When is Navratri? Find out the dates and the customs!
India observes Shardiya, also known as Shrad navratri, a nine-day Hindu festival, which holds great significance. It honors the nine incarnations of the goddess Durga. The Hindu month of Ashwin, which often falls between september and october on the Gregorian calendar, is when Shardiya navratri is celebrated. It is considered the most important of the four Navratris: Sharad or Shardiya (autumn), Magha (winter), Chaitra (spring), and Ashadha (monsoon). For this reason, it is also called maha Navratri.
Date and Origin of navratri 2024
October 3, Thursday, is the commencement of navratri 2024, while october 12, Saturday, is Vijaya Dasami. The nine-day Shardiya, also called Shrad navratri, starts with Sharad Ritu in the lunar month of Ashwin and ends with Dussehra, also known as Vijaya Dashami, on the tenth day. It commemorates Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura, which took place over the course of nine days and ended on the tenth day as Vijayadashami. For this reason, she is referred to as Mahishasuramardini, or the slayer of Mahishasur. In addition, the tenth day of navratri is known as Vijayadashami, commemorating the day that Lord Rama slew Ravana and retrieved Goddess Sita. The nine-day celebration will come to a close on Saturday, october 12, 2024, the same day that Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is commemorated.
Importance and Customs
It honors nine incarnations of the goddess Shakti, with a different goddess being honored every day. The celebration also teaches moral principles like bravery and virtue and represents righteousness and the ability of good to win over evil. Some people observe fasting for the entire nine days, while others only observe it for the first two or end two days. Devotees of Goddess Durga fast and worship her for nine days, reciting the Durga Stotra and Durga Chalisa, beginning on the Pratipada of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashwin. They believe that by worshiping Durga with dedication, wishes will come true. There is a different Durga avatar, such Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, or Chandraghanta, on every day of Navratri. The celebration, which honors the Goddess as the nurturing force behind creation and life, is also seen as a harvest celebration.
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