Navratri Begins 14 October

Navratri Begins is a festival that spans over ten days and is celebrated with grandeur. In 2021, it was observed on October 7th. Each night of the festival holds significance and special rituals are performed during this time. The event also holds immense importance for charity work. Generous donations and charity activities are carried out by financially able individuals. The month of Ashwin marks the celebration of Navratri Begins, and on the fifth day, the Puja of Durga is performed.

Ten-day worship on the Navratri Begins.

The ten-day festival is marked by various worship rituals, each dedicated to a different deity. On the first day, people worship Shailputri, the goddess associated with the mountains. On the second day, Brahmacharini is worshipped, and a special puja, called Brahmacharini Puja, is conducted. The day is also marked by the Brahmacharini fast, which is followed by a grand feast to break the fast.

Chandraghanta is worshipped on the third day, and the fast related to her is known as Chandraghanta fast. A special puja is performed on this day, and a unique green bowl is used for the ceremony. The remaining days of the festival are dedicated to the worship of different goddesses, including Kushmanda on the fourth day and Skandamata on the fifth day. Each day is marked by special rituals and offerings to the respective deity.

At the end of the festival, all the idols worshipped during the ten days are immersed in the river Ganga for cleansing and purification purposes. These idols are then taken back to their respective temples for worshipping the following year. Navratri Begins is a celebration of faith, charity, and devotion to the divine feminine.