Peel Police Navratri greetings to Indo-Canadian community as nine-day celebrations begin to mark the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura
The Canadian Bazaar
BRAMPTON: As the huge Indo-canadian community celebrates the Navratri festival, Peel Regional Police have joined the community in the festivities.
In its greetings, the police force, which serves nearly 1.5 million residents and more than 175,000 businesses in the cities of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga, wished the Indo-Canadian community a very `happy Navratri.’
Peel Police also declared that it “recognizes October 17 as Navratri.” October 17 is the first day of the nine-day festivities.
One of the most important Hindu festivals, Navratri – also called Navratra – is celebarted around the world over nine days in Ashvin month of the Hindu calendar. It comes just after the end of the monsoon season.
Navratri in the Sanskrit language means nine nights (nav means new and ratri means night) of celebrations in honour of Goddess Durga for defeating the demon king Mahishasura.
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According to Hindu mythology, King Mahishasura was blessed by Lord Brahma (the creator of the universe) that nobody could defeat him except a woman. Over time, King Mahishasura became so powerful that he established his reign over what in Hinduism is called Trilok – earth, heaven and hell. To control him, the Hindu trinity of gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – joined their powers to assume the form of Goddess Durga.
When Goddess Durga challenged the demon king, he assumed different forms to escape. After 15 days of their battle, Goddess Durga finally killed him with her spear when he assumed the form of a buffalo.
Thus, Navratri is basically celebrations of victory of good over evil. It is celebrated for nine days because Goddess Durga had nine avatars (incarnations). Each day honours one incarnation of the goddess. That’s why goddess Durga is also called Navdurga.
Navratri ends on the ninth day, with Durga Visarjan – which means the immersion of idols of the goddess. This year, this day falls on October 26. Happy Navratri!
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