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.