Orange to peacock green: The 9 colors of Navratri

Hyderabad: Navratri or the nine days before Dusshera is a colourful festival with great cultural and religious significance. The nine-day celebration honors the Goddess Durga's nine manifestations and is celebrated with great religious fervor. The devout bathe, pray, fast, and go to temples during these days to ask for blessings and protection. The celebration goes on until Dussehra commemorates the triumph of good over evil with Lord Ram’s victory over Ravana.

This year Navratri starts on October 3 and goes on till October 12. There is a designated color for each day of Navratri and wearing that specific color during Navratri is considered auspicious, as each day has a significant and different religious meaning. The first color of Navratri is according to the day of the week on which the festival starts and the remaining eight days have colors according to an already determined format.

In Hyderabad, floral decorations and Torans are of these 9 colors and revelers turn up at Dandiya and Garba competitions dressed in these colors too. Morning spiritual messages shared each day via WhatsApp exemplify each of these nine colors of Navratri.

The 9 colors of Navratri for this year are:

Navratri Day 1 Orange

Shailaputri, or Daughter of the Mountains is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. She is the first incarnation of Goddess Durga and represents purity and nature. Orange is a warm and lively color that gives off positive energy and uplifts the wearer.

Day 2 White

The goddess Brahmacharini, or the one who observes austerity, is honored on the second day of Navratri. She is the image of wisdom and knowledge and is the second incarnation of the goddess Durga. She walks barefoot and dressed entirely in white. White is symbolic of purity and serenity. In addition, it stands for wisdom, intellect, and enlightenment. On this day, Brahmacharini bestows her blessings of wisdom, tranquillity, and devotion to those who wear white.

Day 3 Red

Chandraghanta, who is known as the one who has a crescent moon on her brow is worshipped on day 3. She is the goddess Durga's third incarnation and stands for courage and beauty. She rides a tiger and wears red clothing. The most common color donated to the goddess is red, which stands for love and desire. Wearing this color gives the devotee vibrancy.

Day 4 Royal Blue

Kushmanda or the One who created the Universe is celebrated on the fourth day of Navratri. She is Goddess Durga's fourth incarnation and stands for creativity and joy. She rides a lion and wears royal blue clothing. Royal blue is a symbol of strength and stability. It also stands for dignity, grace, and nobility. On this day, wearing royal blue invokes the benefits of Kushmanda, bringing inspiration, prosperity, and joy.

Day 5 Yellow

Skandami, who is known as the mother of Skanda is celebrated on this day. She is the goddess Durga's fifth incarnation and stands for motherhood and compassion. She rides a lion and wears yellow clothing. So this day’s color is yellow, which stands for happiness and hope. It also stands for joy, brightness, and happiness. Wearing yellow on this day bestows upon one the joys, abundance, and harmony of Skandamata.

Day 6 Green

Katyayan or the one born in the Katyayan lineage and the sixth day of Navratri is dedicated to honouring her. She is the sixth incarnation of the goddess Durga and stands for courage and success. She rides a lion and wears green clothing. Green, the color of the day, is symbolic of development and prosperity. It also stands for nature, fertility, and peace. On this day, wearing green represents Katyayani's bravery and protection, and wearing green is to receive a peaceful blessing from the Goddess.

Day 7 Grey

Kalaratri or the one who is the death of time is honoured on the seventh day of Navratri. As the seventh incarnation of Goddess Durga, she stands for both liberation and destruction. She rides a donkey and wears grey clothing. Grey, the color of the day, is symbolic of subtlety and mystery. It also stands for both the immensity of the cosmos and the capacity for overcoming difficulties. Wearing grey on this day invokes the protection and blessings of Kalaratri.

Day 8 Purple

On the eighth day of Navratri, Mahaga, or the one with a fair complexion is celebrated. She is Goddess Durga's eighth incarnation and stands for grace and beauty. She wears purple and rides a bull. The color purple is frequently connected with wealth and nobility. Worshipping Navdurga, while dressed in purple, is considered to bring prosperity and wealth to the lives of devotees.

Day 9 Peacock Green

Siddhidatri or the one who provides all siddhis or supernatural powers is honoured on the ninth day of Navratri. She is the goddess Durga's ninth incarnation and stands for perfection and completion. She mounts a lotus or a lion and is adorned in peacock green. This day’s color is peacock green, which stands for plenty and diversity. It also represents the majesty, beauty, and splendor of nature. Wearing peacock green on this day is said to invoke Siddhidatri's blessings for fulfillment, enlightenment, and completion.