No Male God is worshipped during Navaratri
Significantly, no male God is associated with Navaratri. Thus contrasts strongly with other festivals in which male gods are dominant e.g. Ganesh Chathurti, Krishnastami (Janmastami), Mahashivaratri, Ramnavami etc. Even when goddesses are worshipped in any of the other festivals, they are given this honour as consorts of the male god to whom the said festival is devoted. For instance, Sita with Rama during Ramnavami or Parvati with Shiva during Mahashivaratri. But during Navaratri the Mother goddess is not worshipped because she is a consort of some male god. In fact she has no consort (husband). She stands independent, and is worshipped in her own right. This reinforces the interpretation of rites performed during Navaratri as those originating in a festival eulogizing fertility in women.

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