New Delhi: Chaitra Navratri is a Hindu festival, celebrated over a span of nine days during the Hindu month of Chaitra (which corresponds to English months of March-April). During the nine-day period, many people keep fasting for full 9 days while some observe fasting on 1st & last day of the festival.
Chaitra Navratri is also known by name of Vasant Navratri or Rama Navratri. Below are some important information about rituals & ways to worship the Goddess during this period.
Rituals
During the 9 days of Chaitra Navratri, the devotees observe fast & pray to the Goddess Durga. Puja, Aarti & bhajans are performed in almost all homes to please the Bhagwati & seek her blessings. Many people also recite the Durga Saptashati, a Hindu scripture that describes the glory & valour of Goddess & also her various forms.
9 forms of Goddess Durga
Each of the 9 days is dedicated to a particular form of the Goddess Durga. The nine forms are namely Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.
Pan India festival
The festival is observed across the country with great zeal, enthusiasm & religious fervor. Some parts of the country have specific customs attached to the festival. In Western part Gujarat in particular, people play Garba & Dandiya during Navratri. On 9th day, also known as Ram Navami, people celebrate the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Like other festivals, Chaitra Navratri celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is said that during this period, the Goddess descends on the planet Earth and blesses her devotees. If the person prays to Goddess with full devotion, he/she is most likely to have troubles vanished & enemies eliminated.
