The nine-day festival of Navratri in Hindu religion is dedicated to the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga. The most important Navratri in a year is the Shardiya Navratra which begins on the first day of the bright half of Ashvin or Ashwayuja (September-October) during Sharad Ritu, as per traditional Hindu calendar.
Navratri in 2024 October dates
Navratri Day 1 β October 3, 2024 β Ghatsthapana – Navratri Begins
Maa Shailputri PujaΒ – The first form of Maa Durga, Maa Shailputri represents the planet Moon. Worshipping her can help to eliminate any bad effects or omens.
Associated color – yellow which is associated with happiness and optimism.
Navratri Day 2 β October 4, 2024
Maa Brahmacharini PujaΒ – As per astrology, Maa Brahmacharini controls the planet Mars and diminishes any bad effects if worshipped with a pure heart.
Associated color – Green for new beginnings and growth, relating to fertility, as people believe it may bring prosperity into their lives.
Navratri Day 3 β October 5, 2024 Β β Sindoor Tritiya
Maa Chandraghanta PujaΒ – Maa Chandraghata dominates the planet Venus and offers courage and fearlessness.
Associated color – Β grey for balance and stability. It induces the desire to seek inner peace and remove evil activities by excluding them from life.
Navratri Day 4 β October 6, 2024β Varad Vinayaka
Maa Kushmanda PujaΒ – Maa Kushmanda represents the planet Sun and eliminates any ill-effects in the nearby future.
Associated color – orange represents warmth and enthusiasm.
Navratri Day 5 β October 7, 2024
Maa Skandamata PujaΒ – Maa Skand Mata represents the planet Mercury and is very compassionate towards her devotee.
Associated color – white symbolizes purity and peacefulness. White creates serenity and is done to invoke divine blessings.
Navratri Day 6 β October 8, 2024
Maa Katyayani PujaΒ – Jupiter planet is controlled by Maa Katyayani. She provides courage and prowess to her worshippers.
Associated color – red for power and passion.
Navratri Day 7 β October 9, 2024 – Saraswathi Awahan
Maa Kaalratri PujaΒ – Maa Kaalratri controls the Saturn planet and symbolises valour.
Associated color – Pink symbolizes love and compassion.
Navratri Day 8 β October 10, 2024 β Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, Maha Navami
Maa Mahagauri PujaΒ – Maa Mahagauri is the divine controller of planet Rahu and pacify harmful effects.
Associated color – royal blue to enhance health, wealth, and strength among the devotees.
Navratri Day 9 β October 11, 2024 – Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa
Maa Siddhidatri PujaΒ – Maa Siddhidatri dominates the planet Ketu and offers wisdom and knowledge.
Associated color – Purple represents spirituality and ambition.
Navratri Day 10 – October 12, 2024 – Durga Visarjan
The tenth day is celebrated as Dasara or Vijaya Dashami.
Navratri Puja Samagri
Meaning of Navratri
Navratri, literally interpreted as ‘nine nights’ is the most celebrated Hindu festival devoted to Goddess Durga symbolizing purity and power or ‘shakti’. Navratri festival combines ritualistic puja and fasting and is accompanied by resplendent celebrations for nine consecutive days and nights.
Apart from the Navratri in September β October, there are three other Navratris in a year. The Chaitra Navratri or the Navaratri in March-April, also known as Vasant Navratri or Ram Navaratri.
The other two Navratris are Magh Navratri (January β February) and Ashad Navratri (June β July). These two Navratris are also known as Gupt Navratri and is mainly observed only in certain regions of North India. These four important Navratris in a year follow the traditional Hindu lunar calendar.
All nine days during Navaratri are dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Shakti. Shardiya Navaratri falls in the month of September or October. The nine days festivity culminates on tenth day with Dussehra or Vijayadashami.
During Navratri, people from villages and cities gather to perform ‘puja’ on small shrines representing different aspects of Goddess Durga, including Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. Chanting of mantras and renditions of bhajans and folk songs usually accompany the puja rituals for nine consecutive days of Navratri.
Why Nine Nights & Days?
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. β Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.
The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth.
The final set of three days is spent in worshiping the mother as the goddess of wisdom and spiritual knowledge, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.
Goddess Durga is also worshipped under nine different names for the nine days in Navratri. Every day, she assumes a new character, a new look and a new duty.
First three days:
The goddess is separated as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities.
1. The first form of Goddess Durga is called βShailaputriβ. She is considered the daughter of the Himalayas. She is a form of Shakti, the consort of Lord Shiva.
2. The second form of Goddess Durga is known as βBrahmachariniβ. Her name is derivative of the word βBrahmaβ, which means βTapaβ or penace. She is also a form of Uma or Parvati, a form of Mata Shakti.
3. On the third day the Goddess is worshipped as βChandraghantaβ. She is the symbolic representation of beauty and bravery.
Second three days:
The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth
4. On the fourth day Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form βKushmandaβ. It is believed that Kushmanda is the creator of the entire Universe and she has created the entire Universe by her laugh.
5. On the fifth day, the form of Goddess Durga is called βSkandamaataβ. She is actually called so because she is here represented as the mother of Skanda, the chief warrior of the Gods army.
6.Β On the sixth day, the Goddess Durga is worshipped as βKaatyayaniβ. Seated on her vehicle lion, Kaatyayani has three eyes and four hands.
Final three days
The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.
7. On the seventh day, the Goddess Durga is worshipped as βKaalratriβ. As the name suggests, Kaalratri is as black as a dark night. She has four hands, she is meant to make the devotees fearless.
8. On the eight day, the Goddess Durga is worshipped as βMahagauriβ. She is considered to extremely beautiful, white like snow and accessorized with white colored ornaments. She represents calmness and exhibits wisdom.
9. On the ninth day, Goddess Durga is worshipped as βSiddhidaatriβ. It is believed she consists of all the eight siddhis. She lives on lotus and is worshipped by all.
