Chaitra Navratri – History, Significance and rituals

Chaitra Navratri is a festival of nine days which falls in April. Chaitra is known as the first month of Hindu-lunar calendar and Navratri starts with it that’s why this festival is known as Chaitra Navratri. Some people also called this festival Vasant Navratri. On the 9th day of Chaitra Navratri, people celebrate Ram Navami on the birthday of Lord Rama.

 

Why Chaitra Navratri is celebrated?

People celebrate Chaitra Navratri to worship nine forms of Goddess Shakti all nine days. This is celebrated during Shukla paksha of Chaitra month. Maharashtrians also celebrate the first day of this festival as Gudi Padwa because as per the Hindu lunar calendar, this is the starting of the new year.

People worship nine forms of goddess shakti which are – Durga, Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri. This festival is all about praying, fasting, getting happiness and positivity.

According to Hindu mythology, for nine days lord shiva allowed his wife goddess Parvati to visit her parent's house. During these nine days, Goddess Durga killed demon king Mahishashur to get victory over the evil.

 

Significance of Chaitra Navratri-

• On Chaitra Navratri, Goddess Durga gives everyone inner strength to fight with evil powers.
• This festival falls on the starting of the new year as per the Hindu-lunar calendar which also marks the beginning of the new season and gives happiness to everyone.
• Due to changes in sun sign, this festival also has special importance in Astrology.
• During these nine days, lord sun enters in first zodiac sign after completing his journey in 12 zodiac signs.
• Many people believe that Goddess Durga came on the first day of Navratri on earth and Lord Brahma started the creation of the universe.
• According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu has taken his first incarnation in the form of Matsya and established the earth.
• People have positive and clean environment during all nine days of Chaitra Navratri.
• Everyone decorates their houses and streets of the town, cities decorated with flowers and candles. In the evening, everyone worships each form of Goddess Durga and sing Bhajans.
• No one eats onions and garlic during this festival.
• People keep fast for all nine days and eat fruits. This helps them to stay healthy and pure.
• New flowers and fruits start to blossom at the starting of Chaitra Navratri.

 

Chaitra Navratri dates –

Chaitra Navratri will be celebrated from Tue, 9 Apr, 2024 to Wed, 17 Apr, 2024.

 

Rituals of Chaitra Navratri-

• On the first day of Chaitra Navratri, people decorate the place of Puja with flowers and place a Kalash on front of Maa Durga idol.
• Many people light up Desi ghee Diya or Akhandjot from the starting of Chaitra Navratri and they try to keep it lighting for nine days. It symbolizes positivity in the environment.
• People sow barley seeds which is the first crop of this season, on the place of puja.
• Bhog prepared for Maa Durga with coconut, bananas, jaggery and kheer.
• Many people wear nine different colour clothes on each day of this festival like - Green, Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Pink and Golden.
• After offering bhog to Goddess Durga, people read Durga path for getting blessings and happiness in their life.
• The same puja ritual goes for all nine days and on the day of Navmi or dashmi, people do Kanya pujan by inviting nine girls over their houses.
• They feed Prasad and food to all those nine girls and do Kanya puja. The all nine small girls imagined as nine forms of Goddess Shakti.
• After Kanya Puja, everyone breaks their fast by eating bhog.
• During Navratri, People plans Garba dance in their places for enjoying this festival.
• Many people’s do hawan on the day of Ram Navami to purify their soul and home.
• Everyone advised to eat food without any onion or garlic and also avoid alcohol completely for nine days.

 

Chaitra Navratri gives everyone prosperity, happiness and positivity in their life. Goddess Durga is a symbol of strength so every woman gets the inspiration to fight from bad peoples. People do puja of each form of Maa shakti to get blessings for their life.

On this Chaitra Navratri, May Goddess Durga blesses you and your family also give inner strength for victory over evil.