Holi is a Hindu festival that is celebrated over two days. Day 1 is dedicated to religious offerings to the Holy fire also called "Holika Dehan" and the second day brings together people to throw away their inhibitions and feel united and is celebrated all over the world.

In this episode listen in to the legends and myths around the origin of Holika Dahan which represents win of good over evil and a cute little story of mischievous Krishna and how playing with different colours came to be.

Dr Shivani Kanodia believes that stories exist all around us, from deep inside an ocean to high in the sky. With a PhD in biotechnology , storyline demanded that she pursues a career in science but what fun is a story without a twist? To give wings to her dreams and follow her passion she founded Aryah Inspires LLP in 2017 - an organization which aims to nurture the story-lovers within individuals and is on a mission to “Storify the Nation”. As a Professional storyteller, Applied theatre practitioner, consultant and trainer Shivani is committed to empower people to harness the power of storytelling and applied theatre tools to initiate dialogues, create conversations and make classrooms engaging and joyful. She has conducted over 300 sessions with more than 20,000 participants in range of sessions and workshops. Shivani has worked with various organizations like Pratham books, Katha India, Oxford University Press India, Jaipur literature Festival for outreach programme and The Hindu group to facilitate STEP summer programme. She has done story narration in collaboration with BookyBoo and and UNICEF Maharashtra to raise awareness regarding Virus during the Pandemic. She is also part of various international projects with ASST (USA) and Storytelling choir (UK). She is currently working with teachers from about 200 schools in Delhi and Haryana to train them in “Integrating Storytelling with Curriculum”.



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On the ninth day of the nine-day long Hindu festival of Navratri, we worship the ninth form of Devi Durga. The ninth form of Devi Durga is Maa Siddhidatri.

It is said that at the beginning of time when there was nothing in the universe there was only darkness then Maa Kushmanda created the universe using her radiant smile. Maa Kushmanda also created the holy trinity. She created Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu and each one of these gods was given a job to do. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. Once all these gods were created, Shiva went and prayed to Maa Kushmanda and asked her more perfection. He asked Maa Kushmanda to bestow him with lots and lots of blessings, to bestow him with more perfection. And that’s when Maa Kushmanda created another goddess. She created Maa Siddhidatri.

Maa Siddhidatri blessed Shiva not just with eight or ‘ashtasiddhis’ but with 18 siddhis or 18 perfections. These 18 comprised not just the ‘ashtasiddhis’ or the eight perfections but also ten more siddhis which are the secondary perfections as defined by Lord Krishna. And then something amazing happened, half of Lord Shiva’s body became one with Maa Siddhidatri. She became half of Shiva and that form of Shiva where he is half female and half male is called Ardhanareshwar.

Maa Siddhidatri also blessed Brahma and Vishnu with eight perfections or the ‘ashtasiddhis’ and these eight Siddhis (perfections) are:

• Anima: The ability to become as small as an atom
• Mahima: The ability to become infinitely large
• Garima: The ability to become infinitely heavy
• Laghima: The ability to become infinitely light
• Prati: The ability to become omnipresent
• Prakhambya: The ability to make all that you desire come true
• Ishitva: Lordship
• Vashitva: The power to conquer all.

And that is why Maa Siddhidatri is worshipped on the ninth day of the Navratri which is also called Ram Navmi or Naumi.

Maa Siddhidatri sits on a lotus and her ride is a lion. She has four hands. In one hand she carries a Gada, in one a chakra, in one a lotus, and in one a Shunk. Maa Siddhidatri is not just worshipped by humans she is worshipped by the devas, by the Gandharvas, by the asuras, by the yakshas, and by the Siddhas.

Rohini Vij is an early-years educator, professional storyteller, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, drama coach, voice artist, author, and Founder of NutSpace Edtech Pvt. Ltd. She has recorded audiobooks for various renowned publishers.

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NutSpace builds life skills and 21st-century skills in children using stories for kids. We deliver our lesson plans via live classes, online classes, self-paced courses www.nutspace.in

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On the eighth day of the nine day-long festival of Navratri, we celebrate and we pray to Maa Mahagauri. ‘Maha’ means extremely and ‘Gauri’ means fair. This is a story of Parvati-ji and once when Parvatiji in the form of Kaalratri was fighting all the demons and when she came back her skin had turned absolutely dark and try as she may she just couldn’t get rid of that dark skin. Her husband Lord Shiva made a little fun of her. He teased her and called her ‘kali’. However, this really really infuriated her and she went to Lord Brahma. She prayed and prayed to him and she told him that, ‘I want to get rid of this dark skin. Make me fair once again.’ After a severe penance, Lord Brahma was pleased and he blessed Parvati. He told her that she should go and take a dip in The Mansarovar Lake in the Himalayas. The moment Parvati stepped into The Mansarovar Lake in the Himalayas, her dark skin separated from her and magically took the form of a female. This female was called Kaushiki. Kaushiki went on to destroy two terrible demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. Shumbha and Nishumbha had got a boon from Lord Bhrama that they could not be killed by any man, god, demon or deity. And that’s how Kaushiki killed them.

