Hindus all over the world celebrate Navratri as one of the most important festivals. It is also one of the most ancient festivals dating back to time immemorial.
This year the nine-day festival will be celebrated from 26 September to 4 October. The word car on rent in Navratri is derived from two Sanskrit words – ‘Nava’ meaning nine and ‘Ratri’ meaning night.
The legend associated with cars on rent in Navratri tells about the great battle between the mighty demon Mahishasura and Goddess Durga. Lord Brahma blessed Mahishasura with immortality, on the condition that only a woman could defeat the mighty Mahishasura.
Armed with the blessings of immortality and self-confidence, Mahishasura attacked the Triloka – earth, heaven, and hell. Since only a woman could defeat him, not even the gods stood a chance against him. The worried gods prayed to Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva to help them defeat their greatest enemy.
Seeing the helpless deities, Lord Vishnu decided to incarnate Maa Durga to defeat Mahishasura because as per the boon of Lord Brahma, only a woman can defeat the demon. Now, Lord Shiva, also known as the God of Destruction, is the most powerful deity. So everyone reached out to him for help. Then Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma together gave all their powers to the woman created by Lord Vishnu to destroy Mahishasura. Lord Shiva is believed to have an incarnation of Goddess Durga in his consort, Goddess Parvati. Shakti – another incarnation of Goddess Parvati – is the goddess of power running through the universe.
MEANING OF NAVARATRI
After the three powerful Gods—Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva)—created Goddess Durga, she fought with Mahishasura for 15 long days. It was a fight that shook the trilok—earth, heaven and hell. During the fight, the clever Mahishasura kept changing his form to confuse his opponent Goddess Durga. Ultimately, when the demon took the form of a buffalo, the Goddess Durga pierced his chest with her ‘Trishul’ (a forked weapon) killing him instantly.
On each day of Navaratri, people worship different avatars of Goddess Durga. People worship Goddess Shailputri on the first day and Goddess Brahmacharini on the second day. On the third-day people pay homage to Goddess Chandraghanta. On the fourth day, Goddess Kushmanda is worshipped; on the fifth day Goddess Skandamata is worshipped; on the sixth day Goddess Katyayani is worshipped; on the seventh day Goddess Kaalratri is worshipped; on the eighth day Goddess Mahagauri is worshipped and on the last and final day people worship the Goddess Siddhidatri.
The car on rent in the Navratri festival that celebrates the defeat of Mahishasura by Goddess Durga signifies the victory of good over evil. In some parts of India, people observe fast during Navaratri. On the last day the perform puja and break their fast.
