Sumana Mukherjee / New Delhi

Chaitra Navratri starts on the Pratipada of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month of Hindu religion. During Chaitra Navratri, people worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga for nine days. During this, devotees purify their soul through meditation, devotion and renunciation and receive the blessings of the divine mother.

This year, Navratri started on 9th April 2024 and it will be completed with Ram Navami on 17th November. Although Navratri will start from 11 pm on 8th April, but due to Udaya date being on 9th April, Ghatasthapana will be done on 9th April only.

The name of Navratri is made up of ‘Nav’ and ‘Ratri’, which means ‘nine nights’. During this festival, devotees should worship nine forms of Maa Durga, known as Navadurga. These nine forms represent certain qualities of Maa Durga, such as strength, peace, life-giving, patience, affection, penance, prudence, knowledge, and devotion.

During Navratri, people go to temples and worship the idol of Maa Durga and decorate every house with incense sticks, lamps, and flower vines. During this period devotees indulge in fasting while worshipping the Goddess with utmost faith.Navratri also celebrates calmness and peacefulness in the form of Maha Gauri Mata.

Navratri is celebrated in different ways in different states and regions. In North India it is celebrated with great pomp and colorful spirit, while in South India it is celebrated in a more peaceful form in the form of meditation and worship.

The nine-day festival, which is also known as Rama Navratri, ends on Rama Navami, Lord Ram's birthday.

During Navratri, the worship of Maa Durga has special significance in Hindu religion. In this festival, nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped, which are Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.

Most important part of the Chaitra Navratri is that it coincides with the beginning of spring season and brings excitement, enthusiasm and new energy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the countrymen on the fifth day of the ongoing Chaitra Navratri festival on Saturday.

नवरात्रि में माता के भक्त आज के दिन देवी दुर्गा के पंचम स्वरूप मां स्कंदमाता की पूजा-अर्चना करते हैं। नवचेतना की प्रदायिनी देवी स्कंदमाता से प्रार्थना है कि वे देश के मेरे सभी परिवारजनों पर सदैव अपनी कृपा बनाए रखें। pic.twitter.com/eSKkbu5Arb

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2024

The festival also marks the start of the Hindu New Year as per the Luni-solar calendar, and people in Maharastra celebrate it as Gudi Padwa, while Kashmiri Hindus observe it as Navreh.

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Moreover, it is an important part of religion, culture and traditions which makes us understand the importance of our cultural heritage.