Once Parvati had bathed in the river she emerged absolutely stunning. Her skin was now fair and radiant and once again she became the fair-skinned one and came to be known as Maa Mahagauri. Maa Mahagauri has four arms. She carries a trident in one hand and a damaru in the other. She rides a white bull. She is a symbol of kindness and morality. That was a wonderful story, wasn’t it? But then, it makes me think about something.

Tell me, is fair skin really a symbol of beauty? Is it important to have fair skin or a fair heart? I think Maa Mahagauri had an enormously courageous and beautiful heart and no matter what the colour of her skin was, she was the one who destroyed demons before and after.

Rohini Vij is an early-years educator, professional storyteller, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, drama coach, voice artist, author, and Founder of NutSpace Edtech Pvt. Ltd. She has recorded audiobooks for various renowned publishers.

Follow Rohini on: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

NutSpace builds life skills and 21st-century skills in children using stories for kids. We deliver our lesson plans via live classes, online classes, self-paced courses www.nutspace.in

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Maa Katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day of the nine-day long Hindu festival of Navratri. Maa Katyayani is one of the most popular forms of Durga who is prayed to during Navratri. It is believed that Maa Katyayani was born to kill and bring an end to Mahishasura. The story goes like this – There was once a sage named Katyayan and he was childless. And he prayed with all his heart to the Trinity Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. He was blessed that one day he will have a wonderful child – a child will make him very very proud. In the meantime, Mahishasurah the demon was really really becoming powerful so much so that the Gods the devas also feared him and they all went to the trinity and begged them to find a solution. Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma combined their energies and created a female form. This female form was extremely radiant – as radiant as a thousand suns and she had 18 arms, she had fierce eyes, she rode a lion and was given the blessings to defeat Mahishasura in battle. Just before going into battle, all the gods blessed her with many gifts – Shiva gave her a mighty Trident, Vishnu gave her a Sudarshan Chakra, Brahma gave her a water-pot and a rosary, Varuna gave her a Conch / Shunk, Agni gave her a Dart, Surya gave her a Quiver, Vaayu gave her a Bow, Indra gave her a Thunderbolt, Kuber gave her a Mace, Kaal gave her a sword and a shield and Vishwa Karma gave her a Battle-Axe. She rides a lion and she is fierce. It is said that she went into a mighty battle with Maheshasura. The battle between Katyayani and Maheshasura went on for days and finally, she defeated him by chopping off his head. Katyayani is also known as Mahishasura Mardani the one who killed and defeated Maheshasura. And her celebration, her victory is celebrated in India. A day when a woman took a form that was fierce and she went down on earth and she defeated a demon who was as terrible as Maheshasura. Maa Katyayani has four hands – in one she holds a sword, in the other, she holds a lotus, with the third hand she blesses her devotees, and with the fourth hand, she protects them.

Rohini Vij is an early-years educator, professional storyteller, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, drama coach, voice artist, author, and Founder of NutSpace Edtech Pvt. Ltd. She has recorded audiobooks for various renowned publishers.

Follow Rohini on: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

NutSpace builds life skills and 21st-century skills in children using stories for kids. We deliver our lesson plans via live classes, online classes, self-paced courses www.nutspace.in

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On the 7th day of Navratri, we celebrate the 7th avatar of Goddess Durga, Kaalratri (also spelt Kalaratri). She is also known as Shubhankari. Kaalratri is the fiercest form of Devi Durga. She is the destroyer of evil. Maa Kaalratri is black as night and has three luminous eyes. She exhales fire. She has four hands, in one she holds a thunderbolt, in the other she holds a sword. Some stories say that her other two hands lay in mudras- one in ‘abhay’, symbolising her fearlessness, and the other in ‘varada’, symbolising her benevolence. Some say that she uses one hand to hold and the other to protect. After the asuras Shumbha & Nishumbha invaded devlok and destroyed Indra’s kingdom, the devas were left helpless since these two asuras had a boon that no man or god could kill them. To save the devas from the terror, Indra visited Parvati and apprised her of the situation. Parvati sent Chandi, also known as Kaali, to deal with the demons. However, Shumbha & Nishumbha had sent two other demons called Chanda & Munda in the battlefield already. Chandi killed the demons and earned herself the name Chamunda. She then faced another demon called Rakhtabeej. Rakhtabeej had a peculiar and powerful boon. He could never be destroyed. Whenever Rakhtabeej’s blood was shed and it came in contact with the ground, a new Rakhtabeej would emerge. This infuriated Maa Kaalratri and as she struck him, she bent low and drank his blood before it could come in contact with the ground. That was the end of Rakhtabeej. Maa Kaalratri then went on to kill Shumbha and Nishumbha, restoring peace in Devlok.

