Navratri is a festival that honours the nine forms of Goddess Durga, who is also known as Adi Shakti, the supreme energy of the universe. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, who represents various aspects of life, such as wisdom, courage, wealth, beauty, motherhood, and devotion. The nine forms of Goddess Durga are:

• Shailaputri: The daughter of the mountains, who rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus.
• Brahmacharini: The one who practices austerity, who walks barefoot and holds a rosary and a water pot.
• Chandraghanta: The one who has a crescent moon on her forehead, who rides a tiger and has ten arms with various weapons.
• Kushmanda: The one who created the universe with her smile, who resides in the sun and has eight arms with various objects.
• Skandamata: The mother of Skanda or Kartikeya, the commander of the gods, who sits on a lotus with her son in her lap and has four arms.
• Katyayani: The daughter of sage Katyayan, who was born to destroy the demon Mahishasura, who rides a lion and has four arms with a sword, a shield, a lotus and a gesture of blessing.
• Kaalratri: The dark night of time, who is the most fierce form of the goddess, who rides a donkey and has four arms with a scimitar, a thunderbolt, a gesture of fearlessness and a gesture of boon giving.
• Mahagauri: The great white one, who is the most beautiful and pure form of the goddess, who rides an elephant and has four arms with a trident, a drum, a gesture of fearlessness and a gesture of boon giving.
• Siddhidatri: The giver of all siddhis or supernatural powers, who is the ultimate form of the goddess, who sits on a lotus and has four arms with a discus, a conch shell, a mace and a lotus.