Ahmedabad gears for Navaratri festival, practice Garba in traditional attire

People wearing traditional attire practice Garba, the traditional dance of Gujarat state ahead of Hindu festival Navratri in Ahmadabad, India, Friday, October 9. Navaratri, the festival of nights, lasts for nine days, with three days each devoted to the worship of Durga, the goddess of valor, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. Feasting and fasting takes over normal life for millions of Hindus, and many people join in religious dances in the evenings. The festival will begin from October 13. (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)

During the nine nights and ten days of Navaratri, nine forms of Devi are worshipped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussehra".

Garba troupes practising for the upcoming Navratri festival in Ahmedabad. (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Navaratri Day 1 (October 13): The Navaratri commences on the first day (Pratipada: Ghatasthapana Shailputri Pujan) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin. It marks the beginning of nine days festivity. (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Navaratri Day 2 (October 14): People observe a day long fast and break it after sighting new moon on Chandra Darshan day. (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Navaratri Day 3 (October 15): Goddess Brahmacharini, the unmarried form the Goddess Parvati is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri. (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Navaratri Day 4 (October 16): Goddess Chandraghanta, the married form the Goddess Parvati is worshipped on the third day of Navaratri. (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Navaratri Day 5 (October 17): Goddess Kushmanda is worshipped on the fourth day of Navaratri. Kushmanda is the Goddess who has the power and capability to live inside the Sun. (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Navaratri Day 6 (October 18): Goddess Skandamata is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri. When Goddess Parvati became the mother of Lord Skanda (also known as Lord Kartikeya), Mata Parvati was known as Goddess Skandamata.

Garba dancers, in traditional attire, practice ahead of Navratri festival in Ahmedabad. (Source: PTI)

Navaratri Day 7 (October 19): Goddess Katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day of Navaratri. To destroy demon Mahishasura, Goddess Parvati took the most violent form of Goddess Katyayani.

Girls in traditional attire pose for photographs as they practice the Garba, the traditional dance of Gujarat state, ahead of Navratri festival in Ahmadabad. (Source: AP)

Navaratri Day 8 (October 20): Goddess Kalaratri is worshipped on the seventh day of Navaratri. Kalaratri is the fiercest and the most ferocious form of Goddess Parvati. (Source: AP)

Navaratri Day 9 (October 21): Goddess Mahagauri is worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri. Goddess Mahagauri is the extreme beautiful and fair complexion form of Goddess Parvati. (Source: AP)

Navaratri Day 10 (October 22): Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra or Dasara, is celebrated as victory of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana and also triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo Demon Mahishasura. On this day, people worship all sort of vehicles and are decorated with vermilion, garlands, mango leaves and banana sapling and worshipped.

Artists give the final touch to an idol of Hindu Goddess Durga for the upcoming Durga Puja festival in Jaipur on Saturday. (Source: Express Photo by Rohit Jain Paras)

Navaratri Day 11 (October 23): Durga Visarjan is celebrated on the last day of Navaratri which marks the ending of Durga Puja festivity. People worship the idols of Goddess Durga for the last time and are taken out in immersion procession.

Artisans getting Durga Idols and Pandals ready for the forthcoming Durga Puja festival in New Delhi on Saturday. (Source: Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)