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Navratri (“nava” i.e. 9 + “ratri” i.e. nights) means “nine nights”. This ritual is observed twice a year, in spring and in autumn. During Navratri, Hindus undertake nine days of fasting and worshipping. The Divine Mother or Devi is worshipped by her own command for nine days and in different forms. This festival is celebrated with various rites and rituals as believed by the devotees and hence, the commencement of all the rituals makes it more auspicious. Here is a list of some popular rituals undertaken for Navratri. 

Ritual 1 – Worshipping the 9 forms of Goddess Durga

It is believed that Goddess Durga has 9 forms. All these nine manifestations of the goddess are worshipped during the Navratri and each manifestation has its own significance. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one goddess each and the devotees worship accordingly. These 9 forms of the goddess are as follows-

1. Shailputri Mata
2. Brahmacharini Mata
3. Chandraghanta Mata
4. Kushmanda Mata
5. Skanda Mata
6. Katyayani Mata
7. Kalratri Mata
8. Mahagauri Mata
9. Siddhatri Mata

Ritual 2 – Ghatsthapana

During this religious festival, instalment of a pot in one’s pooja room is meant to be auspicious. This installation of a pot is termed as “Ghatsthapana”. This pot symbolises the universe and is filled with a mixture of seven kinds of grains and covered with coconut.

Ritual 3 – Lightening of Akhand Jyoti

As the name suggests “Akhand” means uninterrupted and “Jyoti” means light. During this festival, a lamp is lit for nine days continuously and taken care so that it doesn’t go off. Burning of it for all nine days non-stop is said to put an end to negative energies and make the devotees aware of their consciousness. It is also believed that this Akhand Jyoti is the medium through which one worships “Adi Shakti” i.e. Goddess Durga.

Ritual 4 – Sowing of Barley

In a pot of sand or copper, barley seeds are sown. Barley is the symbol of first fruit and signifies growth, affluence and abundance. Hence, it is worshipped as well as taken care of all nine days. It is believed that the length of the barley shoots determines the quantum of income and prosperity that a family will have.

Ritual 5 – Offerings to Goddess Durga

Different kinds of offerings are made to Goddess during 9 days of Navratri as a token of thanksgiving from the devotees for listening to their prayers and keeping them away from ill happenings. The offerings are in the form of fruits, food, clothes, jewellery, etc.

Ritual 6 – Enchanting of Durga Sapshatti Paath

Reciting of the Durga Sapshatti Paath during Navratri is considered to be extremely auspicious. If not completely one can choose to recite particular Adhyayas as each adhyaya has its own significance. Enchanting the same sanctions the devotee with peace, tranquillity, wealth and prosperity in life.

Ritual 7 – 9 Colours for 9 Days

All the nine days of Navratri have a colour in their name. All these colours hold certain significance and devotees prefer wearing those nine colours accordingly or as per the day. Those nine colours are as follows – Green, Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Indigo, Violet, Pink and clothes with hues of golden.

Ritual 8 – Singing and Dancing

Singing and dancing during Navratri is now a part of festivity and fun and also a reason to dress up and catch up with your friends. But generations back it was believed and is still believed that singing and dancing in front of the idols of Goddess is auspicious and brings good luck. When goddess observes you to be happy and praising her in this form bestows you with more joy and happiness in life.

Ritual 9 – Kanya Bhoj

In Hindu Religion girls from the age group of 1-12 are termed to be as the little goddesses. Hence, on the ninth day, small girls are called over to various people’s houses and then first worshipped and later served with food. Further, they are offered with sweet beetle leaves, chunari, gifts, etc as we offer the goddesses.

Follow all these rituals and your Navratri will be all the more fun, perfect and filled with happiness and prosperity.

Here are the Gokuldham Temple Darshan Timings

6 AM to 12 PM, 4 PM to 8 PM. Open on all days of the week. The temple is located in Mumbai at Goregaon East.

Navratri 2019: Navratri begins on Sunday, September 29 and ends on Monday, October 7. Navratri means 9 sacred days. These nine days are dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine avatars. A distinct avatar of Goddess Durga is worshipped on each of the nine days.

Navratri 2019 Dates

Navratri is celebrated from 29th September to 7th October this year. It is celebrated for 9 days.

Navratri Day	Goddess	Tithi	Poojas	Offerings
Day-1 (29-September)	Shailaputri	Pratipada	Ghatsthapana, Chandra Darshan, Shailaputri Puja	Ghee
Day-2 (30-September)	Brahmacharini	Dwitiya	Brahmacharini Puja	Sugar
Day-3 (1-October)	Chandraghanta	Tritiya	Sindoor Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja, Varad Vinayak Chauth	Ghee
Day-4 (2-October)	Kushmanda	Chaturthi	Kushmanda Puja, Upang Lalita Vrat	Malupa
Day-5 (3-October)	Skandamata	Panchami	Skandamata Puja	Bananas
Day-6 (4-October)	Katyayini	Shashthi	Katyayini Puja	Honey
Day-7 (5-October)	Kaalratri	Saptami	Kaalratri Puja, Saraswati Awahan	Jaggery
Day-8 (6-October)	Mahagauri	Ashtami	Mahagauri Puja, Saraswati Puja, Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja	Coconut
Day-9 (7-October)	Siddhidatri	Navami	Siddhidatri Puja, Maha Navami, Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa	Grains
Day-10 (8-October)	—	Dashami	Navratri Parana, Durga Visarjan, Vijaya Dashami	—

Why is Navratri celebrated?

Navratri or Durga Puja is celebrated as a symbol of victory of good over evil. As per legend, Goddess Durga defeated the demon king Mahishasura to save the world and restore Dharma. In South India, Navratri is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.

How to celebrate Navratri in 2019?

Navratri is celebrated with fervour and devotion all across India. People celebrate Navratri by praying to the 9 forms of goddess Durga during the 9 days and performing poojas. Garba dance is the most famous activity during Navratri and especially popular in Gujarat and Mumbai. The festival culminates in Dasara.

What are the Navratri Colors?

It is a tradition to wear dresses that represent the colours of Navratri on each of the 9 days.

Use these colours as a guide and make this Navratri more colourful.

If you have any questions about Navratri, please leave your comment below and we will get back to you super-fast.