Navratri; Navaratri; or Navarathri is a Hindu festival of worship of Shakti. The word Navaratri literally means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit; nava meaning nine and ratri meaning night. During these nine nights and ten days; nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped. It is commonly referred to as Dussehra. The custom of celebrating Dussehra is believed to have originated in the Deccan Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar; with its capital at Hampi; in the 14th century.