Sumana Mukherjee / New Delhi
Chaitra Navratri begins on the Pratipada of Shukla Paksha of the month of Chaitra in Hindu religion. During the Chaitra Navratri period, people worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga for nine days. During this, devotees purify their souls through meditation, devotion and renunciation, and receive the blessings of the Divine Mother.
This year, Navratri started on April 9, 2024 and will be completed with Ram Navami on November 17. Although Navratri will start from 11 pm on April 8, but since the date of Udaya falls on April 9, Ghatasthapana will be performed on April 9 only.
The name Navratri consists of “Nav” and “Ratri”, which means “nine nights”. During this festival, devotees must worship the nine forms of Maa Durga, known as Navadurga. These nine forms represent certain qualities of Maa Durga, such as power, peace, life-giving, patience, affection, penance, wisdom, knowledge and devotion.
During Navratri, people go to temples and worship the idol of Maa Durga and decorate every house with incense sticks, lamps and flower vines. During this period, devotees indulge in fasting while worshiping the Goddess with utmost faith. Navratri also celebrates peace and tranquility in the form of Maha Gauri Mata.
Navratri is celebrated in different ways in different states and regions. In North India it is celebrated with great pomp and colorful spirit, while in South India it is celebrated more peacefully in the form of meditation and worship.
The nine-day festival, also known as Rama Navratri, ends on Rama Navami, the birthday of Lord Ram.
During Navratri, the worship of Maa Durga has special significance in the Hindu religion. In this festival, nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped, namely Shilputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.
The most important part of Chaitra Navratri is that it coincides with the beginning of the spring season and brings excitement, enthusiasm and new energy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished citizens on the fifth day of the ongoing Chaitra Navratri festival on Saturday.
During Navratri, followers of the Mother Goddess worship Skandamata, the fifth form of Goddess Durga. I pray to Goddess Skandamatha, the giver of new consciousness, to always shower her blessings on all my family members in the country. pic.twitter.com/eSKkbu5Arb
-Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2024
Goddess Durga is worshiped in nine forms on Navratri
The festival also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year according to the lunisolar calendar, and is celebrated by people in Maharastra as Gudi Padwa, while Kashmiri Hindus celebrate it as Navra.
Moreover, it is an important part of religion, culture and tradition which makes us understand the importance of our cultural heritage.
