Talk about Navratri, and the first thing that comes to mind is garba and the months of September or October. People worship different forms of the goddess Durga for nine days. But just so you know, India celebrates Navratri four times a year. Out of these 2, the main ones; are Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri. The other two are Magha Gupt Navratri and Ashadha Gupt Navratri. Here is all you need to know about the upcoming Chaitra Navratri.
Chaitra Navratri 2023
Dates
Chaitra Navratri gets its name from the Hindu calendar month Chaitra, as it falls in this month. During this, nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped and people seek blessings from her. This year, Chaitra Navratri will begin on March 22, 2023, and end on March 30, 2023.
Significance
Among all the Hindu festivals, Chaitra Navratri is the longest. During this time, devotees worship Goddess Durga, and she is believed to fulfil everyone’s wishes. It is believed that Chaitra Navratri is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. According to the legends, it is said that Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura.
The last day of this festival is Ram Navami, which is known as the day when Lord Rama was born. Hence, many people also call it Rama Navratri. Because it is the beginning of Vasant or spring, it is also known as Vasanta Navratri.
In Maharashtra, Chaitra Navratri begins with Gudi Padwa (the Marathi New Year). Durga, Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandmata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Maha Gauri, and Siddhidatri are the nine manifestations of Shakti that are honoured, one on each day. Different gifts are made to the goddess Durga in her various forms.
Celebration
The celebration begins on Pratipada, which is the first day and ends on Navami, which is the ninth day. The first one is Ghatasthapana, which is a traditional ritual. They offer fruits, flowers, and sweets to the goddess and her nine avatars.
For the nine days of the festival, Navratri is about worshipping, meditating, fasting, and enjoying yourself. People celebrate this festival by fasting for nine days. They generally eat food items or dishes that are approved for the ones who are fasting. This includes singhare ka halwa, sabudana khichdi, sabudana vada, singhare ke pakore, kuttu ka halwa, and more.
Food
For nine days, devotees do not consume non-vegetarian food, tobacco, or alcohol. The meals that are prepared do not contain onion and garlic. This fasting has a deeper significance because Chaitra Navratri is observed around the beginning of summer when the seasons shift. It is recommended to eat light meals during this period because our immunity and digestive systems tend to be compromised.
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Did you know about this Navratri? Let us know.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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