Religious festival Navratri is a famous and sacred festival of nine nights for the people of Hindu communities in India. This is nine days festival dedicated to Goddess Shakti. The Goddess Shakti has three forms those are Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati. These Goddess are worshipped during the nine auspicious nights of Navratri festival with great fervor and happiness in all over the India. The Navratri festival may be held for a day less or a day more depending on the calendar.
This festival is celebrated twice in a year i.e. as “Chaitra Navratri” (Basant Navratri or Vasant Navratri) and “Sharad Navratri” or Maha Navratri in different parts of India. Navratri Festival marks the beginning of Vasant ritu (spring season) in the Chaitra month of Hindu calendar. In the same year, second time it is celebrated in Sharad ritu (Winter Season) so it is also called “Sharad Navratri “. Generally, Chaitra Navratri falls in English months of “March-April” and Sharad Navratri in September-October.
In Sanskrit Navratri literally means - “Nava + Ratri” that is ‘Nava’ means ‘nine’ and ‘ratri‘ means ‘nights’ so it is called “Navratri”.
Navratri festival starts with the Ghatasthapana Puja on the first day of navratri festival. Ghat Sthapana Puja is an important rituals for the devotees, in which they invoke the Goddess Shakti and perform the Kalash Sthapana ritual. Many devotees observe fasting during this religious Navratri festival and end their fast on Ashtami (the eighth day of navratri festival) or on Navami (the ninth day of navratri festival). Before breaking the fast devotees perform Kanya Puja or Kanjaks. In kanjak, people worship nine little girls symbolically represent the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
Chaitra navratri is the begining of summer season and end of winter season. It is called the auspicious day because at this time, the sun enters the sign Aries of the Zodiac. This auspicious day is known as Hindu New Year.
Sharad Navratri is the starting of the winter season in India. According to Hindu calendar, Navratri falls on Shukla Paksha of the month of Ashwin in the Ritu season of Sharad that's why it is called as Sharad Navratri. This year, celebrate Navratri 2022 in India with great zeal and devotion to get the blessing of Goddess Durga. It is said that he/she who worships Maa Durga and do fasting during navratri, always stay happy in his/her life.
This festival is celebrated in a different manner in all over the India and worldwide. In West Bengal and Gujarat, Navratri is one of the most famous festivals of the year. After Durga Puja people perform and enjoy Dandiya and Garba Rass dance in groups. During Chaitra Navratri, on the ninth day Ram Navami festival is celebrated. In Sharad Navratri, after nine days of Navratri, another festival “Dussehera” also known as Vijayadashami is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people because this day signifies the victory of Good over Evil (Lord Rama killed demon Ravana).
The legends of Navratri are Maa Durga (Goddess Durga) and Lord Rama. Goddess Durga got the victory on demon Mahishasura (buffalo faced demon) after nine days fight and by killing him on the tenth day. This festival signifies the triumph of good over evil. This tenth day of the victory is known as Vijaya Dasami (Dussehra).
Another legend of Navratri is Lord Ram who wanted to get the blessings of Goddess Durga (Goddess Shakti) before beginning the war with Ravana so he worshipped nine aspects of Goddess Durga for nine days to collect the strength and power.
Sharad Navratri 2022 dates are from 26 September 2022 to 4 October 2022. Nine Goddess are worshipped during Navratri festival and the name of those nine Goddess according to Navratri days are -
Navratri Day 1 - Maa Shailaputri Navratri Day 2 - Maa Brahmacharini Navratri Day 3 - Maa Chandraghanta Navratri Day 4 - Maa Kushmanda Navratri Day 5 - Maa Skanda Mata Navratri Day 6 - Maa Katyayani Navratri Day 7 - Maa Kalaratri Navratri Day 8 - Maa Mahagauri Navratri Day 9 - Maa Siddhidatri
The first three sacred days of Navratri festival are dedicated to Goddess Durga, next three days are devoted to Goddess Laxmi and the final last three holy days are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
During Navratri festival, devotees worship different form of goddess on each single day continuously till nine days. During nine days, people wear specific and auspicious colours attire daily and offer nine different Bhogs to different Goddess until nine days. Devotees keep fast for nine days or first and last day to please the goddess and get the blessings for happy life, health, wealth and prosperity. Before breaking the fast devotees need to worship nine small girls who are represented as nine goddess of navratri, feed them good food or halwa & poori and then give them some gifts & money. Many people participate in dandiya and garba dances, organized at various pandals during navratri time. At many places, people organized the Navratri Jagran, in which singers sing the devotional songs and bhajans.
During Navratri Festival, people have to avoid a lot of things in their meal. It become a huge problem for lot of people, who want to taste some good food during navaratri fast also. Below we are sharing some recipes to prepare delicious food, which are easy and you can also try at your home. You can checkout the long list of navratri recipes on Navratri Day..
Sharad Navratri is the perfect time to get the blessings of Maa Durga. By worshipping nine forms of goddess Shakti with full devotion, keeping fast for nine days and reciting mantras, one can please the goddess and get the blessings of wisdom, health and wealth. Know the Chaitra Navratri 2022 dates and prepare your schedule in advance.