“Jai Shri Narayana Hari ”

Navaratri is a festival that lasts nine days and nine nights. The word "Navaratri" actually means nine (Nava) nights (ratri). This is celebrated in different styles throughout India. There are two types of Navaratris which is called Vasant Navaratri & Sharad Navaratri. Vasant Navaratri occurs in the month of March & sometime in April.
Sharad Navaratri occurs in the month of September and sometimes in October, as per Indian the lunar Calendar Aashwin & in the month of Kanya (Porattasi) as per Sun Calendar. The most significant part of Sharad Navaratri in Southindia is called “Golu” the setting up an odd number of steps (usually 7, 9, or 11), and the placement of different idols of Gods on them. People visit each others house to see the “Navaratri "Golu”. During these nine days of festivities, ladies wear the Hindu Traditional Sarees,called ’Madisar’. In the Evening they sit in groups in front of the “Golu” and chant classical, devotional Songs & Shlokas. They also do Puja & Archana for Durga Lakshmi Saraswati and offer Kumkum along with Lalitha Sahasranama Mantram. Thereafter, they offer Prasad, called “Chundal”,which is a Special snack made only in southern part of India. Each Day they make a different type of “Chundal” for offering to the God. Then they offer Kumkum & Tambulam (Coconut, Termuric pieces, mirror, comb, and fruits) to girls (Kanyas) & Married women (Sumangalis) along with “Chundal”. These are only given to girls and married women because Women are the form of goddess Durga. This is mainly a women festival.
The fun of this festival is in the evening when children go from house to to house, stand outside and ask for “Chundal”

!! NAVARATRI GOLU GOLU CHUNDAL!!

Temples, all over India, also celebrate this festival for ten days performing Navachandi, Shatachandi, Sahasrachandi Yagam, and Laksharchanai (reciting the name of Goddess Durga 100,000 times) and make different types of Alankaram (Sringar) on each day for the god and take procession in chariot- called Oruvalam.
Navaratri is the worship of the three divine goddesses, Saraswati (Goddess of learning and speech), Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth and prosperity), and Durga (Goddess of strength and courage). It is also said to be the battle that occurred between Goddess Chaamundeshwari and the asura (demon), Mahishaasura. The battle lasted 9 days and 9 nights. Finally, on the tenth day, Goddess Chaamundeshwari killed Mahishaasura. This day is known as Vijayadasami. Vijayadasami means the 10th day of victory.
Vijayadasami is supposed to be one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu year. In North India they call it as Dussehra. On this day People do lot of marriages,Grihapravesh, New office opening etc...
Some schools in India also start on this day. Children first starting their education are taught some of the basics by a priest on this day called - Vidya Arambham.
Navaratri and Vijayadasami (Dussehra) are celebrated with utmost devotion and with great pomp and show.
This Year Sharad Navaratri is from Sept- 27-2011to Oct-05-2011.Vajayadashami (Dussehra) is on Oct-06-2011.