Navratri, the nine days of worshipping 9 different forms of Maa Durga is around the corner. It is a chaitra navratri scheduled every year on the first day of the Luni-Solar calendar. It usually falls in either March or April every year, this year the Chaitra Navratri begins on 9th April 2024 to 17th April 2024. As per the Hindu calendar, every year this Festival is celebrated, out of which 2 are Gupt or secret and the remaining two are Shardiya and Chaitra Navratri.
Nine incarnations of Maa Durga are worshipped with each on a specific day to celebrate the victory of Goddess over Demon Mahishashur. Celebrated with a bang across the country by Hindus, Navratri is named differently and celebrated distinctly in different parts of India. In the North, it is called Navratri, whereas In Bengal it is called Durga Puja, Dasara in Karnataka etc. Not just names are different, but the mode of worshipping the 9 quintessence of Durga Maa is different all over India, However, the purpose or the reason is the same as the whole country rejoices in the victory of Maaa adhya shakti over Buffalo demon, Mahishasur who had been given the blessing of immortality by Lord Brahma.
Navratri Festival 2024 Dates
The Chaitra Navratri, 2024 starts with the first day falling on 9th April and last on 17th April. Take a look at every day of Navratri in detail below–
• The first day of Navratri
It is on 9 April 2024, Pratipada Tithi as per the Hindu calendar, and is the day of Maa Shailputri. She is the daughter of the mountain and is also called Maa sati Bhawani and Maa Parvati.
• Second Day of Navratri
10 April 2024, Dwitiya Tithi according to the Hindu calendar. It is a day of veneration of Maa Brahmacharini. She is the daughter of King Daksha named Sati and can also be called the unmarried form of Maa Parvati.
• Third Day
It falls on the Tritiya tithi, 11 April 2024. It is said to be the day of reverence for Maa Chandraghanta, the married incarnation of Maa Parvati.
• Fourth Day
It is celebrated on 12th April 2024 with Chaturthi Tithi as per the Hindu calendar. Maa Kushmanda is worshipped on this day of Navratri who is known to be the creator of the world we reside in.
• Fifth Day of Navratri
13th April with Panchami Tithi is the fifth day of Navratri. It is a day to worship Maa Skandamata who is said to be the mother of Kartikeya.
• Sixth Day of Navratri
14th April with Shasthi Tithi is the day to devote yourself to Maa Katyayani and get engaged in her puja. It is the fierce and aggressive form of Adhya Shakti. Durga is prayed on the sixth day of Navratri.
• Seventh Day of Navratri
15th April 2024 having Saptami Tithi and is the day to indulge in Puja of Maa Kalratri. She is dark and the fiercest form of Maa Durga known to be a destroyer of evil spirits, demons, and negativity.
• The Eighth day
16th April 2024 having Ashtami Tithi as per Hindu panchang. It is a day to immerse yourself completely in the veneration of Mahagauri because eighth day of Navratri is of Maha Gauri.
• Ninth Day
17th April with Navami Tithi and the goddess to venerate is Maa Siddhidatri. This day is also called Ram Navmi.
Nine days Navratri Homam bestows positivity in life of devotee and off course abundance in all aspects.
Rituals and celebrations
The nine days are Navratri are the placid days when devotees follow the rituals sternly with no flaws to please the Shakti. Amongst various rituals, here are a few important rituals that are a must for everyone to follow, whether fasting or not as Nine days of Navratri make Goddess happy.
With the auspicious Festival nearby, the first thing that every Hindu doesn’t miss before Navratri Puja is the cleanliness of the temple of their house and the buying of new garlands as well as clothes for Maa Durga.
• Kalash Sthapna
The first day starts with Kalash Stapana which involves a coconut placement over a utensil used for worshipping called lota (a small pot-shaped utensil). It is worshipped and garland is offered. It is placed on red cloth and some rice is kept under the Kalash. The Kalash symbolizes the presence of Maa Shakti and therefore is placed in the temple.
• Akand Jyot
This is a highly practiced ritual as the majority of Hindus lit akhand jyot all nine days of Navratri. This refers to an unextinguished flame or jyot in which ghee is continuously poured and on the last day it is allowed to extinguish on its own. This is done to procure the continued blessings of Maa Adi Shakti.
• Growing barley in earthen wide-mouth utensils
This is done on the first day of Navratri as it signifies prosperity and growth in the upcoming time.
• Fasting
Devotees of Maa Durga fast on all nine days or on any two days to offer their prayers. Only fruits, milk, curd, potatoes, and other forms of food are consumed.
• Kanya Pujan
Little girls are assumed to be the younger version of Maa Durga and therefore are worshipped either on Ashtami or Navmi of Navratri. Special foods like puri, Halwa, and black gram are made on Ashtami in every house and are offered to Kanyas invited.
• Kirtan and Jagran
People collectively indulge in Kirtans and Jagrans to venerate all 9 forms of Maa Durga. Bhents, Durga Aarti, and bhajans are sung to please the Devi.
• Durga Shaptshati and Chalisa
Various kinds of paths like Durga Shaptshati, Durga Chalisa, Durga Kawach, and Durga paths are chanted in temples and homes to offer prayers to Maa Shakti. Recite Maa Durga Mantra to fulfill all your Desires.
Significance of Navratri
Navratri is aesthetically dedicated to Goddess Durga who is an ace of Shakti known to have unsurpassed energy. It is assumed to foster spiritual harmony and worldly accomplishment. The Shakti is the epitome of good over the devil and signifies the certain end of bad in the world.
Mahishasur, the half buffalo and half demon was blessed immortality by one of the three Tridevs, Brahma. The demon frightened and tortured the whole world to rule. The supreme trinity created Maa Durga to kill Mahishasur and his terror. The battle between the Devi and demon lasted for nine days, and these nine days are celebrated as Navratri to appreciate the clash of Maa Durga with the demon with immortality.
Also procure the benefits from almighty by worshipping goddess correctly with the assistance of Ask Ganesha puja homam expert Purohits.
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