Chaitra Navratri 2016

Spring Navratri beginning on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, with nine days of Devi worship and regional celebrations.

Chaitra Navratri begins on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada as a springtime period of devotion to the Divine Mother. The Devi Mahatmya describes how Mahishasura, empowered by a boon, defeated the gods and disrupted the worlds. The divine radiance of the gods came together as Durga, who received their weapons and rode into battle. The asura fought in changing forms, including that of a buffalo, but the Goddess overcame him and restored order. The text presents her victory as the triumph of protective wisdom and courage over arrogance and violence. This narrative is honoured in both spring and autumn Navratri; it should not be treated as an event that happened only on the ninth day of Chaitra. Many devotees worship the nine forms of Navadurga in sequence: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Each is remembered as an expression of the Goddess and a focus for devotion and spiritual discipline. On the first day families may perform Ghatasthapana, install a sacred kalash, sow barley and light a lamp. Recitation of the Devi Mahatmya or Durga Saptashati, daily aarti and fasting are practised according to household custom. Some observe Kanya Puja on Ashtami or Navami, and in many North Indian communities Ram Navami celebrates Rama's birth toward the close of the period. Chaitra Pratipada also marks a new year in some regional calendars. This festival therefore joins Devi worship, the renewal of spring and diverse local practices; not all communities keep exactly the same daily sequence.

Chaitra Navratri is the spring Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga and the nine forms of Shakti. Its observances express courage, devotion, renewal and self-discipline; Ram Navami and regional new-year customs may also fall in this period.

The observance usually begins with Ghatasthapana on an appropriate Pratipada muhurta, followed by daily worship, prayers and optional fasting. Kanya Puja is common on Ashtami or Navami. Exact rituals differ between households and regions.

The north keeps these nine as the larger of the two and the autumn ones as Ramlila's frame; Gujarat and Bengal reverse that. Vasanta Navratri in the south. Jammu's Vaishno Devi and the Chaitra fairs of the Himalayan foothills fall here.