Navaratri

The Navaratri festival is celebrated in the month of Purattasi. Since this festival is held for nine nights, it is called Navaratri. The Goddess Sakti is believed to have won over "Mahishasura" the half-human, half-buffalo monster, the embodiment of evil. This festival is unique in that sakti is worshipped as Maheshvari, Kaumari, Varahi, Mahalakhmi, Vaishnavi, Indirani, Sarasvati, Narasimhi, and Chamundi respectively every day.^[1]

Sakti's divine forms are classified as three: Ichchha Sakti, Kriya Sakti, and Gnana Sakti. Sakti is also triplicated as Durga, Lakshimi, and Sarasvathi, Education, wealth, and bravery are the three saktis. The first three days, that is, from Pratamai to Tritia are reserved for the worship of Durga, Chaturti to Sashti for Lakshmi, and Saptami to Navami for Sarasvati. Amman is decorated in different styles on all the nine days. During these days special abhisheka and aradhana are done to the Goddess Amman. On the ninth day night, Amman is decorated.