Chaitra Navratri 2025 Puja Muhurat and Puja Vidhi
Chaitra Navaratri or the festival of nine nights is celebrated with much fanfare all across India. Chaitra Navratri is celebrated in the Hindu lunar calendar month of Chaitra that falls at the cusp of spring and summer. It marks the start of a new year in the Hindu calendar. It is also known as the Vasanta Navratri.
According to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the word Chaitra refers to the beginning of a new year. New Year’s Day marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri. This is a nine-day duration that is entirely devoted to fasting, meditation, and chanting. It follows the tradition of acknowledging the divinity of all life, and infusing that element with vitality.
Chaitra Navratri 2025 Puja Muhurat
| Date and Day | Tithi | Navratri Puja |
| Sunday, 30 March, 2025 | Pratipada | Ghatasthapana, Chandra Darshana, Shailputri Puja |
| Monday, 31 March, 2025 | Dwitiya | Sindhara Dooj, Brahmacharini Puja, Gauri Puja, Saubhagya Teej, Chandraghanta Puja |
| Tuesday, 1 April, 2025 | Chaturthi | Kushmanda Puja, Vinayaka Chaturthi |
| Wednesday, 2 April, 2025 | Panchami | Naag Puja, Lakshmi Panchami, Skandamata Puja |
| Thursday, 3 April, 2025 | Shashthi | Skanda Sashti, Yamuna Chhath, Katyayani Puja |
| Friday, 4 April, 2025 | Saptami | Maha Saptami, Kalaratri Puja |
| Saturday, 5 April, 2025 | Ashtami | Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja, Annapurna Ashtami, Sandhi Puja |
| Sunday, 6 April, 2025 | Navami | Rama Navami |
| Monday, 7 April, 2025 | Dashami | Navratri Parana |
The Legend of Chaitra Navaratri:
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva permitted his wife goddess Parvati to visit her parents for nine days, after which she had to return to him.
Another legend says that Durga, the consort of Shiva, battled and killed the demon king Mahishasura and a festival is held each autumn in reverence of the triumph of Good over Evil.
The Nine Days of Festival:
The nine days of the festival are earmarked for nine separate embodiments of the goddess Durga.
Devotees practice the annual fast and worship nine incarnations of the goddess Durga:
- Day 1: Shailaputri:
- Day 2: Brahmacharini,
- Day 3: Chandraghanta,
- Day 4: Kushmanda,
- Day 5: Skandamata,
- Day 6: Katyayani,
- Day 7: Kaalratri,
- Day 8: Mahagauri,
- Day 9: Siddhidhatri.
How is Chaitra Navaratri celebrated?
People wake up and bathe in the early morning and pray to the Goddess. Cleaning the house before the festivities makes it ready for the occasion. Devotees conduct special puja and havan rites to greet the goddess Durga, who has come to their homes to take shelter
The ‘nirjala’ fast is practiced where the devotees refrain from drinking even drop water. The “phallar” fast is when the devotees eat only fresh fruits, milk, and water.
Additionally, the priest prepares numerous offerings, such as bhog, fruits and flowers, for the temple’s deity. Devotees also observe ritualistic fasts as a mark of showing their devotion to the goddess.
Puja is performed on all nine days. Finally after a havan on the ninth day, the fast is broken.
Celebrations involve nine Goddesses being worshipped in nine days, lavish stage lighting, performing of the legend of Nari shakti, re-enacting of the story, and praying of the scriptures of Hinduism.
Delicacies associated with the festival:
Around Navratri several delicious preparations like Singhare Ke Pakore. Kuttu Ki Puri, Singhade Ka Halwa, Sabudana Vada, and Sabudana Khichdi gain immense popularity amongst those who are fasting. Additionally, the vrat ka khana becomes special when people tend to load up on fruits and milk to keep themselves energized through the day.
Significance:
According to Hindu belief, goddess Durga gives strength to the devotees and showers them good health and wealth, If you pray to her from your heart.
