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What Is Chaitra Navratri? | Chaitra Navratri Meaning
Chaitra Navratri gets its name from the first month of the Hindu Lunar calendar, namely ‘Chaitra’. It falls in the Shukla paksha of the Chaitra mass and this festival is also popularly known as Vasanta Navratri. According to the Gregorian calendar, the Chaitra Navratri festival falls in the month of March or April. This auspicious festival is celebrated for nine whole days with great fervour and devotion by Hindus and its festivities are also celebrated by people of various ethnicities across India. This festival is celebrated in order to worship Goddess Durga and Her nine divine forms. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one of the nine forms of Maa Durga and prayers are offered accordingly.
Chaitra Navratri 2024: Dates, Puja Time, Devi Mantras
This year, the divine festival of Chaitra Navratri will fall on the 9th April 2024 and end on the 17th April 2024.
People belonging to the Maharashtrian ethnicity (ethnolinguistic group of people who speak the Marathi language) observe the first day of Navratri as Gudi Padwa which is the ‘New Year’ of the Maharashtrians as per the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar. Similarly, the Kashmiri Hindus celebrate the first day of the year as ‘Navreh’ on the first day of Navratri. Whereas, the people of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh celebrate, the first day of Navratri as ‘Ugadi’. There are five Navratris that fall in one calendar year namely, Chaitra Navratri or Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, Sharad Navaratri, Paush Navaratri and Magha Navaratri. But of all the Navratris, the Chaitra Navratri and the Sharad Navratri are popular and celebrated with great fervour.
Puja Time and Rituals of Chaitra Navratri (Tithi)
Chaitra Ghatasthapana on 9th April 2024, Tuesday.
Ghatasthapana Muhurat - 06:26 AM to 10:35 AM
Difference between Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri
As per Hindu calendar, the festival of Navratri happens twice a year; first at the start of summer (March-April) and the other called Shardiya Navratri in the beginning of winter (September-October). The customs and rituals observed during Chaitra Navratri are similar to the ones observed during the Shardiya Navratri in the month of September or October. Shardiya Navratri and Chaitra Navratri have the same Ghatasthapana Puja Vidhi.
History of Chaitra Navratri
The Chaitra Navratri story is one of the most significant chapters in history which hold deep religious and spiritual significance. It is a classic example of the ‘triumph of good over evil’. There are many legends associated with Chaitra Navratri, let us read through a few of them. According to Brahma Purana, it was on the day of Chaitra Pratipada when Lord Brahma started creating the universe on the behest of Goddess Durga. Hence, this day is considered the first day of the year, according to the Hindu calendar. It is also believed, that the Matsya avatar of Lord Vishnu was incarnated on the third day of Chaitra Navratri in order to establish Mother Earth. The ninth day of Chaitra Navratri, which is popularly known as ‘Navami’ or ‘Ram Navami’ marks the birth of Lord Rama who is one of the great avatars or incarnations of Lord Vishnu. According to another legend, once Goddess Parvati wanted to pay a visit to Her parents for nine days, She took permission for the same from Lord Shiva, Her consort and started off Her journey to Her parents’ house. During this period, She took the form of goddess Durga and killed the demon named ‘Mahishasura’.
Importance and Significance of Chaitra Navratri
The significance of Chaitra Navratri is to recognise, embrace, believe and celebrate the divine power of the Shakti, which symbolises feminine energy. On a spiritual level, the auspicious time of Navratri is the best time to peep inwards and to analyse, reflect and self-introspect. It is the best time to elevate spiritually and to come closer to the Supreme Consciousness. It is the most potent time to meditate, offer prayers with devotion, attain peace of mind and manifest what you want. Another aspect of celebrating Chaitra Navratri is to celebrate and welcome the new season. Chaitra Navratri is one of the best times to recognize our inner strengths and also to revere Maa Durga and all Her nine forms while being grateful to Mother Nature for providing food, land, water and shelter. On each day of Navratri, each incarnation of Goddess Durga is revered.
Chaitra Navratri 2024: Days and Goddesses
The entire festival that last for nine days devoted to the worship of Durga, the Shakti aspect of the Powerful Supreme. The Vedas consider Her to be the controlling agency of this material world of manifestations. Dur means jail and ga means to go This material world is like a jail wherein everyone is pushed in to enjoy, suffer and get punished by the laws of nature acting under Her superintendence. Durga manifests Herself in different forms. All the forms are absolutely divine and worshipped. Navratri means nine nights and it is a festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. These nine nights are considered auspicious to worship and perform sadhanas dedicated to Her. The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga, the next three to Goddess Lakshmi and the last three to Goddess Saraswati.
