Navratri is without doubt one of the most important Hindu festivals which is devoted to the worship of Goddess Durga. It’s noticed biannually, the primary one being noticed within the month of Chaitra and the second in the course of the month of Sharada. Shardiya Navratri is held in the course of the vibrant half of the month Ashvin, equivalent to September and October within the Gregorian calendar. It’s the preferred and vital of all Navratris.
It begins on Shukla Paksha Pratipada of the Hindu month Ashwin and concludes on the tenth day with the Dussehra (also called Vijayadashami) competition. It is usually known as Maha Navratri.
Throughout Navratri, Hindus worship the 9 types or avatars of Goddess Durga that are
- Shailputri
- Brahmacharini
- Chandraghanta
- Kushmanda
- Skanda Mata
- Katyayini
- Kalaratri
- Mahagaur
- Siddhidhatri
In some areas of India, the celebrations embrace not simply the worship of goddess Durga but in addition the worship of different goddesses like Saraswati and Lakshmi. Different regional deities embrace Ganesha, Kartikeya, Shiva, and Parvati.
The Ayudha Puja is an instance of the pan-Hindu custom noticed throughout Navaratri that worships Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of information, studying, music, and the humanities. Worshippers revere peace and information on Ayudha Puja which normally is noticed on the ninth day of Navaratri.
On Ayudha Puja day, troopers honour, adorn, and revere their weapons whereas praying to Goddess Saraswati. Musicians protect, carry out, and worship their musical devices. Farmers, carpenters, smiths, potters, shopkeepers, and different tradespeople all adorn and worship their instruments, equipment, and gear. College students worship their books and pay respect to their academics in search of their blessings. This custom is very vital in South India; nonetheless, additionally it is noticed as in different elements of the nation too.
In 2023, Shardiya Navratri might be celebrated from Sunday, 15 October 2023 to Tuesday, twenty fourth October 2023.
Listed below are the dates of every Navratri day and the goddess worshipped on every day.
| Navratri Day | Weekday | Date | Goddess Type Worshipped | Additionally Referred to as |
| Day 1 | Sunday | 15-Oct | Shailputri | Ghatasthapana, |
| Day 2 | Monday | 16-Oct | Brahmacharini | |
| Day 3 | Tuesday | 17-Oct | Chandraghanta | |
| Day 4 | Wednesday | 18-Oct | Kushmanda | |
| Day 5 | Thursday | 19-Oct | Skandamata | |
| Day 6 | Friday | 20-Oct | Katyayani | |
| Day 7 | Saturday | 21-Oct | Kalaratri | Maha Saptami, |
| Day 8 | Sunday | 22-Oct | Mahagauri | Durga Ashtami, |
| Day 9 | Monday | 23-Oct | Siddhidatri | Navratri Parana, Maha Navami |
| Day 10 | Tuesday | 24-Oct | Vijaya Dashami, Dussehra |
White, purple, royal blue, yellow, inexperienced, orange, gray, pink, purple, and peacock inexperienced are the sacred colors for Navratri. Yearly, the colors to be adopted throughout Navratri change.
Confused?
Do you need to know why?
Properly, the key of the altering colors is because of the day on which Navratri commences. The primary color of Navratri is set by the weekday on which Navratri commences or when the Ghatasthapana or Pratipada happens, whereas the remainder of the 8 days observe a hard and fast color cycle.
Every weekday is assigned a specific color. They’re as follows:
| Monday | White |
| Tuesday | Purple |
| Wednesday | Royal Blue |
| Thursday | Yellow |
| Friday | Inexperienced |
| Saturday | Gray |
| Sunday | Orange |
So, if Navratri commences on a Monday, the colors to be adopted are as above. In such a state of affairs, Navratri can have two Mondays, two Tuesdays, and/or two Wednesdays. So, relying on the day, two to a few days can arrive twice, nonetheless, there’s one other rule that no color is allowed to repeat itself. Thus, for such situations, the color codes might be:
Peacock Inexperienced, pink and purple or Sky Blue for the subsequent 3 days.
