Durga is worshipped as Kalratri on the seventh day. She is black like night. Durga’s hair is dishevelled. She has necklaces that shine like lightning. She has three eyes which are round like universe. Her eyes are bright. Thousands of flames of fire come out while respiring from nose. She rides on Shava (dead body). There is a sharp sword in her right hand. Her lower hand is in a blessing mood.

The Eighth Durga is “Maha Gauri.” She is as white as a conch, moon and jasmine. She is eight years old. Her clothes and ornaments are white and clean. She has three eyes. She rides on a bull She has four hands. The above left hand is in “Fearless Mudra” and the lower left hand holds “Trishul”. It is said that when the body of Gauri became dirty due to dust and

earth while observing penance, Shiva makes it clean with the waters of the Ganges. Then her body became bright like lightning. Therefore, she is known as “Maha Gauri”.

Finally, the ninth Durga is worshipped as Siddhidatri. There are eight Siddhis, they are- Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Lishitva and Vashitva. Maha Shakti gives all these Siddhies. It is said in “Devi Puran” that the Supreme God Shiv got all these Siddhies by worshipping Mahashakti.Thus each of the nine Durgas is worshipped for nine

days and the tenth day, Vijayadashami, is celebrated as the triumph of good over evil, truth over falsehood and light over darkness. — (Concluded)