Chaitra Navaratri, nine-day Hindu festival is celebrated in honour of Goddess Durga. It will be observed between the dates starting from 28th March 2017 and end with Ram Navmi on 5th April. Also spelt as Navratri or Navarathri, the spring festival is synonymous with Durga Puja and also Rama Lila, depending on the region. The significance of Navaratri festival is when the divine power restored Dharma. Observed in the lunar month of Chaitra, Goddess Shakti is worshipped in nine forms on nine days schedule, according to the Hindu calendar. Popular in North Indian households, Navratri Puja begins with Shubh Muhurat time on the same date as of when Gudi Padwa and Ugadi are celebrated in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh respectively.
As most festivals are intertwined with their seasonal aspect, Navratri is hardly an exception. Navratri is held at the two most important junctions of the year – during the onset of spring season and again during the commencement of the winter season. Navratri is celebrated four times in a year, but the most significant in terms of public celebration and elaborate rituals are Chaitra and Sharad Navratri. Chaitra Navratri marks the first day of Luni-Solar calendar of the Hindus, which generally falls in March or April. Similarly, Sharad Navratri marks the glorious period starting during the months of September-October. The ninth day during Chaitra Navaratri is celebrated as Ram Navami as the birthday of Lord Rama while Sharad Navratri culminates in Dussehra or ‘Vijayadashmi’.
The devotees sincerely worship the nine incarnations of Goddess Durga for nine days to overcome the effect of negative forces through her blessings and protection. Each day has its own significance as it is dedicated to one of her forms: Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Devotees observe fasting, chant mantras, sing hymns, recite chapters from Markandeya Purana and sing devotional songs during Navratri to be blessed with prosperity, health and wisdom in their life. While fasting and praying is a strong practice, it is believed abstinence from alcoholic drinks, grains, wheat and onion help seekers to be better able to imbibe the traits that Maa Durga in her different forms represent. ‘Jaagran’ and ‘Mata ki Chowki’ are an integral part of the tradition to invoke the goddess name and to be in harmony with the divine energy of Maa Durga.
Chaitra Navratri 2017 Dates and Days Information
Navratri Day 1 – March 28, 2017 (Tuesday) – Ghatsthapana, Shailputri Puja
Day 2 – March 29, 2017 (Wednesday) – Dwitiya, Chandra Darshan, Brahmacharini Puja
Day 3 – March 30, 2017 (Thursday) – Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja
Day 4 – March 31, 2017 (Friday) – Chaturthi, Kushmanda Puja
Day 5 – April 01, 2017 (Saturday) – Panchami, Skandamata Puja
Day 6 – April 02, 2017 (Sunday) – Shashthi, Katyayani Puja
Day 7 – April 03, 2017 (Monday) – Saptami, Kalaratri Puja
Day 8 – April 04, 2017 (Tuesday) – Ashtami, Sri Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja
Day 9 (Chaitra Navratri ends) – April 05, 2017 (Wednesday) – Navami, Ram Navratri
