Hindus celebrate Navarathri festival

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 October 2005, 11:04 GMT]
Hindus across NorthEast and other regions of Sri Lanka concluded celebrations of the nine-day 'Navarathiri' (nine nights) festival Tuesday. 'Navarathiri' is an annual festival celebrated by Hindus across the world, especially in India and Sri Lanka, where prayers are held for first three nights for Goddess ‘Thurgai’ (bravery), second three nights for Goddess ‘Lakshmi’ (wealth) and the final three nights for Goddess ‘Saraswathy’ (education).

The tenth day is very auspicious and it is called Vijayathasami, since this day falls on the lunar day Thasami.

Small children are introduced to their first alphabet on this auspicious occasion.

Devotees step into new ventures on this day as they believe that it would bring them success.

In a a Puranic story an Asura called Mahisasuran had ill-treated and harnessed devas and to get away from his cruelty they approached Ambigai and narrated the harassments of this Asura and requested her to free them from the Asura. Ambigai destroyed this Asura on Vijayathasami and relieved the devas.

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