Chaitra Navaratri is the complete package of celebration of nine days all over the India. It starts from Ugadi and ends on Ram Navami, Birthday of Lord Rama. The first day of the month of Chaitra is celebrated as Nav Samvat, Hindu New Year. Chaitra is the first month as per the Hindu Calendar which falls in the month of March or April as per English calendar. First day of Nav Samvat is celebrated as Ugadi in Andra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and in Goa. It is also known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Goa. With the first day of this Chaitra Navratri we have proudly stepped in Samvat 2080.
This year Chaitra Navratri is beginning on March 22, Wednesday and will over on April 30, with the Birthday celebration of Lord Rama. Ghata Sthapana is one of the most significant rituals of Navratri celebration. This ritual is performed at the very first day at the grand beginning of the festival. It is also known as Kalsh Sthapana. This is the most sacred festival of Hindus. It is popular everywhere and celebrated all over the India.
Navratri is the combination of two words – Nau and Ratari. Which means, the period of nine nights. Mega Celebrations of this festival go on for nine nights. Each night is dedicated to the worship of goddess Durga in her nine forms. 1st- Maa Shailputri, 2nd- Maa Brahmacharini, 3rd- Maa Chandraghantha, 4th- Maa Kushmanda, 5th- Maa Skandamata, 6th- Maa Katyayani, 7th- Maa Kaalratri, 8th- Maa Maha Gauri and 9th- Maa Siddhidahtri. We worship goddess for nine days in her nine forms to get immense blessings of Maa Durga. Devotees also keep fast for nine days. Some keep Falari fast (consume fruits and liquid). It is believed that if we worship Maa Durga with full faith, patience and devotion, then Maa Durga definitely protects us from the evil and bless us a protective shield and extreme bliss.
9th day is the last day of Navratri celebration. This day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama. This day it is known as Ram Navmi. In this Chaitra month Ram Navmi is falling on March 30. There are mega celebrations everywhere. Especially in the North of India, Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama. They celebrate this festival as the birthday of Rama, the seventh avatar of the deity Vishnu. This festival is a part of the Chaitra Navaratri and falls on the ninth day of Navaratri. With the end of this festival, the Navaratri overs.
As per the spiritual perspective, Navratari- nine days and nights, is the time to attain the bliss from the supreme power. It is the time to know your true self. It is the time to connect with your source. It is the time to go deep in the ocean of meditation and fetch out precious gems from it. This is the right time of Aatmdarshan (self-realization) and get the margdarshan (good guidance) from the divine power. Happy Navaratri to all of you.
