Chaitra Navratri or Vasanta Navratri
When is Navratri celebrated?
Navratri is nine-day festival which holds immense significance for the Hindus. In both Chaitra and Vasant Navratri, all nine days are dedicated to the worship of the nine sorts of Maa Shakti with the flowery customs and rituals. Chaitra Navratri is additionally referred to as ‘Vasant Navratri’ and is rooted within the legend of prince Sudarsana, who emerged victorious in war with the blessings of Maa Shakti and performed ‘havan’ in her honour during Vasanta Navratri. Sri Ram and Lakshman, during their ordeal to save lots of Mata Sita from her captivity, performed a simiar ‘havan’ and emerged victorious in their task. Both Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are dedicated to nine sorts of Maa Shakti – Durga, Bhadrakali, Jagadamba, Annapurna, Sarvamangala, Bhairavi, Chandika, Lalita, Bhavani and Mookambika and honour the nine sorts of Maa Durga. During Sharad Navratri, VijayaDashmi is widely known to mark Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana, creating an exhilarating mood.
The devotees sincerely worship the nine incarnations of Goddess Durga for nine days to beat the effect of negative forces through her blessings and protection. every day has its own significance because it is devoted to at least one of her forms: Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Devotees observe fasting, chant mantras, sing hymns, recite chapters from Markandeya Purana and sing devotional songs during Navratri to be blessed prosperity, health and wisdom in their life. While fasting and praying may be a strong practice, it’s believed abstinence from alcoholic drinks, grains, wheat and onion help seekers to be better ready to imbibe the traits that Maa Durga in her different forms represent. ‘Jaagran’ and ‘Mata ki Chowki’ are an integral a part of the tradition to invoke the goddess name and to be consonant with the divine energy of Maa Durga.
