Navratri 2018 songs, greetings, images and wishes to help you celebrate the festival
IT'S that time of the year again - the Hindu festival of "nine lights" gets underway tomorrow.
So here's our pick of essentials for Navatri, the nine-day festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
What are the Navratri greetings and wishes?
The greeting Happy Navratri translates as Shubh Navaraatree.
But there are a whole load of seasonal greetings you can use to wish someone all the best at this important time of year. Here's a selection from around the web:
- Nine nights of festivity With dances and revelry. May this divine occasion bring success to you And embrace victories too. Have a delightful Navratri!
- This Navratri I wish you wisdom as you stand in all your life’s crossroads. May you pick the best choices!
- May this day be as bright as the beginning sunshine. To celebrate Durga Puja with warm smiles. Double the fun with exciting treats. As we take the festivity to the streets.
- This Navratri, may you be blessed with good fortune as long as Ganeshji’s trunk, wealth and prosperity as big as his stomach, happiness as sweet as his ladoos. Happy Navratri!
- Happy Navaratri to you and your family! Today I wish to Goddess Shakti to take away all your troubles and sorrows. I hope your life is filled with all the nine shades of happiness. I pray to Mata Rani to make all your wishes come true. God bless you! Jai Mata Di!
- May the goddess Shakti bless you on this special festival of Navratri! I hope that on this special occasion, Dhan (Laxmi), Yash (Durga) and Samriddhi (Saraswati) come to your home... A very happy navratri to you and your family!
What are the best Navratri songs?
has rounded up a collection of themed tracks which you can play to celebrate Navratri.
Their tunes include , , and .
Other hits in the Navratri top ten are , , and .
The essential listening, including and , are apparently perfect to help you honour the goddess Durga.
When does Navratri end?
The exact dates are determined by the Hindu calendar, so they can change from year to year.
This year, Navratri started on Thursday, 21 September, and ran until Saturday, September 30.
What are the nine colours of Navratri?
On each day of Navratri, a colour is assigned which participants are expected to wear while celebrating.
Each day, and each colour, is dedicated to a form of the goddess Durga. Here's what it all means:
- Day 1: Red. This depicts the form Shailputri, with red representing action and vigour.
- Day 2: Royal blue. This day is dedicated to Brahmacharini, a blissful figure who is filled with calmness and happiness.
- Day 3: Yellow. This colour represents the beauty and grace of the brave and tranquil Chandraghanta.
- Day 4: Green. The fourth day is dedicated to Kushmunda, who created the universe and filled it with vegetation, hence the green colour.
- Day 5: Grey. This colour symbolises Skandmata, the gods' commander in the war against demons.
- Day 6: Orange. This day is dedicated to Katyayani, a courageous figure who dresses in orange.
- Day 7: White. The seventh day is dedicated to Kalratri, the fiercest form of the goddess who dresses in white, the colour of peace and prayer.
- Day 8: Pink. Denoting hope and a fresh start, pink the colour of Mahagauri, known for her intelligence and calmness.
- Day 9: Sky blue. The final day is all about Siddhidatri, a supernatural healer whose colour represents the beauty of nature.
