Maharishi Kattudu worshipped Ammavaru and requested her to be born at his home and Ammavaru granted his wish and took this avataram. So her this form as Katyayani Devi is famous for fulfillment of wishes.
Prasadam: Kesari Bath
Dress Color: Yellow
Basic Pooja for the day:
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Chandrahaasoa ujjvala karaa shaarduula vara vaahanaa
Kaatyaayanii shubham dhadyaa devi dhaanava ghaatinii “
- Recite Devi Ashtottaram
Navaratri Day 7
On the seventh day, Ammavaru is worshipped in the form Kaalaratri Devi. Although her Roopam/ appearance is little enraged she is famously known as Shubhamkari (Goddess for doing good).It is also believed that the worship of this form of goddess will drive all the evil away.
Prasadam: Shaka Annam
Dress Color: Green
Basic Pooja for the day:
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Eka veni japaa karnapuura nagnaa khara-Sthitaa
Lambauaa Ohsstthii karnnikaa karnnii taila abhyakta shariirinnii ||
Vaama paado ah Uh llasal loha lataa kannttaka bhuussannaa
Vardhanam urdhvajaa krssnnaa Kaalaraatrir Bhayangkarii ||”
- Recite Devi Ashtottaram
Navaratri Day 8
On the eighth day commonly known as Durga Astami, Ammavaru is worshipped in the form of Maha Gowri. She is known for her peaceful appearance and is worshipped for attaining one’s goals without any obstacles.
Prasadam: Chakarapongali
Dress Color: Peacock Green
Basic Pooja for the day:
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Shwete vrishe samaarudha, shwetambardhara shuchih MahaGauri shubham dadhyanmahadevpramodada”
- Recite Devi Ashtottaram
Navaratri Day 9
On the ninth day, Ammavaru is worshipped in the form of Siddhidatri Devi. To attain Astha siddi one must worship this form of Ammavaru with utmost devotion. Siddhidatri means goddess that gives the complete happiness and prosperity.
Prasadam: Payasannam
Dress Color: Purple
Basic Pooja for the day:
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Siddha gandharva yakshdyairasurairamarairapi |
Sevyamaanaa sadabhuyaat Siddhida Siddhidayini ||”
- Recite Devi Ashtottaram
Vijaya Dasami
This day Ammavaru is worshipped in the form of Raja Rajeshwari. To attain victory in any tasks of one’s life , one should worship Ammavaru’s this form. This day is Dasami after doing the worship of Nav-Durgas in Navratri, today the Ammavaru’s Form of Raja Rajeshwari Devi is famous for granting wishes for all her deciple/ granting the deciples with victory in whatever deeds they partake their way.
Prasadam: Maha Naivedyam
Dress Color: Gold
Basic Pooja for the day:
- Nitya Pooja
- Slokam for the Day:
“Aparajithaya Namaha.”
- Recite Devi Ashtottaram
Note:
- Slokams that are shared above are from Nava Durga Stotram. These Slokams are taught to me by “Smt. Konidena Padmavathy”. She has been a devotee of Shakti/Maa and Ammavari Upasakuralu (One who is taught by, follows and worships Ammavaru) since years.
- The Dress color mentioned above is the color that we can wear, also note the color of the dress changes with respect to the day of the week when Navaratri starts.
For detailed Prasadam recipes click below:
Let me know how you celebrated this Navaratri in the comments section below.
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Stay Blessed and Have a Happy Navaratri!!!!
"Fun"da of Festivals 
Very nicely explained Sravya. God Bless You
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Thanks 😊
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Good job Sravya, nicely explained. God Bless You
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Thanks a lot Athayagaru!
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Very nice detailed description of the festival Sravya 👍🏼👌🏻🤗
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Thanks a lot 🙂 I am Glad you liked 🙂
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the 9 days I am following the Slokas and naivedyams !! So easy one stop website instead of searching multiple sites and looking for content ! Thank you sravya !! May ammavaru fulfill all your wishes this Navratri ! Happy Navratri !!
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Thanks Raji 🙂
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