Chaitra Navratri 2019 in India begins on Saturday, 6 April, and will conclude on Sunday, 14 April. The occasion, which starts with Chaitra Shukla paksh and ends with Ramnavami, marks the start of summer season. It is celebrated with great zeal and devotion throughout India, especially in the northern states.
Devotees eat satvik meals such as potatoes, yogurt, fruits, etc while fasting and worship all nine forms of Goddess Bhagavati during Chaitra Navratri for good health, wealth and prosperity. They spend most part of their days chanting Navratri mantras (hymns).
Chaitra Navratri 2019 Dates
6 April (Pratipada)
Ghatasthapana, one of the significant rituals during Navratri, marks the beginning of nine days’ festivity. Shailpurutri Puja and Brahmacharini Puja are performed and devotees go for Chandra Darshan on this day.
7 April (Dwitiya)
Goddess Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second day of Navratri. According to a popular belief, Lord Mangal (Planet Mars in our solar system) is governed by Goddess Brahmacharini.
8 April (Tritiya)
People in the North Indian states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat worship Goddess Kushmanda on this day which is celebrated as Gangaur or Gauri Tritiya.
9 April (Chaturthi)
Popularly known as Lakshmi Panchami, the day is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. People seeking wealth and prosperity observe a day-long fast and worship Goddess Lakshmi. Some also perform an elaborate puja on this day.
10 April (Panchami)
Skandamata is worshipped and Nag Puja is performed on the fifth day of Navratri. It is widely believed that ‘Budha’ (Planet Mercury) is governed by Goddess Skandamata who is often pictured sitting on a lion.
11 April (Shashthi)
The day is marked by people worshipping Goddess Katyayani who carries a lotus flower and holds a sword in her left hand, and keeps her right hand in Abhaya and Varada mudras.
12 April (Saptami )
The seventh day or Saptami as it is called, is celebrated with a puja of Kalratri who carries sword and an iron hook in her hands. Also known as Shubhankari, Goddess Kalaratri is believed to be the most ferocious form of 'Shakti’.
13 April (Ashtami)
The eighth day is celebrated as Durga Ashtami in some states and Annapurna Ashtami in others. People worship Goddess Gauri on this day and some even organise a kanya pujan ceremony in which prasad is distributed to little girls.
14 April (Navami)
The ninth and last day of the festival is celebrated as Mahanavami and Maha Gauri Puja is performed on this day. People break their fast on this day and offer prayers to ‘Shakti’.
Timings
The timing or (muhurat) plays an important role in rituals practiced during the 9-day-long festival of Chaitra Navratri. Here is what you should know:
- Sunrise on 6 April | 06:36 am
- Sunset on 6 April | 18:33 pm
- Abhijit Muhurat | 12:11 pm - 12:59 pm
- Ghostappan Muhurat | 6:36 am - 10:35 am
Celebrations & Rituals
Some people light up a lamp of desi ghee as a symbolism of reducing the negative energy in their environment while others sow the first crop of the spring season, barley, in their houses.
Food items including Jaggery, coconut, bananas, kheer are also offered as ‘bhog’ to the nine forms of 'Shakti’ during the nine days of Navratri.
People also wear nine different colours during the nine days of Navratri.
- Day 1: Green
- Day 2: Blue
- Day 3: Red
- Day 4: Orange
- Day 5: Yellow
- Day 6: Blue
- Day 7: Purple
- Day 8: Pink
- Day 9: Golden
(With inputs from Art of Living and drikpanchang)