In this article we are going to throw light on how 9 colors please 9 Avatars of Goddess Durga on he auspicious occasion of Sharad Navratri 2023. As we all know, it is Sharad Navratri, a 9 day festival that devotees in and abroad the country celebrate with pomp, grandeur and utmost enthusiasm and devotion. It is the worship of Goddess Durga and her numerous forms. The festival generally falls in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin, September or October of English calendar. During these 9 days, devotees go on fasting and performing various rituals, including chanting of mantras, offering various prayers, and performing aarti on a daily basis. The festival is seen to culminate with Vijayadashami, known as Dussehra too. The occasion of the Durga Puja marks the victory of good over evil since time immemorial.
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Sharad Navratri Days 2023
Sharad Navratri 2023 officially falls this year on October 15. It is the time to worship a distinct manifestation of Ma Durga on each day of the said Navratri. It is fascinating to describe that the Holy Mother has numerous captivating forms, each having a unique characteristic and prolific influence. On each day of Navratri, Goddess Durga takes on a particular form. We are going to throw light on each of he days:
• October 15, 2023 Mother is seen in the Shailputri form.
• October 16, 2023 Moher takes the Brahmacharini form.
• On October 17, Mother takes Chandraghanta form manifesting peace and total calmness.
• October 18, Kushmanda is the form of Mother manifesting empowerment
• October 19, 2023 Mother takes the Skandmata form and is ready to offer salvation and prosperity.
• On October 20, Katyayani is the fierce form of Mother.
• October 21, 2023 Mother is noticed to be manifested through Kaalratri as the eliminator of all kinds of fears and sufferings.
• October 22, 2023 Mother is in the Mahagauri form manifesting purity and serenity.
• October 23, 2023 Mother is seen to take the form of Siddhidatri and fulfill all accomplishments in an elegant way.
• On the very 10th day of October 24, 2023, the end of Navratri or the concluding part of 9 days comes.
Ghatasthapana Muhurat for Navratri in 2023
The setting up of a Kalash or pitcher marks the starting of the Durga Puja. On Monday, October 15, 2023, one can perform Ashwin Ghatasthapana. The Muhurat is from 06:21 to 10:12, spanning 3 hours and 50 minutes. Again, the Pratipada date will mark the very Ghatasthapana Muhurat too. Thus, the devotees can perform the occasion on October 14th 2023, at 23:25
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Pratipada is to expire at 24:33 on October 15, 2023.
The devotees go on fasting, make an altar out of soil, and plant barley atop it in the early hours of the very Pratipada tithi. The Kalash is set on the elevated mud platform, having idol of the goddess on it. After the Sthapana ritual, one can perform the Puja reciting the Durga Saptashti with a calm and pure mind.
The dates and tithi of Durga Ashtami 2023
Durgasthami will be on October 22, 2023. The Ashtami Tithi will start on October 21, 2023, at 09:53 PM and ends on October 22, 2023, at 07:58 PM.
What is the Significance of Celebrating Sharad Navratri
During these 9 days, devotees go on for fasting and perform different rituals to seek blessings of Goddess Durga. The first 3 days of Navratri highlight Mother Durga’s aggressive form as Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, and Chandraghanta. The next 3 days represent Mother’s gentle forms such as Kushmanda, Skandamata, and Katyayani. The last 3 days show her divine and graceful forms such as Kalratri, Maha Gauri, and Siddhidatri.
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It can be told with ease that these 9 days emphasize the importance of utter purification and self-discipline. Devotees go on fasting and stay away from consuming alcohol and other substances those are regarded impure. The 9 day period is so to say the time to purify the souls and inner minds. Devotees go on performing numerous rituals.
Importance of Individual Colors on Navratri
Why does come the question of colors on the Navratri days? Actually the colors represent different forms of Goddess Durga and symbolize her different specific qualities and virtues. We are hereby going to highlight the detailed description of the specific colors and their significances on each day of Sharad Navratri 2023:
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• Day 1
On the first day of Navratri, the color that goes with it is grey. It represents the goddess in her form as Shailaputri. She is of a calm and composed demeanor. She seems to be the embodiment of the tremendous power of the mighty Himalayas.
• Day 2
The color goes the day two is orange. It represents the Mother in the form of Brahmacharini. This form of Mother represents purity, knowledge, and total wisdom. Orange symbolizes spiritual awakening and dedication too.
• Day 3
The color white is meant for the 3rd day to represent Maa in her form Chandraghanta. This form represents courage and absolute grace. So, the color is meant as white. It symbolizes purity, peace, and serenity.
• Day 4
On the 4th day of Navratri, red is meant for the Mother in her form as Kushmanda. This form of the goddess represents creativity and total energy. The color red symbolizes passion and vitality at the same time.
• Day 5
Royal blue is meant for the 5th day. It illustrates the goddess in her very form as Skandamata. This form represents motherhood and sheer protection. Even the color royal blue symbolizes calmness and stability on the other hand.
• Day 6
The color yellow is meant for the 6th day to represent Mother in her form as Katyayani. This form of Mother represents strength and absolute courage. The color yellow symbolizes happiness and optimism too.
• Day 7
On the 7th day of Navratri, it is green that illustrates the Goddess in her form as Kalaratri. This form of the Mother represents destruction and an urge for renewal too. The color green symbolizes life, nature and overall growth.
• Day 8
The color peacock green is specified for the 8th day to highlight Mother in her form as Maha Gauri. This form of the goddess represents total purity and spirituality. The color peacock green symbolizes beauty and grace as the specific form.
• Day 9
On the 9thday of Navratri, Mother is tinged with the color purple. The color represents the Mother in her form as Siddhidatri. This form of the Mother represents absolute knowledge and wisdom. So, the color purple matches with power and royalty.
Let’s Focus on the Color Usage
There may be a question arising in everyone’s mind why there is a color for each of the 9 days. Is the any reason behind or it is just an ordinary thing to be mentioned as a myth. But it is our scriptures that say highly of the usage of different colors for each day during the Navratri. A specific color is assigned for each of the days. If one can incorporate the particular color in one’s life it is obvious that one can invoke total auspiciousness. If one even dons the attires keeping in mind the specific color mentioned of the day it is also to a great extent highly auspicious too. According to great priests and pundits wearing the same kind of clothes tinged with the color specified on the very day of the Navratri, one can easily win the grace of the Maa. In our shastras it is always noted that everything related with Hinduism is associated with some authentic goodness. Everything is mentioned to extract something holy out of something.
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Among the women of Maharashtra and Gujarat the ritual of donning the specific dresses on specific days of Navratri is noticed. The women are sure to don sarees or other dresses of the color mentioned in the Navratri day. You can never put in doubt in these types of specialty. Neither do you think it odd to do so. There is definitely something holy behind this ritual going on since time immemorial.
Women of India who have been dressing them up with colorful dresses and accessories have found something special in these types of rituals. They are not doing it just for gimmicks or showing offs. It has definitely been noticed in the long past that using colors matched with the colors of the Navratri are absolutely meaningful. Again if the question of Garba dance comes, the notice goes on the dresses as an obvious effect. While performing Garba dances women or men participants are highly excited to choose specific colors to make the dance more colorful and to invoke the blessings of the mother.
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Each day women taking part in Garba don specific attire of the same color mentioned in the colors of Navratri. The custom of donning the colors is highly popular in India and abroad and they are highly appreciated everywhere.
From the very beginning day of the auspicious occasion of the Durga Puja this year too, the devotees of Holy Mother are ready to invoke the mother’s grace using 9 specific colors to appease the 9 Avatars of Goddess Durga on Sharad Navratri 2023.
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