Chaitra Navratri 2022: Navratri Bhog For 9 Days? Significance and History ?, Written By- Dr.Rashmi Vajpayee
The nine-day-long Hindu festival Chaitra Navratri (March-April) will commence on April 2 and will continue till April 11. Chaitra Navratri falls in the month of Chaitra according to the Hindu calendar which corresponds to March-April as per the Gregorian calendar. Chaitra Navratri ends with Ram Navami, the birthday of the avatar of Lord Vishnu. This year Ram Navami will be celebrated on April 10, 2022.
The first three days of Chaitra Navratri are devoted to Maa Durga, the Goddess of energy, on the next three days, Maa Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, is worshipped and the last three days are dedicated to Maa Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge.
Kalash/Ghata Sthapana Date and Time?
Kalash/Ghata Sthapana is one of the important traditions during Navratri. This year the auspicious time for setting up the Kalash is very auspicious from 05:51 am to 08:22 am on April 2. After that Abhijit Muhurta is auspicious between 11:36 to 12:22.
Chaitra Navratri History And Significance
1)Navratri is a Hindu festival, spanning over 9 days in which nine goddesses are worshipped-Shailaputri or Pratipada, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidhatri. There are four seasonal Navratri’s observed in India, out of which two: Chaitra and Sharad Navratri’s are celebrated the most.
2)The Chaitra Navratri ends with Ram Navami which is the birthday of Lord Vishnu’s seventh avatar, Ram. Lord Ram was born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya.
3)Chaitra is the first month of the year as per the Hindu calendar. This is also the month of spring. The first day of Chaitra month is celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu.
4)During the Navratri, people avoid consuming alcohol and non-veg food items and eat sattvik food. People also abstain from the consumption of onion and garlic during this period.
1. Day 1: Maa Shailputri- Maa Shailputri is worshiped on the first day of Navratri. Devotees offer Pure Desi Ghee or Sweets made of Ghee to Shailputri. The offering of pure ghee is believed to bestow the devotee with a life free of sickness and diseases.
Maa Brahmacharini is worshiped on the second day of Navratri. Goddess Brahmacharini is a lover of simple food and offerings. Devotees serve a bhog of sugar and fruits or Singhade ke atte ka halwa or kacche kele ki barfi to Goddess Brahmacharini.
3. Day 3: Maa Chandraghanta- Maa Chandraghanta is worshiped on the third day of Navratri. Goddess Chandraghanta is pleased by offering milk, sweets, or kheer.
Maa Kushmanda is worshiped on the fourth day of Navratri. Malpua is offered to Mother Leprosy.
5. Fifth Day: Maa Skandmata- Skandmata is worshiped on the fifth day of Navratri. Banana is offered to Skandmata.
6. Sixth day: Maa Katyayani- Maa Katyayani is worshiped on the sixth day of Navratri. Devotees offer ‘ Honey’ as Bhog to Goddess Katyayani. She filled her devotees’ lives with smoothness and inspires them to get freed of troubles.
7. Seventh Day: Kalratri — On Saptami, Devi Kalratri is worshipped. Devotees offer Jaggery or sweets made with Jaggery to Goddess Kalratri.
8. Eighth day: Maa Mahagauri- Mahagauri form of Adishakti Maa Durga is worshiped on the eighth day. Halwa and coconut are offered to the mother.
9. Ninth day: Maa Siddhidatri- Maa Siddhidatri is worshiped on the ninth day of Navratri. Kheer and Halwa Puri are offered to Mother Siddhidatri.
