Navratri Special: Nine Days & Nine Food Offerings On Each Day To The Goddess

Navratri is nine nights of revelry dedicated to the nine forms of goddess Durga. During these nine nights, nine manifestations of Shakti are worshipped.

In Sanskrit, Navratri literally translates into Nine Nights. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a form of goddess Durga and is worshipped by her devotees.

Also Read: 9 Special Colours For 9 Days Of Navratri

In Gujarat, the nine nights or Navratri is translated into the nine nights of gaiety, fun and dance. The revellers in Gujarat dance the night away, performing the traditional dance such as Garba and Dandiya.

In rest of India, devotees fast during these nine nights and offer different food items to the nine forms of Goddess Durga.

These nine days have a special significance for a devotee, which are as listed below.

First Day:

Prathma or the first day of Navratri is dedicated to the first avatar of the Goddess Durga. On this day, Goddess Shailputri is revered by its followers. In this avatar, she is worshipped as the girl child and the daughter of a mountain. On this day, the devotees wear Yellow-coloured clothes and offer Ghee as a bhog to the goddess.

Second Day:

On the second day, Maa Durga is worshipped as the Goddess Brahmacharini. Devotees wear the colour green on the second day or Dwitiya and offer sugar as the bhog to the goddess Brahmacharini.

Third Day:

The third day or Tritiya is dedicated to the goddess Chandraghanta, a form of goddess Durga. It is believed that worshipping this form of the goddess Durga cures all of your pain and fulfills your desires. Devotees on this day wear the colour Grey and offer milk or Kheer as a bhog to the goddess.

Fourth Day:

Fourth day or the Chaturthi is dedicated to Goddess Kushmanda, a manifestation of the goddess Durga. It is believed that worshipping this form of the goddess and keeping a fast on this day cures the worshipper of all the pain and diseases. On this day, devotees wear the colour orange and offer Malpua as a bhog to Ma Kushmanda.

Fifth Day:

Panchami or the fifth day is dedicated to goddess Skandamata. It is believed that worshipping this form of the goddess Durga fulfils all the wishes of devotees. Devotees wear the colour white on Panchami and offer banana as a bhog to the goddess.

Sixth Day:

On Shashti or the sixth day, goddess Katyayani, a form of the goddess Durga is worshipped. Devotees wear the colour Red and offer honey as a bhog to please the goddess.

Seventh Day:

Seventh day or Saptami of Navratri is dedicated to the goddess Kaalratri. In this avatar, goddess protects her worshippers from the evil and grants them happiness. Devotees wear the colour Blue and offer jaggery or gur as a bhog to Ma Kaalratri. Some people also make a Dakshina or offering to Brahmins on this day.

Eighth Day:

The eighth day or Ashtami is dedicated to goddess Mahagauri. It is believed that worshipping this form of goddess Durga will help to mitigate all the sins of the devotees. The goddess is shown as dressed in a peacock green saree. Worshippers on this day wear pink and offer coconut as an offering to the goddess.

Ninth Day:

Ninth day or Navmi of Navratri is dedicated to the goddess Siddhidatri. Worshipping this form of goddess Durga fulfils all the wishes of the worshippers. The devotees wear the colour purple and offer Til as a bhog to the goddess.