𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶 is one of the most revered Hindu festivals to honour Mata Durga. It spans over nine nights and ten days. Navratri is observed to celebrate the victory of “𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐚” over the powerful demon Mahishasura i.e. the victory of “Good over Evil”.

The word Navratri is derived from two Sanskrit words—’Nava’ meaning nine and ‘Ratri’ meaning night. These nine days are dedicated to Durga and her nine avatars. Each day is associated with the incarnation of the Goddess.

𝐍𝐀𝐕𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟏: 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐑𝐈

The first day of Navratri also known as 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗮, this day is associated with 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢 (“Daughter of Mountain”), an incarnation of Parvati. It is in this form that Durga is worshipped as the wife of Shiva, she is depicted as riding the bull, Nandi, with a trishula in her right hand and lotus in her left. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢 is considered to be the direct incarnation of Mahakali. After the self-immolation of Goddess Sati, Goddess Parvati took birth as the daughter of Lord Himalaya. In Sanskrit, Shail means the mountain, and the Goddess was known as Shailputri, the daughter of the mountain.