Though the yatra to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Deviji is a round-the-year event, the one undertaken during the Navratras is considered the most auspicious.
"Navratri" or "Navratra" is a combined word which translated means nine nights. " Nav" means Nine and "Ratri" means night, so combined it means Navratri or Nine nights. In northern parts of India this festival is called "Navratra". In Navratras, during the first three days, the goddess is invoked as a spiritual force called Durga also known as kali in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.
During the second three days, the Mother Goddess is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth. She is the goddess of wealth. And the third set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati.
In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.
In order to showcase and highlight the regional culture, heritage and traditions of the area during this period, the Jammu & Kashmir State Tourism Department has instituted the Navratra Festival as an annual event to be held for all the nine auspicious days of the Navratras. A large number of tourists pay their obeisance to the deity during this period. This festival showcases the religious traditions as well as the popular culture of the region among the millions of pilgrims who visit the Vaishno Deviji Shrine during this period.
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