Navratri Puja and Navratri Rituals

Navratri, the nine nights festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga or Shakti and is celebrated five times a year. Although the festival of Navratri is celebrated five times a year but Navratri celebrated during the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter are considered as very auspicious and special. These Navratris are known as Vasanta Navaratri and Sharad Navaratri respectively. Navratri 2014 will be celebrated from 25^th September to 3^rd October.

Navratri is regarded as the best and the most auspicious time to worship Goddess Durga and perform Pujas and Sadhanas dedicated to the mother Goddess. Devotees observe strict fast and worship Goddess Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati for three days each of the nine days of the festival of Navratri. Devotees believe that during Navratri worshipping Maa Durga leads to all round success and prosperity.

Navratri are divided into set of 3 days and different aspects of Mother Goddess are worshipped during these 3 days of Navratri. On the first day of Navratri a mud pot with sown barley seeds along with an oil lamp is placed near the Puja altar. During Navratri devotees practice meditation, mantra Japa and recitation of sacred texts dedicated to Goddess Durga.

Rituals that are followed during Navratri Puja are that devotees only consume vegetarian or Satvik food. Other rituals include Navdurga Yantra Sthapana, Garba, Kanya Pujan and more. Nine Goddesses that are manifestation of Goddess Durga are worshipped during the 9 days of Navratri. These nine Goddess are Goddess Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kaal Ratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri.

Chaitra Navratri Festival and Durga Puja

Chaitra Navratri is also known as Vasant or Basant Navratri. Chaitra Navratri as the name suggests is celebrated in the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra, during the Shukla Paksha. Chaitra Navratri coincides with Ram Navami and hence is also known as Rama Navratri. Navratri literally means nine nights, these nine nights are dedicated to worship of nine incarnations of Goddess Durga.

Chaitra Navratri is celebrated on the first nine days of the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra. The nine incarnations of Goddess Durga that are worshipped during the Chaitra Navratri are Goddess Shailputri, Brahmcharni, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Chaitra Navratri is one of the best periods to worship Goddess Shakti and to chant Durga Suktam.

During Chaitra Navratri devotees observe strict fast and worship Maa Durga with devotion. According to the Brahma Purana on the first day of Chaitra month Lord Brahma started creating the universe. Chaitra Navratri is celebrated with dedication and devotion especially in North India. During the Navratri Puja the first three nights Goddess Durga is worshipped, on the next three nights Goddess Laxmi and on the last three nights Goddess Saraswati is worshipped.

On the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri, Kanya Puja is done in which nine young girls (who haven’t attained puberty) representing the nine Goddesses are worshipped and fed. Durga Stuti ‘Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu shri rupen sansthita namas tasye namas tasye names tasye namo namah’ is recited during the Navratri to worship and revere Goddess Durga.