Why Worship the Mother Goddess?
We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. "Why mother; why not father?", you may ask. Let me just say that we believe that God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute.

Why Twice a Year?
Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because:
(1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.
(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.

Why Nine Nights & Days?
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.

Nava Durga: The Nine Appellations

The 9 Forms of The Mother Goddess

Nava – that also means 'new' – denotes 'nine' the number to which sages attach special significance. Hence, we have Nava-ratri (9 nights), Nava-patrika (9 leaves / herbs / plants), Nava-graha (9 planets), and Nava-Durga (9 appelletions).

Here're the 9 manifestations of Goddess Durga. Each goddess has a different form and a special significance. Nava Durga, if worshipped with religious fervor, it is believed, lift the divine spirit in us and fill us with renewed happiness.

SKONDAMATA KUSUMANDA SHAILAPUTRI She is the Goddess of Fire. She has four arms and three eyes. She rides a lion. Seated on a lion, she has a magnanimous presence, and possesses eight arms. Her abode is the Solar region. The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands. KAALRATRI BRAHMACHARINI MAHA GAURI This four-armed form rides an ass. She dissipates darkness from amidst her devotees, and bestows freedom from fear and adversity. She is the one who practices devout austerity. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to emancipation - Moksha. She is like an eight-year-old girl. She is intelligent and peaceful, possesses three eyes and four arms, and uses the bull as her vehicle. KATYAYANI CHANDRAGHANTA SIDDHIDATRI The chosen goddess of Vrindavan, she is alluring in her golden form. She has four arms and three eyes, she is seated on a lion. She is the apostle of bravery; she rides a lion, and has ten arms. She drives away all evildoers and demoniac incarnation. The bestower of accomplishments, this manifestation is worshipped as one blessed with glory. Seated on a lotus, she has four arms.