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Navratri is a festival that is celebrated twice a year. It is one of the most significant and popular festivals in India, especially in the northern and western parts of the country.
The word “Navratri” is derived from two Sanskrit words: “Nava,” which means “nine,” and “Ratri,” which means “night.” During this festival, we worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga, also known as Navdurga, who symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one of the nine forms of the goddess.
Navratri is celebrated twice a year – in the months of Chaitra and Ashwin.
Timing: Chaitra Navratri is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra, which falls between March and April, while Ashwin Navratri is celebrated in the Hindu month of Ashwin, which falls between September and October.
Duration: Chaitra Navratri is celebrated for nine days, while Ashwin Navratri is celebrated for ten days.
Significance: Chaitra Navratri marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year, while Ashwin Navratri is celebrated before the festival of Dussehra and Diwali.
Fasting: Fasting during Navratri is common during both Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri. However, the rules and customs of fasting may vary from region to region. In some regions, people fast for all nine days during Chaitra Navratri, while in Ashwin Navratri, people may fast only on specific days, such as the first and the last day.
Rituals: The rituals and customs during Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri are similar, and both festivals involve the worship of Goddess Durga and the celebration of her victory over evil. However, there may be some regional variations in the way the festival is celebrated. For example, Garba and Dandiya, traditional folk dances, are more common during Ashwin Navratri, especially in the state of Gujarat.
