Navratri 2024 Day 9, Maa Siddhidatri

The ninth form of Durga is Maa Siddhidatri, who is worshipped by the Hindu devotees on the ninth day of Navratri festival. Known as the giver of supernatural and meditative powers, Maa Siddhidatri is associated with the colour purple that symbolises luxury, grandeur and nobility hence, worshipping Navdurga while wearing purple is believed to bestow devotees with opulence, richness and spiritual strength.

Maha Navami marks the victory of Durga over the demon buffalo Mahishasura. While the nine forms of Maa Durga - Navdurga - are worshipped during the nine days of Navratri, devotees pray to Maa Siddhidatri on the ninth day.

Maa Siddhidatri is worshipped on the ninth day of Navratri. According to Hindu mythology, Rudra worshipped Adi-Parashakti, the supreme Goddess of Power, when the universe began. Since she had no form, Adi-Parashakti appeared in the form of Siddhidatri from the left half of Lord Shiva. When this happened, Shiva came to be known as Ardha-Narishwar.

Maa Siddhidatri provides direction and energy to planet Ketu, which is governed by her. She is the believed to be the Goddess who possesses and bestows all types of Siddhis (accomplishments) to her devotees. She has eight types of Siddhi - Anima, Mahima, Prapti, Prakamya, Garima, Laghima, Ishitva and Vashitva. She is also believed to take away ignorance from her devotees and grant them knowledge. Even Shiva is believed to have received all his Siddhis by the grace of Siddhidatri.

Maa Siddhidatri sits on a lotus and rides a lion. She has four arms - she holds a mace and Sudarshan chakra in her right hands and a lotus and a shankh in her left. She is surrounded by Gandharvas, Yakshas, Siddhas and Asuras, who worship her.

National Post Day - India

Every year October 10 is observed as National Post Day in India. It is observed to recognize the role played by the Indian Postal Department for more than 150 years. The British brought postal service to India. Lord Dalhousie established it in 1854. It is currently the most commonly used postal system in the world and is run by the Ministry of Communications. India has 9 postal zones, 23 postal circles, and one Army Post Office. India's post offices use a 6-digit PIN Code system that was implemented there in 1972. 

Why are the Letter Boxes in India in red colour?

The red colour of British letterboxes is as much part of the iconic nature of the postal service as any other feature. During the early British era, green-painted boxes were used. unobtrusive, excessively so. But due to its unobtrusiveness, complaints were received by people having difficulty finding them. This brought in red colour letter boxes in around 1874. The red colour has the highest wavelength and the shortest frequency, which makes it visible even from a distance.

It took 10 years to complete the programme of re-painting. Also, since then, Red remained the standard colour for boxes from then on with few exceptions.

 

Navratri 2024 Day 8, Maa Mahagauri

The eighth day of Navratri is considered to be one of the most auspicious times of the year. On the eighth day, Maa Mahagauri is worshipped. 

Mahagauri translates to fair and radiant. According to mythology, it is believed that to win over Lord Shiva’s affection, Goddess Parvati went through extreme penance. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva accepted her and married her – however, the intense penance made her turn dark. Hence, Goddess Parvati went to Lord Brahma and asked for her fair complexion back. Brahma asked her to slay demons Sumbha and Nisumbha, and take a bath in the river Ganges of the Himalayas. After she took bath, she emerged as Maa Mahagauri.

Maa Mahagauri has four arms and rides a bull. She is dressed in white clothes and ornaments and controls the planet Rahu.

Ashtami or the eighth day of Navratri is considered the most auspicious day of the festival. On this day, Maa Mahagauri is worshipped. Goddess Mahagauri is known as the symbol of purity, chastity and tranquillity. All the nine forms of Maa Durga are worshipped on this day.

 

World Post Day 2024

 

World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services.

In 2015 countries all over the world committed themselves to working together towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end extreme poverty and hunger, fight inequality and injustice, and take action to reverse climate change - to name just some of these 17 agreed new Goals. Playing its part in this global effort, the Post today has a more relevant role than ever by providing infrastructure for development.

