Navratri 2020: When Is Chaitra Navratri Tithi And Shubh Muhurt, Puja Vidhi, Everything You Need to Know

Navratri 2020: When Is Chaitra Navratri Tithi And Shubh Muhurt, Puja Vidhi, Everything You Need to Know 

NEW DELHI: Chaitra Navratri is a pious festival which is celebrated by Hindus across the world. The festival is celebrated in the month of 'Chaitra', the first month in the Hindu calendar which generally falls between March-April in the English calendar, and hence the name 'Chaitra'. Navratri in Sanskrit means nine nights. So, as the name suggests, the Chaitra Navratri is celebrated for nine days and each of the nine days are dedicated to the nine different avatars of Goddess Durga. It is considered that Goddess Durga arrives from heaven to stay with her devotees during this time, and so it is considered to be a propitious time.

The festival begins with a traditional ritual called Ghatasthapana. Devotees pray to Goddess Durga and her different avatars for nine consecutive days and offer flowers, fruits, and prasad to the goddess. The gaieties start from the Pratipada on the first day and they go on till the Navami or ninth day of the Shukla Paksha in the Chaitra month. Chaitra Navratri is also called Vasanta Navratri or Rama Navratri as the ninth day marks the birth of Lord Rama.

In Maharashtra, Chaitra Navratri celebrations starts with Gudi Padwa, whereas in Andra Pradesh & other South-Indian states it is celebrated as Ugadi.

DATE:

In India, Chaitra Navratri 2020 will begin on Wednesday, 25th April and ends on Friday, 3rd April 2020.

25th March 2020 will be celebrated as Shailputri pooja. 

ORIGIN OF THIS DAY:

After the self-immolation as Goddess Sati, Goddess Parvati took birth as the daughter of Lord Himalaya. In Sanskrit Shail means the mountain and due to which Goddess was known as Shailputri, the daughter of the mountains.

26th March 2020, 1st day of Navratri is known as Pratipada or Brahmcharini Pooja.

ORIGIN OF THE DAY:

After Kushmanda form, Goddess Parvati took birth at the home of Daksha Prajapati. In this form, the Goddess Parvati was a great Sati and her unmarried form is worshipped as Goddess Brahmcharini. 

Goddess Brahmacharini did severe penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband. She performed hard austerity and due to which She was called Brahmacharini. It is stated that during her penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband She spent 1000 years on the diet of flowers and fruits and another 100 years on the diet on leafy vegetables while sleeping on the floor.

27th March 2020, 2nd-day of Navratri is known as Dwitiya or Chandraghanta Puja.

ORIGIN OF THE DAY:

Goddess Chandraghanta is the married form the Goddess Parvati. After getting married to Lord Shiva Goddess Mahagauri started adorning her forehead with half Chandra and due to which Goddess Parvati was known as Goddess Chandraghanta.

28th march 2020, 3rd day of Navratri is known as Tritya or Kushmanda Puja

ORIGIN OF THE DAY:

After taking the form of Siddhidatri, Goddess Parvati started living inside the centre of the Sun so that He can liberate energy to the universe. Since then Goddess is known as Kushmanda. Kushmanda is the Goddess who has the power and capability to live inside the Sun. The glow and radiance of her body is as luminous as that of the Sun.

29th march 2020, 4th day of Navratri is known as Chaturthi or Skandamata Puja

ORIGIN OF THE DAY:

When Goddess Parvati became the mother of Lord Skanda (also known as Lord Kartikeya), Mata Parvati was known as Goddess Skandamata.

30th March 2020, 5th day of Navratri is known as Panchami or Katyayani Puja

ORIGIN OF THE DAY:

 To destroy demon Mahishasura, Goddess Parvati took the form of Goddess Katyayani. It was the most violent form of Goddess Parvati. In this form Goddess Parvati is also known as Warrior Goddess.

31st March 2020, 6th day of Navratri is known as Shashthi or Kalaratri Puja

ORIGIN OF THE DAY:

When the Goddess Parvati removed outer golden skin to kill demons named Shumbha and Nishumbha, She was known as Goddess Kalaratri. Kalaratri is the fiercest and the most ferocious form of Goddess Parvati.

1st march 2020, 7th day of Navratri is known as Saptami or Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja, Annapurna Ashtami, Sandhi Puja

ORIGIN OF THE DAY:

According to Hindu mythologies, the Goddess Shailputri at the age of sixteen was extremely beautiful and was blessed with fair complexion. Due to her extreme fair complexion, she was known as Goddess Mahagauri.

2nd march 2020, 9th day of Navratri is known as Navami or Rama Navami

ORIGIN OF THE DAY:

Lord Rama was born on Navami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. Each year this day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama. Lord Rama was born during Madhyahna period which is middle of Hindu day. Madhyahna which prevails for six Ghatis is the most auspicious time to perform Rama Navami Puja rituals.

3rd March 2020, 10th day of Navratri is known as Dashmi or Navratri Parana.

ORIGIN OF THE DAY:

As per Nirnaya-Sindhu,

अथ नवरात्रपारणानिर्णयः। सा च दशम्यां कार्या॥

the Chaitra Navratri Parana is done when Navami Tithi is over and Dashami Tithi prevails.

Chaitra Navratri Significance

According to ancient scriptures, there are four types of Navratri in a year but only two of them Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are celebrated with much grandeur and enthusiasm. Sharad Navratri falls around September and October; Chaitra Navratri is a spring affair which is celebrated typically in the month of March and April. Many Hindus refrain from eating non-vegetarian food, drinking alcohol and even quit smoking. They consume light, sattvik food cooked without onion and garlic. The logic behind this fasting has deeper connotations beyond the obvious religious ones. Both Sharad Navratri and Chaitra Navratri are glorified around season change. During these seasonal transitions, our immunity and digestive system tends to weaken a lot, which is why it is advised to eat light during that time. Eating heavy and oleaginous food during this time may lead to problems like heartburn and boasting.

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