Rohini Vij is an early-years educator, professional storyteller, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, drama coach, voice artist, author, and Founder of NutSpace Edtech Pvt. Ltd. She has recorded audiobooks for various renowned publishers.

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NutSpace builds life skills and 21st-century skills in children using stories for kids. We deliver our lesson plans via live classes, online classes, self-paced courses www.nutspace.in

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Maa Kushmanda is the Goddess of a form of Durga that is worshipped on the fourth day of the 9-day-long festival of Navratri, which is celebrated in India.

Maa Kushmanda is also known as the smiling Goddess. Her name translates into three small words - 'Ku' means little. 'Ushma' means small and smiling and 'Anda' means egg which translates into a small cosmic egg. It is believed that is was Maa Kushmanda who actually created the universe. In the beginning, when there was nothing and there was only darkness, that's when Maa Kushmanda using her energy produced a small cosmic egg, which is the universe where we live. It is believed that it is Maa Kushmanda who resides in the core of the center of the sun and it is her that gives the sun the direction. It is she who gives all the universe warmth and energy.

At the beginning of time when there was nothing, and after Maa Kushmanda had created the universe, she created 3 life forms - from her left eye she created a fierce Goddess called Maa Mahakali. From her third eye, from her forehead, she produced Maa. And from her right eye created a benevolent and smiling Goddess, Maa Mahasaraswati. And then she started glancing at these 3 life forms. These three life forms, Mahalaxmi, Mahakali, and Mahasaraswati were the first three life forms of the earth.

She glanced at Mahakali. From Mahakaali a male and female were born. The male had 5 heads and 10 arms. She named him Shiva. The female has one head and 4 arms - she named her Saraswati. Then she glanced at Mahalaxmi. And from her too a male and a female were born. The male had 4 heads and 4 arms - she named him Brahma. The female has 1 head and 4 arms, she named him Laxmi. And then Maa Kushmanda glanced at Mahasaraswati. And from her too emerged a male and a female. The male had 1 head and 4 arms - she named him Vishnu. And the female too had 1 head and 4 arms - and she named her Shakti. And then she presented Shakti to Shiva, Saraswati to Brahma, and Laxmi to Vishnu as their consorts. It is believed that these 3 went on to create the rest of the universe. And then Maa Kushmanda absorbed the three back into herself. She absorbed Mahakali, Mahasaraswati, Mahalaxmi, all back into herself. And then it is believed that she became one with Shakti as an orb of energy, as an orb of form. And since then it is believed, Maa Kushmanda is the one that actually provides the entire universe with its warmth and energy.

On the fourth day of Navratri we pray to Maa Kushmanda and she removes all obstacles from the lives of her devotees. Maa Kushmanda has eight arms, and in these eight arms, she carries a kamandal, a bow, an arrow, a pot of nectar, a lotus, a rosary, a disc and a mace. She rides a lion and because of which her devotees are fearless like her.

If you like this video don't forget to push the like button and subscribe to our channel. There are many other videos in this playlist. There are stories about all the 9 forms of Devi Durga and also why we celebrate Navratri and also why we celebrate Dussehra.

Rohini Vij is an early-years educator, professional storyteller, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, drama coach, voice artist, author, and Founder of NutSpace Edtech Pvt. Ltd. She has recorded audiobooks for various renowned publishers.

Follow Rohini on: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

NutSpace builds life skills and 21st-century skills in children using stories for kids. We deliver our lesson plans via live classes, online classes, self-paced courses www.nutspace.in

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This form of the goddess is associated with fear (bhayaanaka rasa). In this story, Parvati was to get married to Shiva. It was the wedding day and her parents were looking forward to receiving the groom. Her parents had made the best of arrangements but to their dismay, they were shocked to see Shiva. So much so that Parvati’s mother fainted. Shiva was dressed up as an ascetic - he was accompanied by his followers of ghouls. Parvati had not expected Shiva to show up like this especially on their wedding day. Angry, she took the form of Chandraghanta. She summoned her tiger, Dawon, and sat on her adorning an angry form with a moon-shaped bell on her head. The bell made a sharp and shrill menacing noise that hurt the ears of the ghouls. At last, she had the attention of Shiva who understood that she was upset at his appearance. She asked him to dress more appropriately. Shiva accepted her request and made his appearance more presentable. His followers changed their appearance too and at last, the wedding took place, amidst much galore. This form of the goddess is called Chandraghanta, where Chandra means moon and ghanta means bell. She is worshipped on Day 3 of Navratri.

Rohini Vij is an early-years educator, professional storyteller, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, drama coach, voice artist, author, and Founder of NutSpace Edtech Pvt. Ltd. She has recorded audiobooks for various renowned publishers.

Follow Rohini on: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

NutSpace builds life skills and 21st-century skills in children using stories for kids. We deliver our lesson plans via live classes, online classes, self-paced courses.www.nutspace.in

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