Navratri 2016: Significance of the 9 colors of Navratri

Here is the significance of nine colors of Navratri that women wear during the nine days of the festival.

Written by: Travel Staff

Published: October 3, 2016, 11:06 AM IST

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The auspicious Hindu festival of Navratri is dedicated to the mother goddess who is worshipped in each of her nine forms. As with most pan-Indian festivals, Navratri is celebrated differently in different parts of the country with rituals varying from state to state. One of the customs, practiced predominantly in Maharashtra and Gujarat, is that of wearing a different color on each day of Navratri. The nine-day celebration is one has much singing and dancing that is preceded by prayers to the mother goddess. Navratri celebrates the nine forms of the mother goddess. Her nine forms include Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri and each of these forms are worshipped on each of the nine days.

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Navratri can be translated as the festival of nine nights. The day that follows the ninth night is called Dussehra and is considered to be the day when Rama slayed Ravana in an epic battle. Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana or Kalashsthapana Puja. The Kalashsthapana Puja is performed in order to invoke the goddess and involves worshipping a kalash and sowed seeds. Some parts of the country begin Navratri celebrations by worshipping nine young women that represent the nine forms of the goddess. Their feet are washed and they are showered with gifts.

Each day of Navratri celebrates a certain incarnation of the goddess. And according to a custom, whose origins remain unknown, each day has a color attached to it. Here are nine colors Hindu women wear during Navratri and why.

Pratipada falls on two days this year — October 1 and 2 — and it marks the beginning of Navratri. On this day the incarnation of Parvati, called Shailputri, is worshipped. Shailputri represents purity and nature. Gray is the color to be worn on October 1 and orange is to be worn on October 2.

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Dwitiya, the second day of Navratri falls on October 3 and celebrates Brahmacharini, the virgin form of Parvati. To signify her purity the color to be worn on October 3 is white.

Tritiya falls on October 4 and celebrates the married incarnation of Parvati, Chandraghanta. This form of Parvati rides a tigress and is generally associated with bravery and courage. Hence, the color to be worn on October 4 this year is red.

Chaturthi is the fourth day of Navratri and it falls on October 5. On this day the goddess is worshipped as Kushmanda, one who live inside the sun and thus is the source of all energy in the universe. Blue is the color to be worn on October 5.

Panchami falls on October 6 and it celebrates Skandamata, the mother of Kartikeya and the color to be worn on this day is is yellow.

Shasthi is the sixth day of Navratri and falls on October 7 this year. This is the day when Katyayani is worshipped. Katyayani is the form that Goddess Parvarti took when she took on the demon Mahishasura. This is the warrior form of the goddess and the color to be work onOctober 7 is green.

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October 8 is Saptami and this is the day when the goddess is worshipped as Kalaratri, the dark night. As Kalaratri, the mother goddess destroyed several demons in her battle against Mahishasura. Kalaratri is the fiercest form of the goddess. On October 8 this year, the color to be work is peacock green.

Ashtami is the eighth day of Navratri and on this day Mahagauri is worshiped. Mahagauri is the younger version of Shailputri was believed to have a fair complexion and was the epitome of grace and beauty. Ashtami falls on October 9 this year and the color to be worn on the day is purple.

Navami is the ninth day of Navratri and this year it falls on October 10. On this day the goddess is worshiped as Siddhidatri. This is the form of the goddess who is believed to embody all eight siddhis or supernatural powers. These were the very powers that were granted to Shiva when he worshipped her. On this day, October 10, the color to be worn is sky blue.

ALSO SEE Why and how is Navratri celebrated

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