2024 theme: 150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nation          

In 2024, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) celebrates its 150th anniversary. 

With the theme “150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations,” this year’s World Post Day recognizes the UPU’s longstanding achievements and reinforces its commitment to serve all peoples for the decades and centuries to come.

Background

The purpose of World Post Day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. The celebration encourages member countries to undertake programme activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of their Post’s role and activities among the public and media on a national scale.

Every year, more than 150 countries celebrate World Post Day in a variety of ways. In certain countries, World Post Day is observed as a working holiday. Many Posts use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. Some Posts also use World Post Day to reward their employees for good service.

In many countries, philatelic exhibitions are organized, and new stamps and date cancellation marks are issued. Other activities include the display of World Post Day posters in post offices and other public places, open days at post offices, mail centres and postal museums, the holding of conferences, seminars and workshops, as well as cultural, sport and other recreational activities. Many postal administrations issue special souvenirs such as T-shirts and badges.

For countries participating in the UPU International Letter-Writing Competition, national winners are often honoured on 9 October.

 

 

Navratri 2024 Day 7, Maa Kalaratri

 

Maa Kalaratri is worshipped on the seventh day of Shardiya Navratri. She is one of the nine forms of Maa Durga and is considered the fiercest and the most ferocious form of Goddess Parvati. It is believed that when Maa Parvati removed her golden skin to kill demons, she came to be known as Maa Kalaratri.

The Goddess has a dark complexion and rides a donkey. She is depicted with four hands - her right hands are in Abhaya and Varada Mudra and her left hands carry a sword and an iron hook.

According to beliefs, when demons Shumbha and Nishumbha defeated the gods with the help of Chanda, Munda, and Raktabeej, Lord Indra and others prayed to Maa Parvati for her help. She created Goddess Chandi to kill them. While Goddess Chandi killed the other demons, she couldn't defeat Chanda, Munda and Raktabeej. It is believed that she created Maa Kalaratri from her forehead to end them.

Goddess Kalaratri killed Chanda and Munda. However, Raktabeej had a boon from Lord Brahma that allowed every drop of his blood falling on the ground to transform into his clone. Undeterred, Maa Kalaratri began drinking his blood and killed him.

Goddess Kalaratri governs the planet Shani. She is also known as Goddess Shubhankari. Her name is formed with two words - Kala means death, and Ratri stands for darkness. Thus, Kalaratri is the one who brings the 'death of darkness'. Devotees worship her because she can destroy all darkness and bring peace. She also eliminates the harmful effects of Shani on her devotees' lives and brings them happiness.

Navratri 2024 Day 6, Maa Katyayani

                                                                       

The sixth day of the auspicious festival is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani, who's considered a fierce form of Maa Durga. Also known as Mahishasurmardini, Maa Katyayani is depicted with four, ten or eighteen hands. As per the scripture Skanda Purana, she was created out of the spontaneous anger of Gods and slayed demon Mahishasura, riding the lion. 

Worshipping Maa Katyayani is believed to bestow fame and prosperity, while her grace can instil optimism in one’s life. Devotees are encouraged to approach her with a pure heart to have their wishes granted.

Additionally, married women who pray for their husbands’ well-being often find themselves blessed by Maa Katyayani’s protective and nurturing energy.

 

Navratri 2024 Day 5, Maa Skandamata

On the fifth day of the festival, Maa Skandamata is worshipped. The Goddess gets its name Skanda from the war god Kartikeya and Mata, translating to mother. She rides a furious lion and carries child Murugan in her lap. Lord Murugan is also known as Lord Kartikeya. Skandamata is known for bestowing treasures, salvation, prosperity and power to her devotees. 

It is believed that Maa Skandamata rewards her devotees when they are focused on praying to her. According to Hindu tradition, a devotee must be free from worldly pleasures and thoughts, and should point his/her focus entirely to offering prayers to Maa Skandamata – only then the Goddess blesses the devotee.