Importance and significance of Chaitra Navratri 2020

A Hindu festival Navaratri is nine nights and ten days celebrated every year. Nav means nine, and Ratri means Nights, so it is nine nights of celebration. According to Hindu beliefs, there are four seasonal Navaratri that fall every year. However, Sharad Navratri and Chaitra Navratri are popularly celebrated by Hindus from all over the world.

Sharada Navaratri is observed in the honour of the divine feminine Devi (Durga), celebrated in the month Ashvin, typically falls in the months of September and October. Chaitra Navratri typically falls around March or April. Chaitra is the first month of Hindu lunar calendar, and because of it, this Navratri is known as Chaitra Navratri. All nine days during Navratri are dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Shakti. From observing fasts to worshipping nine forms of the Goddess, Hindus around the world celebrate the festival. Chaitra Navratri is a nine-day festival that signifies the victory of good over evil. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Durga during Chaitra Navratri can help get salvation and seek her blessings for the future. Goddess Durga is a symbol of Shakti which means ultimate strength. 

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Maharashtrians celebrate the first day of this Navratri as Gudi Padwa, and in Kashmir, it is called as Navreh. This Navratri is exuberantly celebrated in Northern and Western India and makes the colourful spring season all the more fascinating and divine. On this occasion, Women decorate the entrance doors with “Rangolis” of different patterns and colours. Wear new clothes, especially kurta-pajamas and sarees, forms an integral part of the custom. The most important part of the festival is the hoisting of Gudi.  It is an important ritual of the festival and is followed almost everywhere in Maharashtra. It is believed that by hoisting the Gudi at home, can keep evil spirits away and bring luck and prosperity to your life. Gudi Padwa signifies the victory of good over evil as it commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. The day is also the start of the spring season and considered as the harvest festival. The festival is also known by different names in different other states such as Samvatsar Padvo, Ugadi, Yugadi, Cheti Chand or Navreh. In the northeastern state of Manipur, it is known as Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba. Many consider this day as auspicious to buy gold or a new vehicle.

Nine days of chaitra navratri 2020

Day 1 (Pratipada)- Ghatasthapana, Chandra Darshana Shailputri Puja

Day 2 (Dwitiya)- Sindhara Dooj, Brahmacharini Puja

Day 3 (Tritiya)- Gauri Puja, Saubhagya Teej Chandraghanta Puja

Day 4 (Chaturthi)- Kushmanda Puja, Vinayaka Chaturthi

Day 5 (Panchami)- Naag Puja, Lakshmi Panchami Skandamata Puja

Day 6 (Shasthi)- Skanda Sashti, Yamuna Chhath Katyayani Puja

Day 7 (Saptami)- Maha Saptami, Kalaratri Puja

Day 8 (Asthami)- Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja Annapurna Ashtami, Sandhi Puja

Day 9 (Navami)- Rama Navami

Day 10 (Dashami)- Navratri Parana