Navaratri is also called Dasara (Dasha Hara), which means the cutting the ten heads of Ravana (who signifies the demon Ego). The story of Sri Rama is known in almost all parts of the globe. Navaratri highlights the principles elucidated by the Ramayana. (Ramayana Navaahnam reciting the whole Ramayana in Nine days is a special feature observed these days.

The Following are the regular features of this festival:

A special ritualistic worship of the Mother Durga;  this  includes the recitation of Durga Saptashati or Devi Mahatmaya.

Recitation of Lalaitha Sahasrnama or Durga Sahasranama  (Laksharchana 100,000 times too repeat the name of the Divine Mother)

Devotees are exhorted to do the maximum number of Japa of the Navaarna Mantra AIM HREEM KLEEM CHAAMUNDAAYAI VICHHE or the Mantra JAI SHRI DURGA.

Some devotees observe fasting with milk and fruits only on all these nine days or at least three days. Visiting Temples and participating in-group chanting and seeking the blessings of the Divine Mother is the common feature in all these nine days.

Let us celebrate Dasara in the right spirit by making honest efforts to destroy the demon Ego, the ten headed i.e. passion, pride ,anger ,greed, infatuations, lust, hatred, jealousy, selfishness and crookedness) and  radiate peace and love wherever we go, and get the blessings of the Divine Mother.

Three aspects of the eternal smother has been depicted in this Devi Sapta Shloki -The Goddess Lakshmi represents Iccha shakti  (wealth) Goddess Saraswati represents Jnana Shakti  (knowledge) and Goddess Kali represent Kriya Shakti  (strength). All three merge in one form as Durga.

The glory of Durga is described in Markendeya Purana,. It is known as Devi Mahatmyam or Durga Sapta sati  (700 Mantras). Allegorical representation of the constant war going on within all of us--- between our divine and demonic natures. In the Saptasati legend   every dominant passion and vice has its special Demon representative. Shumbha is the embodiment of Lust, Nishumbha is Greed and Mashishasura represents Anger.

We celebrate Victory of Good over the evil. Durga sapta shloki (the seven mantras) is the essence of the Durga Sapta sati (seven hundred mantras). It is   very powerful to achieve Health, wealth and education.

Bija Mantra of Goddess Durga   is to be recited silently for meditation.

Om  hréà  çréà  kléà  durgati näçinyai mahämäyäyai svähä ||

çré durgä sapta  çloké ||

om  asya çré  çré durgä  sapta  çloké  stotra  mantrasya   näräyaëa   åñiù 

anuñöubh chandaù çré mahäkäøé çré mahä lakñmé çré mahä sarasvatyoo devatäù

çré  durgämbä prétyarthaà  sapta çloké durgä päöhe  viniyogaù

1.   om  jïäninä  mapi  cetäàsi  devé bhagavaté hi  sä

     balädäkåñya   mohäya  mahä mäyä prayachcati ||

2.   om  durge  småtä  harasi  bhéti  maçeña  jantooù

     svasthaiù  småtä mati matéva  çubhäà  dadäsi 

     däridrya  duùkha  bhayahäriëi  kä tvadanyä

     sarvopakära  karaëäya sadärdra  cittä||

3.   om  sarva  maìgaøa  mäìgalye  çive  sarvärtha  sädhike 

     çaraëye   tryambike  devi  näräyaëi  namostute  ||

4.   om  çaraëägata  dénärta  pariträëa  paräyaëe 

     sarvasyärti  hare  devi  narayaëi  namostute  ||

5.   om  sarva  svarüpe  sarveçe  sarva çakti  samanvite

     bhayebhyaù  trähi noo devé  durge  devi namostute||

6.   om  roogänaçeñä napahaàsi    tuñöhä

     ruñöätu  kämän  sakalän abhéñöhän

          tvä mäçritänäà   na  vipannaräëäà

     tvä  mäçritä  hi  äçrayatäm  prayänti||

7.   om  sarva bädhä praçamanaà trailokya syäkhileçvari

     evameva  tvayä käryaà  asmat  vairi  vinäçanam ||

om  çantiù    çantiù  çantiùhi