Navratras the pious nine days mark the return of festive season throughout the country. It is believed that on the tenth day Uma or Gauri goes back to her husband Lord Shiva with a tearful farewell to her parents. People hold Maha Saptami Puja, Maha Ashtami Puja, Maha Navmi Puja and Maha Dashmi Puja at their houses. They invite little unmarried girls the Kanjaks to their house, worship them and offer red chunnis with prasad of puri, chane and halwa as day symbolises the nine incarnations of Mata Durga.

Some of the devotees of divine mother keep fast on all nine days. They eat food which is specially prepared for the occasion and include fruits, milk, chappatis of singhare ka atta and oghle ka atta, papads made of sago and many other things prepared for fasts.

Navratri is nine nights celebration where is Godess(Her Nine Forms) r worshipped , one on each day. Devotees Ladies , and some gents also, keep fast for nine days.

I think it is 9 days devotion to the goddesses

Navaratri is the festival of hindus celebrated before diwali by playing with sticks with each other