1st DAY - Ghatasthapana, Chandra Darshana, Shailputri Puja
Date - 9th April 2024, Tuesday
Tithi – Pratipada
Offerings - Ghee
Chakra - Muladhara (Root)
Mantra - Om Shaam Sheem Shoom Shailputryai Namah
2nd DAY - Sindhara Dooj, Brahmacharini Puja
Date - 10th April 2024, Wednesday
Tithi – Dwitiya
Offerings - Sugar
Chakra - Swathisthana (Sacral)
Mantra - Om Braam Breem Broom Brahmcharinyai Namah
3rd DAY - Gauri Puja, Saubhagya Teej, Chandraghanta Puja
Date - 11th April 2024, Thursday
Tithi – Tritiya
Offerings - Milk
Chakra - Manipura (Solar Plexus)
Mantra - Om Hreem Kleem Shreem Chandraghantayai Namah
4th DAY - Kushmanda Puja, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Lakshmi Panchami
Date - 12th April 2024, Friday
Tithi – Chaturthi
Offerings - Malpua
Chakra - Anahata (Heart)
Mantra - Om Hreem Kushmandayai Jagatprasootyai Namah
5th DAY - Naag Puja, Skandamata Puja, Skanda Sashti
Date - 13th April 2024, Saturday
Tithi - Panchami
Offerings - Bananas
Chakra - Vishuddha (Throat)
Mantra - Om Hreem Saha Skandmatryai Namah
6th DAY - Yamuna Chhath, Katyayani Puja
Date - 14th April 2024, Sunday
Tithi – Shashthi
Offerings - Honey
Chakra - Ajna (Third eye)
Mantra - Om Hreem Shreem Katyayanyai Namah
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7th DAY - Maha Saptami, Kalaratri Puja
Date - 15th April 2024, Monday
Tithi – Saptami
Offerings - Jaggery Dishes
Chakra - Sahasrara (Crown)
Mantra - Om Aim Hreem Shreem Kaalratryai Namah
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8th DAY - Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja, Annapurna Ashtami, Sandhi Puja
Date - 16th April 2024, Tuesday
Tithi – Ashtami
Offerings - Jaggery Dishes
Chakra - Sahasrara (Crown)
Mantra - Om Hreem Shreem Glaum Gam Gauri Geem Namah
9th DAY - Siddhidatri Devi
Date - 17th April 2024, Wednesday
Tithi – NAVAMI
Mantra - “Om Hreem Saha Siddhidatryai Namah”
9th DAY - Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama falls on the last day of the Navratri festival, hence it is also Rama Navaratri.
Date - 17th April 2024, Wednesday
Tithi – NAVAMI
Offerings - Grains
Chakra - Sahasrara (Crown)
Mantra - Om Hreem Saha Siddhidatryai Namah
Astrological Significance Of Chaitra Navratri
Chaitra Navratri plays a significant role as per Hindu Astrology. It is the time when planet Sun re-enters the first zodiac sign which is the Aries after travelling to all the 12 zodiac signs.
Why Chaitra Navratri is celebrated & how to celebrate this festival?
As mentioned earlier, the Chaitra Navratri is celebrated to worship the nine divine incarnations of Maa Durga, to seek a higher self, meditate and attain bliss. On this day people perform Ghatasthapana Vidhi which is also known as Kalash Sthapana which means installing the sacred and awakened Puja pot.
Ghatasthapana Puja
Clean the place where you are about to install the Holy Earthen pot. Now, spread a clean red coloured cloth. Install a photo frame of Goddess Durga on it. Now evenly spread a handful of soil in front of the picture and sprinkle some water. Now sow some barley seeds in it. Place the earthen pot in the centre of the cloth. Now pour some Ganga Jal and water mixture in it and put the energised roli in this. Take five mango leaves and place them on the mouth of the kalash. Submerge the steam of the mango leaves in the pot and put a lid on top of the pot. Now place some Akshat on the lid and a coconut wrapped in red cloth over it. Light a ghee lamp and incense sticks. Offer fresh flowers to the Goddess Durga photograph. Apply a tilak of vermilion, Chandan and turmeric paste on the photograph of Maa Durga. Repeat this process every day for nine days. Also, ensure that during the puja you sprinkle some water on the barley seeds you had sown. Make new offerings to the Goddess each day and later distribute the prasad amongst family members and the ones present at the puja.
