Dancers in traditional attire participating in a Garba performance during the Navaratri festival celebrations in Mumbai, India, on Thursday.

The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During Navaratri, nine forms of Durga, or the Hindu Mother Goddess, are worshipped.

Navaratri is a festival of worship, dance and music celebrated over a period of nine nights; the 10th day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.

This year, Navaratri started on Tuesday and will end next Wednesday, with Vijayadashami celebrated the day after.