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Dussehra Navaratri - The Hindu Festival Of Nine Nights

Dussehra Navraatri is one of the most auspicious festivals for Hindus. It is celebrated across the country for nine continuous nights. Hence the name Nav (nine) Raatri (night). The festival is celebrated in the Hindu month of Ashwayuja or Ashwin beginning from the next day after Mahalaya Amavasya i.e moonless night.

The night on the 10th day is the most important of all the 9 nights and is known as Dussehra festival. It is customary to clean up the house and decorate the house with fresh flowers and floral, torans etc. The 9-day Dussehra festival signifies woman power i.e stree sakti. The festival symbolizes the inherent power of woman which if required has the power to destroy the evil of the society.

Related Topics:
1. Importance of Mahalaya
2. Significance of Dussehra

Goddess Durga is mainly worshiped in 9 different forms with different name for each form of Hers. Though, Dussehra Navaratri is celebrated in different ways in different regions of the country, Goddess Durga is worshipped during the festival for 9 continuous nights.

Also Read: Dussehra celebrations in Different Regions of India

In West Bengal, the last three days of the festival period are celebrated as Durga Puja in a grand way by the installation of the idols of the goddess in community pendals. Besides Dussehra procession of Mysore which needs no description. Bommala Koluvu (Telugu word) or Gollu (Tamil word) is equally important and is celebrated with much enthusiasm.
Durga Puja celebrations at Columbus, Ohio by the Bengali Community.
In the Southern states of the country, it is customary to worship vehicles on Vijaya Dasami day and some people even worship the machinery in the house / factories / industries. Vijaya Dasami day is considered the most auspicious day of the year and people make purchases of new vehicles on this day and start new ventures as it is believed to be a very successful day.

Related Topic: Durga Pooja celebrations in Columbus, Ohio

In most of the Durga temples in South India, each the idol of the goddess is dressed in a different form. Devotees throng to the temples during Dussehra to see the beautifully decorated Mother.

The festival is celebrated in a grand way in Kanaka Durga Temple at Vijayawada. The annual Srivari Brahmotsavalu are celebrated in the grandest way in Tirumala. During this time, Tirumala is heavily crowded with devotees.

Also Read:
1. Devi Navaratri in Kanakadurga temple, Vijayawada
2. Tirumala Srivari Brahmotsavalu

Dussehra Navatri Dates - 2022

Dussehra Navaratri also known as Sharad Navaratrulu starts from 26th September 2022 and ends on 5th October 2022 on Vijaya Dasami day.

26th September 2022 - Dussehra Navaratri begins
2nd October 2022 - Saptami
3rd October 2022 - Durgaashtami / Durga Puja
4th October 2022 - Maharnavami (Ayudha Puja in Tamil Nadu)
5th October 2022 - Vijaya Dasami / Dussehra Dasami (Ayudha Puja in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana)

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