Ashtami Puja (Puja performed on the eighth day)
Invite nine small girls to your house. These nine girls signify nine divine incarnations of Goddess Durga. Offer them delicious food, do puja of them and in the end offer them gifts and seek their blessings
Tenth Day (Visarjan) Chaitra Navratri end time
On the last day of Chaitra Navratri, perform the regular puja that you had performed for the previous nine days. Once the puja is done, sprinkle the water in the Kalash in all the rooms and corners of the house. The Akshat that you had placed on the lid of the Kalash has to be fed to the birds. The barley seeds that you had sown must be placed under a tree in the garden.
Following the nine days of Navratri puja, Visarjan or giving a sendoff to Ma Durga is done on the tenth day. Do the regular puja as you had done on the nine days of Navratri. After the puja, sprinkle the Kalash water in all rooms of the house. Feed birds with the rice you had kept on the Kalash lid. The barley seeds would have grown well over the ten days. Place them under a tree in the garden.
The benefits of Navratri puja
Navratri puja is believed to bring prosperity and wealth to the household. Ma Durga blesses the family with health, wealth, wisdom and success.
Facts about Chaitra Navratri
Given below are some unknown facts about Chaitra Navratri:
- On the third day of Chaitra Navratri, Lord Vishnu took the form Matsya and reincarnated on this planet.
- Lord Rama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu was born on the Navami of Chaitra Navratri.
- An Akhand diya is lit throughout the nine days on Chaitra Navratri.
Durga (Durga Stuti):
'Ya Devi SarvaBhutesu, Shakti RupenaSansitha,
Namastasyai, Namastasyai, Manastasyai, NamoNamaha!'
Meaning: The mantra helps in praising Goddess Durga who is omnipresent as the embodiment of power.
Durga Gayatri Mantra:
'Ya Devi SarvaBhutesu, Shakti RupenaSansitha,
'Om Girijayai Cha Vidmahe,
Sivapriyayai Cha Dhimahi,
Tanno Durgih Prachodayat'
Meaning: This mantra helps the devotees to meditate on Devi, the wife of Lord Shiva and the origination of power behind Goddess Durga.
Shakti Mantra:
'Om Sarwa Swarupey Sareshey Sarwa Shakti Samanwithey
Bhaybhya traahino Devi Durgey Devi Namostuthey'
Meaning: The mantra offers salutation to the divine Mother Durga and offers Her with a prayer to bless the worshippers with unlimited power and strength to overcome all evil in life.
Festivals In The Auspicious Chaitra Month:
Gudi Padwa:
Gudi Padwa, Padva or Parva (Tue, 9 Apr, 2024) is one of the most celebrated festivals especially in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is known as Gudhi Padava in Marathi, Ugadi in Telugu and Yugadi in Kannada. The entire celebration of Gudi Padva revolves around three major reasons. First, it is believed that Lord Brahma created the cosmic universe on this day. Second, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after the war against Ravana.
Rama Navami:
Rama Navami (Wed, 17 Apr, 2024) is one of the grand Indian cultural festivals celebrating the appearance of Lord Rama on the holy land of Ayodhya. People on this day read and recite verses from the Ramayana and other scriptures like Shrimad Bhagvatam. Performing Rama Navami Puja on this day is one of the greatest rituals. A Puja Vidhi performed as per the scriptures during Rama Navami is highly auspicious.
Hanuman Jayanti:
Hanuman Jayanti (Tue, 23 Apr, 2024) marks the divine birth of Lord Hanuman who assisted his master Lord Ramachandra in a ghastly battle against the evil forces of Ravana and emerged victorious. On this day, one can worship and meditate in different ways to invoke the grace of Lord Hanuman. One can also wear Rudraksha beads associated with him.
Chaitra Navratri Special Rudraksha Items:
Aishwarya Durga Kavach
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Chaitra Navratri Special Durga Idols:
Kali In Blue Sapphire
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Mahishasurmardini Durga Devi Yellow Aventurine Idol
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Sphatik Crystal Durga
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Chaitra Navratri Special Puja Items:
Navratri Puja kit
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Devi Sringar Kit – I
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Netted Surya Mata ki Chunr
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Chaitra Navratri Special Yantras:
Durga Ratna Shakti Yantra
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Shree Durga Yantra
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Siddh Meru Durga Yantra:
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