Counting a fortnight of fifteen days in 360 days of the year, there come 40 Nava Ratras. Out of these only two viz, Chetr Shukl Pratipada (Vasantik) and Ashwin Shukl Pratipada (Shardiya) are important. During these two Mahamaya Durga and Kanya Pujan (maiden worship) are done. Hymns from Durga Saptashati should be recited. There is a custom of growing corn in small vessels. Ashtami (8th day) and Navami (9th Day) are auspicious days. Fast is undertaken on all nine days.

A king called Surath because of luxurious life and dependency on his unfaithful ministers lost his kingdom and was exiled. There, he met a merchant named Samadhi. Both, under distress, reached a hermitage, where their query was answered by saint, that it was only by invoking Bhagwati, mother Goddess, that one could set himself free from worldly bondage of kith and kin, relatives, royalty, love and affection.

Seeking to know the importance and supremacy of the Sakti (power) of the Goddess: the saint Megha narrated the story of Sumb and Nisumb, as described in Markandey Purana and published in details in author’s book ‘Durga’. The saint explained that Sakti has two forms; illiteracy and literacy. Literacy gives knowledge and illiteracy depicts ignorance. This illiteracy and ignorance are the cause for longing, affection and attachment. Therefore those persons, who recognize Bhagwati (mother Goddess) as the primordial power of the world and invoke her during Nav Ratri by devotion and worship, to them she imparts salvation by her blissful from literacy.