🐅Navratri - नवरात्रि

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ शैलपुत्री रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

Tithi, Day: Chaitra / Ashvin Shukla Prathama
Other names: Hemavati and Parvati.
Rides / Bahan: Taurus (वृष), due to being a riding Taurus, they are also called Vrisharudha (वृषारूढ़ा).
Hold / Astra-Shastra: Two hands - holding trishul in right hand and lotus flower in left hand.
Expression/Mudra: This form of mata looks pleasant and blissful.
Planet:: Moon - This Devi Shailputri form of mata Adi Shakti is the provider of all destiny, controlling any ill effects of the fall of the moon.
Color: Yellow

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

Mata spent 1000 years in this form with the diet of fruits and flowers, and spent another 100 years in a diet of leafy vegetables while sleeping on earth. When Mata worshiped Bhagwan Shiv, she fed only bilva leaves for 3000 years. To make her penance more difficult, Mata also stopped eating Bilva Patra and continued her penance without any food and water, this form of Mata was known as Aparna.

Tithi, Day: Chaitra / Ashvin Shukla Dwitiya
Other Name: Aparna
Rides / Bahan: walking barefoot..
Hold / Astra-Shastra: Two hands: Mata is holding a jaapmala in right hand and a kamandal in left hand.
Planet: Mangal, the provider of all fortune.
Color: Green

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ चंद्रघंटा रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

Maa Chandraghanta is the married form of Mata Parvati. After marrying Bhagwan Shiv, Mata Mahagauri started adorning her forehead with half moon and due to which Mata Parvati is known as Mata Chandraghanta. She is holding a semi-circular moon on his forehead. On their forehead, it appears like half moon hour, so this form of Mata is known as Mata Chandraghanta.

Tithi, Day: Chaitra / Ashvin Shukla Tritiya
Rides / Bahan: Tigress (बाघिन)
Hold / Astra-Shastra: Ten hands: She carries Trishul, Gada, Sword and Kamandal in her four right hands and keeps the fifth right hand in Varada Mudra. She carries lotus flower, Arrow, Dhanush and Japa Mala in her four left hands and keeps the fifth left hand in Abhaya Mudra.
Expression: For the peaceful and welfare of his devotees.
Planet: Shukra
Color: Gray

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ कूष्माण्डा रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

Ku means Something, Ushma means Heat, and Anda here means the Universe or the creation, from whose part of the heat this creation originated, she is Goddess Kushmanda. Mata Kushmanda has the power and ability to live inside the Sun. Her body is as bright as the sun. This form of Mata is also known as Ashtabhuja Devi. She also likes Bali of white pumpkin known as Kushmanda.

Tithi, Day: Chaitra / Ashvin Shukla Chaturthi
Other Name: Ashtabhuja Devi
Rides / Bahan: Lioness
Hold / Astra-Shastra: Eight Hands: In her right hands hold kamandala, bow, barn and lotus and in the left hands is Amrit Kalash, Jaap mala, gadda and chakra.
Expression: With a low smile.
Planet: Sun - Direction and energy provider to the Sun.
Color: White

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ स्कन्दमाता रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

When Mata Parvati became the Mata of Prabhu Skanda, Mata Parvati was known as Mata Skandamata. She sits on a lotus flower, and for this reason, Skandamata is also known as Mata Padmasana. The color of Mata Skandamata is Shubhra, which describes her white color. Devotees who worship this form of Mata also get the benefit of worshiping Bhagwan Kartikeya. Mata Skanda is also known as Karthikeya.

Tithi, Day: Chaitra / Ashvin Shukla Panchmi
Other Name: Mata Padmasana, Karthikeya
Rides / Bahan: Furious Lion
Hold / Astra-Shastra: Four Hands: She carries baby Murugan in her lap. Lord Murugan is also known as Kartikeya and brother of Lord Ganesha. Mata holds lotus flowers in her upper two hands. She holds Bal Murugan in one of her right hand and Abhay Mudra.
Expression: Motherhood
Planet: Budha
Color: Red

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ कात्यायनी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

Mata Parvati took the form of Devi Katyayani to slay the demon Mahishasura. It is the most violent form of Devi Parvati, in this form Devi Parvati is also known as the warrior Devi. According to religious texts, Devi Parvati was born at the house of sage Katya and due to which this form of Devi Parvati is known as Katyayani.

