Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Chaitra Navratri Festival and Durga Puja

Goddess Durga
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.

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