The color codes for Shardiya Navratri 2023 are as follows:
| Sr. No | Navratri Tithi | Date | Weekday | Color |
| 1 | Pratipada (Navratri Day 1) | October 15, 2023 | Sunday | Orange |
| 2 | Dwitiya (Navratri Day 2) | October 16, 2023 | Monday | White |
| 3 | Tritiya (Navratri Day 3 ) | October 17, 2023 | Tuesday | Purple |
| 4 | Chaturthi (Navratri Day 4) | October 18, 2023 | Wednesday | Royal Blue |
| 5 | Panchami (Navratri Day 5) | October 19, 2023 | Thursday | Yellow |
| 6 | Shashti (Navratri Day 6) | October 20, 2023 | Friday | Inexperienced |
| 7 | Saptami (Navratri Day 7) | October 21, 2023 | Saturday | Gray |
| 8 | Ashtami (Navratri Day 8) | October 22, 2023 | Sunday | Peacock inexperienced |
| 9 | Navami (Navratri Day 9) | October 23, 2023 | Monday | Pink |
Date: Sunday, 15 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Pratipada
Favorite flower: Hibiscus
Mantra: ‘Om Devi Shailaputryai Namaha’
Date: Monday, 16 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Dwitiya
Flower: Chrysanthemum flower
Mantra: ‘Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namaha’
Date: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Tritiya
Flower: Lotus
Mantra: ‘Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namaha’
Date: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Chaturthi
Flower: Jasmine
Mantra: ‘Om Devi Kushmandayai Namaha’
Date: Thursday, 19 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Panchami
Flower: Yellow Rose
Mantra: ‘Om Devi Skandamatayai Namaha’
Date: Friday, 20 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Shashti
Flower: Marigold
Mantra: ‘Om Devi Katyayanyai Namaha’
Date: Saturday, 21 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Saptami
Flower: Krishna Kamal
Mantra: ‘Om Devi Kalaratryai Namaha’
Date: Sunday, 22 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Ashtami
Flower: Jasmine
Mantra: ‘Om Devi Mahagauryai Namaha’
Date: Monday, 23 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Navami
Flower: Champa
Mantra: ‘Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namaha’
Date: Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Paksha Dashami
In Hinduism, Navratri holds particular significance; thus, devotees of Goddess Durga observe numerous types of rituals in the course of the 9 days of Navratri. That is probably the most highly effective epoch in historical past. Navratri commemorates the presence of the last word Shakti, Goddess Durga in her 9 types. Divine love pervades all worshippers who partake within the rituals and customs on this auspicious and majestic event. Throughout Navratri, it’s believed that these female divine energies generate positivity within the universe.
As Navratri reveres the facility of Goddess Durga in her 9 manifestations, the idols of the goddess are put in within the homes and your complete household worship the deity in accordance with the standard Navratri rituals.
The primary three days of Navratri are fully devoted to the worship of Goddess Durga, throughout which her vitality and power are worshipped. Every day commemorates a unique manifestation of Durga, specifically Kumari, Parvati, and Kali.
The fourth and sixth days are dedicated to Goddess Laxmi, whereas the fifth is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, also called Lalita Panchami.
The seventh day and eighth day is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, whereas on the eighth day a yagna can be carried out for Goddess Saraswati.
The ninth day is dedicated to the Goddess Siddhidatri, adopted by the grand Dussehra Pageant.
The story related with Navratri and Durga puja is narrated within the Markandeya Purana. The defeat of Mahishasura is the central mythological context to Navratri. All the story is offered in chapters 81 to 93, known as Devi Mahatmyam. Throughout Navratri, folks recite this purana whereas worshipping the Nava Durga.
Rambha and Karambha had been two brothers who practised extreme penances so as to attain energy. Indra was alarmed by such extreme atonement and killed one of many brothers, ‘Karambha.’ This fuelled Rambha’s need for vengeance, and he turned extra stringent in his penance in consequence. Many Gods had been impressed by his worship, they usually bestowed upon him the boon of being extraordinarily highly effective and unbeatable by anybody, neither Gods nor demons.
Rambha as soon as fell in love with and procreated with a feminine buffalo. Throughout this time, a male buffalo entered and set his eyes on the feminine buffalo. As Rambha’s boon had not included loss of life by animal, the male buffalo was capable of kill Rambha.
The feminine buffalo was impregnated by the copulation with Rambha. She gave beginning to a sexy calf. However heartbroken at her husband’s loss of life she dedicated suicide by leaping into the hearth. From the hearth a half-buffalo, half-human ‘Mahishasura’ emerged.
The gods and demons had been all defeated by Mahishasura. He attacked and conquered heaven, enslaving the devas/gods and declared himself to be Indra, the gods’ lord. The gods, due to this fact, led by Brahma, requested Vishnu and Shiva to evaluate the state of affairs and sought the tip of Mahishasura.
The harmful Mahishasura wreaked mayhem and instilled nice rage within the Hindu trinity. The Trimurti then mixed their energies to kind Nava Durga, the head of energy. Each God then accorded all of their distinctive weapons on the brand new female energy. Shiva gave the trident, Vishnu his discus, Varuna his conch, Agni gave his spear, Yama gave his cudgel, Vayu bestowed the bow, Surya his arrows, Indra’s Vajra, Kubera gave his mace, Brahma bestowed the water pot, Kaala his sword and Vishwakarma his axe. Lord Himavan bestowed the mountain lion because the automobile of Durga.
Seeing the magnificent goddess, Mahishasura fell in love together with her and proposed marriage to her; nonetheless, the goddess had a situation. She agreed to marry Mahishasura on the situation that he ought to defeat her. Thus ensued a extreme battle which lasted 9 days after which Goddess Durga assumed the type of Chandika and pinned Mahishasura below her foot and pierced him with the spear and lower off his head together with her sword.
To know extra concerning the significance and story of every Navratri day, learn on by clicking on the hyperlinks beneath.
