Navaratri, an important Hindu festival is celebrated all over the country. It is and should be a symbol of national integration and oneness among Indians. It is celebration of the Sakthi cult - concept of feminine energy as pervading the whole universe, including flora and fauna and life force in everything. The moral is that we should love nature. Three forms of Sakthi namely Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi are worshipped. Durga is the form of valour, destroyer of demons representing evil qualities and vices, advocates valour in living in the right way in spite of obstacles. Lakshmi is giver of wealth. Money is not merely a symbol for exchange. It is spiritual. Hence the message is money should be earned by fair means, spent judiciously for a frugal living and the balance to be given away as charity. Saraswathi is giver of knowledge, both secular and spiritual, wisdom and creativity and promoter of fine arts. The message is that secular knowledge should be guided by spiritual knowledge to make human life wholesome for true peace and happiness. These deities are worshipped in the sense we incorporate what they stand for in our life - true worship.
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