Navratri 2024: Navratri is celebrated twice a year- one during the month of March-April (which is known as Chaitra Navratri) and the other one during the month of September-October (known as Sharadiya Navratri). In this article, we will delve into the dates in which the two festivals fall in the coming year.
Chaitra Navratri 2024:
Chaitra Navratri marks a nine-day celebration commencing on the initial day of the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar, typically occurring in March or April. Chaitra, the inaugural month of the Hindu lunar calendar, lends its name to this Navratri, also recognised as Chaitra Navratri, or alternatively, Vasanta Navratri. Notably, the ninth day of this festival often aligns with Rama Navami, commemorating the birth of Lord Rama and consequently earning the designation of Rama Navratri.
Throughout Navratri, each of the nine days is dedicated to one of the various forms of Goddess Shakti. Many of the customs and rituals observed during the more widely known Shardiya Navratri in September or October are similarly adhered to during Chaitra Navratri. The Ghatasthapana Puja Vidhi, a ritual for invoking Goddess Shakti, remains consistent across both Shardiya Navratri and Chaitra Navratri.
Chaitra Navratri enjoys heightened popularity in northern India, with distinct regional associations. In Maharashtra, the festivities commence with Gudi Padwa, while in Andhra Pradesh, they coincide with the onset of Ugadi.
Chaitra Navratri 2024: Date
Chaitra Navratri will begin with Ghatasthapana on April 9, which is a tuesday.
As per Drik Panchang, the timings are as follows:
Ghatasthapana Muhurat - 06:02 AM to 10:16 AM
Duration - 04 Hours 14 Mins
Ghatasthapana Abhijit Muhurat - 11:57 AM to 12:48 PM
Duration - 00 Hours 51 Mins
Ghatasthapana Muhurta falls on Pratipada Tithi
Ghatasthapana Muhurta falls during prohibited Vaidhriti Yoga
Pratipada Tithi Begins - 11:50 PM on Apr 08, 2024
Pratipada Tithi Ends - 08:30 PM on Apr 09, 2024
Vaidhriti Yoga Begins - 06:14 PM on Apr 08, 2024
Vaidhriti Yoga Ends - 02:18 PM on Apr 09, 2024
In the coming year, Chaitra Navratri will last till April 17, 2024.
Sharadiya Navratri 2024:
Shardiya Navratri, recognised as Maha Navratri due to its widespread popularity and significance, occurs during the lunar month of Ashwin within the Sharad Ritu. This Navratri is named after the Sharad Ritu, and its nine days are devoted to worshipping the nine forms of Goddess Shakti. Taking place in either September or October, Shardiya Navratri concludes on its tenth day with the celebration of Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami.
Particularly in Maharashtra and Gujarat, women participate in the festivities by adorning themselves in different colours, with each colour assigned to a specific day of Navratri. The choice of colour is determined by the weekday, each of which is associated with a planet or Navgraha.
Navadurga, representing various facets of Goddess Durga, is invoked through different avatars during these nine days. Each day corresponds to a unique Prasad offered to Navdurga as a means of seeking her blessings.
In the coming year, Chaitra Navratri will begin from October 3, 2024.