New Delhi: Navaratri is a festival celebrated in the honour of Goddess Durga. Navaratri is a Sanskrit word which means 'nine nights'. Though there are four Navaratris in a year, big celebrations are observed for two of them--first in the month of Chaitra (Chaitra Navaratri), and again in the month of Ashvin (Sharad/Shardiya Navaratri).
Sharad Navaratri occurs at the onset of the autumn season, whereas Chaitra Navaratri occurs in the spring. The religious traditions of both--Sharad Navaratri and are Chaitra Navaratri--are the same.
This time Sharad Navaratri begins on October 15 and will last till October 23. The nine-day celebrations are devoted to honouring Goddess Durga in her nine forms and all of them have different significance.
These nine incarnations are:
1. Shailaputri
2. Brahmacharini
3. Chandraghanta
4. Kushmanda
5. Skandamata
6. Katyayini
7. Kaalratri
8. Mahagauri
9. Siddhidatri
Dynamite News brings you the significance of these nine incarnations of Goddess Durga on the day they are worshipped.
Sixth Navaratri October 20 Friday: Katyayini
The Sixth day is dedicated to the Goddess Katyayini. Katyayani is an aspect of Mahadevi and the slayer of the tyrannical demon Mahishasura. She is the sixth among the Navadurgas, the nine forms of Hindu goddess Durga who are worshipped during the festival of Navaratri.
Katyayani is depicted with four, ten or eighteen hands. This is the second name given for Goddess Adi Parashakti in Amarakosha, the Sanskrit lexicon (Goddess Parvati's names- Uma, Katyayani, Gauri, Kali, Haimavati, Ishwari).
Katyayani is one of the highly revered forms of Goddess Durga and is known to destroy the evil.
