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Article: Dolls and dance: Navarathri, a Hindu festival that means "nine nights," is celebrated throughout India.
- Article from:
- Highlights for Children
- Article date:
- October 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Highlights for Children, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Navarathri falls in September or October, according to the Hindu lunar calendar. During the Festival, people of the Hindu Faith seek the blessings of three powerful goddesses for nine nights and ten days. On the First three days, people pray to the goddess Durga, the protector who destroys all evil. The next three days they worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Then, also for three days, they look to Saraswathi, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge.
The tenth and Final day of the Festival is dedicated to the goddess Durga. Hindus believe that on this day many years ago, Durga killed the evil buffalo-headed monster, Mahishasura, freeing innocent people from his ...