Chaitra Navratri 2024: Navratri is one of the major Hindu festivals celebrated annually in the month of Chaitra as per the Hindu calendar.
The festival spans over 9 nights and 10 days, celebrating the different aspects of the supreme Goddess Durga.
As we gear up to welcome Navratri 2024, here is a detailed guide on the dates, celebrations, rituals and significance of one of the most auspicious occasions for Hindus worldwide.
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Chaitra Navratri 2024: When is Navratri 2024?
Navratri 2024 will be celebrated from 9th April to 17th April 2024. The festival coincides with the beginning of the traditional Hindu New Year, known as Gudi Padwa, that marks the first day of the Chaitra month.
Navratri 2024 April dates:
- 9th April: Gudi Padwa, Pratipada, Kalash Sthapana, Shailputri Puja
- 10th April: Chaitra Navratri Dwitiya, Brahmacharini Puja
- 11th April: Chaitra Navratri Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja
- 12th April: Chaitra Navratri Chaturthi, Kushmanda Puja
- 13th April: Chaitra Navratri Panchami, Skandamata Puja
- 14th April: Chaitra Navratri Shashthi, Katyayani Puja
- 15th April: Chaitra Navratri Saptami, Kalaratri Puja
- 16th April: Chaitra Navratri Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja, Ram Navami
- 17th April: Chaitra Navratri Navami, Siddhidatri Puja, Navratri Parana
This nine-day spring festival is known as Chaitra Navratri or Vasanta Navratri.
All About Chaitra Navratri
Celebrated during the spring season, Chaitra Navratri carries special significance in the Hindu religion.
- It marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year according to the traditional lunisolar Hindu calendar.
- The first Navratri day coincides with Gudi Padwa when colorful Gudis or flags are hoisted to welcome the Hindu year.
- Over the nine days, devotees worship the 9 manifestations of Goddess Durga also known as the Navdurga.
- The nine goddesses worshiped are Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.
- Chaitra Navratri is considered the time when good wins over evil as per Hindu mythology. The nine days represent the battle between Durga and demon Mahishasura.
Nine days of Navratri/Worship of Navdurga:
| Day | Navratri Date 2024 | Goddess | Significance | Colors of the Day |
| 1 | 9th April | Shailputri | Daughter of Mountains | White |
| 2 | 10th April | Brahmacharini | One who practices penance | Red |
| 3 | 11th April | Chandraghanta | One who wears moon in her necklace | Royal Blue |
| 4 | 12th April | Kushmanda | Pumpkin | Orange |
| 5 | 13th April | Skandamata | Mother of warrior God Skanda | Green |
| 6 | 14th April | Katyayani | To be worshipped by married women | Grey |
| 7 | 15th April | Kalaratri | One who is death incarnate | Purple |
| 8 | 16th April | Mahagauri | Extremely radiant | Pink |
| 9 | 17th April | Siddhidatri | Giver of Siddhis | Sky Blue |
By understanding the significance of each form, devotees can worship the Navdurga with greater reverence.
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Navratri 2024 Celebrations
The festival is celebrated with immense fervor and gaiety across India and in other parts of the world:
- Kalash/Ghat Sthapana marks the ceremonial beginning of Navratri on 1st April 2024. The Kalash symbolizing Goddess Durga is installed while chanting slokas as per Abhijeet Muhurat from 11:23 AM to 12:13 PM.
- For nine consecutive days, people observe ritualistic fasts, offer bhog/prasad to the Goddess and perform Chandi Path.
- In Gujarat and nearby regions, the Garba Raas folk dance is performed every evening along with favorites like dandiya raas using colored sticks. The traditional dance celebrations fuse divine worship with revelry.
- Local fairs (melas) are also held across Indian states promoting crafts, food etc.
April 2024 Navratri Calendar
Here is a quick day-wise calendar of rituals and customs followed during the nine days of Navratri celebrations:
Day 1
- Gudi Padwa and Cheti Chand marked as per tithi to welcome the Hindu new year
- Shailputri Puja – also known as Pratipada, perform Ghatasthapana, offer crimson-colored clothes, jasmine and food made with ginger.
Day 2
- Brihaspati Wara, Angarki Chaturthi
- Offer a red-colored item and food made with jaggery while worshiping Goddess Brahamcharini.
Day 3
Perform Chandraghanta puja rituals using lemon and payasam made with milk and rice flakes. Offer blue clothing and flowers.
Day 4
Varad Vinayak Chaturthi, worship Kushmanda with offerings of orange-colored items, pumpkin dishes, flowers and fruits.
Day 5
Perform Skandamata puja and offer bhog made with banana or chickpeas along with green-colored clothing.
Day 6
- Worship Katyayani on Shashti with offerings of honey and gray/ash-colored items.
Day 7
- Kalashtami Puja, worship Kalaratri – the destroyer of darkness, offer purple flowers, roasted lentils etc.
Day 8
On Ashtami honor Mahagauri and offer pink-hued clothes, coconut water and coconut-based sweets, fruits etc.
Day 9
- Perform Ayudha Puja, also known as Ram Navami celebrating Lord Rama’s birth. Worship Siddhidatri and offer blue-colored clothes, sweets made with sesame seeds etc.
This calendar will help devotees perform the Chaitra Navratri rituals correctly and with mindfulness.
Ram Navami on April 16-17, 2024
Ram Navami celebrations occur on the ninth day of Navratri (on 8th April 2024). As mentioned earlier, this day is dedicated to Lord Rama’s birth and is marked by:
- Chanting of the holy Rama Mantra
- Offering fruits and flowers to Lord Rama’s idol in temples
- Observing fasts, Vrata and reciting the Rama story from Hindu scriptures
- Public processions carrying Lord Rama’s image in palanquins
- Organizing Bhajans and Kirtans singing glory of Shree Rama
As per the tithi calendar, the Navami Tithi will prevail from 01:24 PM on 16th April to 03:14 PM on 17th April 2024.
Significance of Gudi Padwa on 9th, April 2024
Gudi Padwa represents the beginning of the traditional Hindu year and holds cultural and spiritual importance. On 9th April 2024:
- The Shubh Muhurat begins from 11:50 PM on 8th April and lasts till 8:30 PM on 9th April 2024.
- Colorful silk Gudis adorned with garlands of flowers, mango and neem leaves are hoisted on homes as a sign of victory of good over evil.
- Special Gudi Padwa meals are prepared, consisting of bitter neem buds and sweet jaggery to signify the mix of good and bad one encounters in life.
- According to astrology, Gudi Padwa coinciding with Navratri is considered highly auspicious.
By coming together to celebrate Gudi Padwa, the festival promotes cultural roots and heritage.
So come let’s revel in the spiritual fervor by embracing Maa Durga in all her magnificent forms this April 2024. Here’s extending warm Navratri 2024 and Gudi Padwa wishes to our readers in advance!