Tithi, Day: Chaitra / Ashvin Shukla Shashthi
Rides / Bahan: Magnificent Lion
Hold / Astra-Shastra: Four Hands: Holds a lotus flower and sword in left hands and holds her right hand in Abhay and Varada mudra.
Expression: The most violent form
Planet: Brihaspati
Color: Royal Blue

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ कालरात्रि रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

When Mata Parvati killed the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, Mata removed the outer golden skin of her and took the form of Mata Kalratri. Kalratri is the fiery and extreme form of Mata Parvati. The color of Mata Kalratri is dark black. Mata Kalratri is also known as Mata Shubhankari due to its auspicious power in its ferocious form.

Tithi, Day: Chaitra / Ashvin Shukla Saptami
Other Name: Devi Shubhankari
Rides / Bahan: Donkey
Hold / Astra-Shastra: Four Hands: Right hand is in Abhay and Varada mudra, and in left hands holds a sword and deadly iron hook.
Expression: Most ferocious form of Goddess Parvati
Planet: Shani
Color: Pink

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ महागौरी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

According to Hindu mythology, Mata Shailputri was extremely beautiful at the age of sixteen. Mata Mahagauri is compared to the white flower of conch, moon and blunt due to its extremely keen color. She is known as Mata Mahagauri due to her gaur(white) aura. Maa Mahagauri only wears white clothes, due to which she is also known as Shwetambardhara.

Tithi, Day: Chaitra / Ashvin Shukla Ashtami
Other Name: Shwetambardhara
Rides / Bahan: Bull / Taurus
Hold / Astra-Shastra: Four Hands: Mata holds Trishul and Abhaya mudra in the right hand. She holds Damru and Varada in one left hand.
Planet: Rahu
Temple: There is a temple dedicated to Maa Mahagauri at Kankhal in Haridwar.
Color: Purple

या देवी सर्वभू‍तेषु माँ सिद्धिदात्री रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

Mata Adi-Parashakti, the supreme devi of power, appeared as Siddhidatri from the left half of Bhagwan Shiv. Mata Siddhidatri bestows all kinds of siddhis to her devotees. Even Bhagwan Shiv had attained all his attainments with the help of Mata Siddhidatri. Mata Siddhidatri is worshiped not only by humans but also by Dev, Gandharva, Asura, Yaksha and Siddhas. When Mata Siddhidatri appeared from the left half of Shiva, then Bhagwan Shiv was named Ardha Nariswar. Mata Siddhidatri sits on the lotus seat.

Tithi, Day: Chaitra / Ashvin Shukla Navami
Rides: Lotus
Hold / Astra-Shastra: Four Hands: lotus flower and Shankh in left hand, Gadda and Chakra in right hand.
Planet: Ketu
Color: Purple

Chaitra Navratri begins on the Pratipada date of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu calendar, due to which this Navratri is known as Chaitra Navratri. Rama Navami, the incarnation day of Bhagwan Ram, usually falls on the ninth day during Navaratri, hence also called Rama Navaratri. Chaitra Navaratri is also known as Vasant Navaratri.

Chaitra Navratri is more popular in northern India than expected. In Maharashtra, Chaitra Navratri starts from Gudi Padwa and in Andhra Pradesh, it starts with Ugadi. The second day of this Navratri is also celebrated as Cheti Chand or Jhulelal Jayanti. List of Jhulelal temples in Delhi NCR.

Shardiya Navratri strats in Sharad Ritu is more popular therefore also known as Maha Navratri. The nine days festivity culminates on tenth day with Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami.

The five days festivity start on Maha Sashthi and culminates on tenth day with Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami. In Indian east states celebrate this festival as Durga Puja. Read More About Durga Puja..

1) Nine days of meditation on Matarani.
2) Fast! on your adverse planet day.
3) Darshan of Mata in Mandir or Dhwaj darshan from outside temple!