Navratri 2024: Dates, Timings, Significance, Colors & Rituals

From fasts to indulging in garba and feats, dive into the rituals, history, and significant 9-day-long reverence of Goddess Durga and the epitome of grace, strength, and righteousness. Read on.

Navratri is a 9-day-long Hindu festival honored for its fascinating mythology, and spiritual importance as well as the fact that it sees Garba events all around the clock! A celebration that pays tribute to the nine forms of Adi Parashakti or Goddess Durga, the celebration for her strength, her grace, and her righteousness.

Navratri Puja 2024: Navratri 2024 Dates — October 3 & will last till October 12 The tenth day of Navratri 2024 is observed as Vijaydashmi or Dussehra 2024 will complete Nine days of Navarathri.

During Navratri people celebrate her arrival on Earth during this pious time by performing Navratri Puja and visiting Pandals and Garba to honor the goddess.

Shardiya Navratri Muhurat and Tithi

• Beginning Date: 03rd October, 2024

• End Date: 12th October, 2024

• Dussehera Puja: 12th October, 2024

• Ghatasthapana / Kalashsthapana Mahurat Dates: 06:09 am to 07:08 am - 03rd October 2024

Origin of Shardiya Navratri

There are a number of Hindu Festivals that are held around the globe and Navratri Festival is one of them, as on Navratri People worship Ma Durga for 9 days and do Puja (prayers) at home, Navaratri is devoted to Goddess Durga holding all her nine forms. Shardiya Navratri the name itself suggests that it relates to the month of Ashwin in the Hindu calendar, while Navratri is derived from ‘Nav’ for nine and ‘ratri’ stands for celebratory nights.

It was believed that Mahishasura (a demon) was granted powers and blessings by God, which could never be killed. Arising this boon made Mahishasura selfish and with that arrogance, he ordered to kill all the gods in his path for hailing the liberty to heaven.

Thus, the three who coined the world – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva –channeled all their energies to form Goddess Durga to kill Mahishasura. After a 9-day battle, Goddess Durga finally slew Mahishasura. This Durga Puja celebrates a time-honored goddess who has power over all the evil in life for nine days.

Nine Days of Devotion and Celebration

Each day of Navratri holds paramount importance. From cultural significance to time-honored rituals, each day depicts a particular aspect of the goddess, with unique Navratri colors and traditions.

Shardiya Navratri Puja Vidhi

• Puja Ingredients: Picture or idol of goddess Durga, an earthen pot, lid, coconut, mango leaves, altar, red cloth, barley seeds, water, soil, sacred thread, raw rice, incense sticks, clay lamp with ghee, camphor, matchbox, coins, puja plate, Roli for tilak, and flowers/fruits. 

• Kalash Sthapana and Sowing Barley Seeds: Take a bath and clean your worship space. Set up the altar and drape a red cloth on it. Place a portrait or statue of Goddess Durga on it. Spread fertile soil on the floor in a small area, sprinkle with water, and plant barley seeds. Place the clay pot in the center of the soil and fill it with water or Ganga Jal. Add roli and 2-3 coins to the pot. Place a cluster of mango leaves in the mouth of the Kalash and top with a lid of raw rice. Wrap the coconut with red cloth and tie the sacred thread around it. Place it on top of the rice-filled cover.

Shardiya Navratri Celebrations Worldwide

Shardiya Navratri is the nine days festival for the worshipping of nine forms of Goddess Durga. People celebrate this annual festivity with ultimate zest and joy by wishing Navratri to each other.

• Worship the Goddess: People perform all the rituals of goddess Durga in her nine forms for 9 days. These nine forms are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri.

• Fasting: Some people even fast on the day of Navratri Puja to satisfy the god. It will also cleanse his body to a certain extent, symbolizing how a person is devoted to his god. You should meditate for the time when there's fasting in Navratri if you need to have complete satisfaction.

• Garba and Dandiya Raas: Garba and Dandiya Raas are one of Durga Puja's most special traditional dances. People have started gathering in big pandals or grounds with a traditional Navratri Chaniya Choli and Ghagra.

• Food and Gifts: It has a wide variety of vegetarian food. People who intend to fast also use rock salt in place of normal salt in their course. It is common to exchange presents during Navratri.

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