Navratri 2014 – The Nine Nights Festival

Navratri - Navdurga Festival 2014

Navratri 2014, the nine day grandeur festival dedicated to Goddess Durga will be celebrated from September 25^th till October 3^rd in 2014. During the Navratri festival which means nine nights, 9 forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped and revered. The period of Navratri is considered as most auspicious to worship the divine mother Goddess Durga and do Shakti Sadhanas.

During the festival of Navratri, for nine consecutive days and nights devotees fast, offer ritualistic Navratri Puja and also become part of colorful celebrations. The festival of Sharad Navratri is celebrated during the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin which is around September-October as per Gregorian calendar. The festival of Navratri is celebrated all across India with some variations.

During the nine days of Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshipped in Her nine forms namely Goddess Shailputri, Goddess Brahmacharini, Goddess Chandraghanta, Goddess Kushmanda, Goddess Skandamata, Goddess Katyayani, Goddess Kalratri, Goddess Maha Gauri and Goddess Siddhidatri. After nine days the festival of Navratri ends on the day of Dusshera or Vijayadashami.

During the nine days of Navratri, the first 3 days are dedicated to Goddess Durga, the second third to Goddess Lakshmi and the final third to Goddess Saraswati. On the ninth day of Navratri, ‘Kanya Puja’ is done when nine young girls symbolizing the nine Goddesses are worshipped and fed.  

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.