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King Daksha's daughter Uma wished to marry Lord Shiva. She worshipped him and pleased him and was successful. Uma, now the consort of Lord Shiva, wished to take part in a Yagna conducted by her father. Since her father was not in good terms with him, Lord Shiva refused her to witness the Yagna.
When she turned up at the Yagna, her father - King Daksha - insulted Lord Shiva. Unable to withstand the insult, the angry Uma decided to end her life by jumping into the agni kund. She was united with the eternity. Uma came to be known as Sati. Sati was reborn again. In the second birth, Sati married Lord Shiva and the divine couple lived happily, thereafter. It is believed that Sati comes to stay with her parents for nine days, every year. This is celebrated as Navratri.
Navaratri is separated into different sets to adore different aspects of the supreme Goddess. From day 1-3, the Goddess is invoked as the supreme powerful force called Durga to destroy vices and impurities. From day 4-6, She is worshipped as the mother of spiritual wealth, Goddess Lakshmi to bestow on her devotees inexhaustible wealth. On day 7 and 8, the Goddess is worshipped as the Goddess of wisdom, Saraswati for all round success in life. Finally on the 9th day Kanya puja is performed, nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped
Every day, she assumes a new character, a new look and a new duty-Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri.To celebrate a good harvest and to propitiate the nine planets, women also plant nine different kinds of food grain seeds in small containers during these nine days and then offer the young saplings to the goddess.
During Navratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. A period of introspection and purification, Navratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures.
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