The purpose of Navarathri is
Worshipping of auspicious Goddess Lakshmi Devi
Worshipping of Lord Hayagreeva
To celebrate the victory of Lord Sri Rama
To render nine different devotions
Women can recite Lakshmi Sahasram, Chatusloki, Sri Stavam, Sri Gunarathnakosam, Swami Desikan’s Sri Stuti, Bhu Stuti, Godha Stuti and Padhuka Sahasram during Navarathri. If women are desirous to read Ramayana, they can recite Mahaveera Vaibhavam on all the nine days which is equivalent to reciting Ramayana completely. Temples celebrate the utsavam of launching arrows on Vijaya dasami to showcase how Emperuman had become Vijayaraghavan after defeating Ravana.
This tradition is in practise to ascertain the number of years a king had ruled the kingdom. The number of Vanni trees at the border of a country that are cut down by the kings with arrows signify the number of years the king had ruled. As Emperuman is the king of all kings, he appears on a horse and cut the Vanni tree during this festival.
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