Thursday, March 15, 2018

Chaitra Navratri

Chaitra Navratri is also denoted as Vasanta Navaratri, as it is observed during the lunar month of Chaitra (Hindu calendar, a period post-winter, March–April). Several regions celebrated the festival falls in the wake of either spring harvest or amid the period of reaping. Unlike Sharad Navratri, which is globally celebrated, the Chaitra Navratri is majorly observed in some Northern parts of India. Although, In Maharashtra, Chaitra Navratri begins with Gudi Padwa and in Andhra Pradesh it begins with Ugadi.



The nine-day festivity have each day as celebration to mark: Ghatasthapana (First day), Sindhara Dooj (Second day), Gauri Teej (Third day), Vinayaka Chauth (Fourth day), Naag puja and Lakshmi Panchami (Fifth day), Yamuna Chhath (Sixth day), Kalratri puja (Seventh day), Sandhi puja and Annapurna ashtami (Eight day), and Ram Navami (Ninth day). Sri Rama Navami is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama and it usually falls on the ninth day during Navratri festivity. Hence Chaitra Navratri is also known as Rama Navratri. The nine-night long festivity, starts on the first day of Hindu Luni-Solar calendar and falls in the month of March or April. Chaitra is the first month of Hindu lunar calendar and because of it this Navratri is known as Chaitra Navratri. It is also known as Vasanta Navratri. Unlike, the Sharad Navratri which culminates in Durga Puja and Vijaydashmi, the Chaitra Navaratri concludes on Rama Navami.

Some scriptures, like the Shakti, and Vaishnava Purana reveal that in Hinduism, this nine-day long celebration is observed four times in a year. Sharad and Chaitra Navratri is celebrated by all, while the other two, preferable the Gupt Navratris are observed only by sages and priest.

Ghatasthapana is one of the noteworthy ceremonies amid Navratri. It denotes the beginning of nine-day long festivity. Our sacred texts have very much characterized certain rituals and rules to perform this puja, on the first day of Navratri. Many people may not know but Ghatasthapana, is the ritual of awakening or invoking Goddess Shakti; performing it at a wrong time, is said to bring upon the wrath of the Goddess Shakti. New Moon night or Amavasya and night time after sunset, are considered highly inauspicious for Ghatasthapana. According to sacred texts, the Shubh Mahurat for the Ghatasthapana is during the Pratipada- the first part of the day after sunrise. In case someone isn't able to perform the puja during the Pratipada time, then they can do it during the Abhijit Muhurta.

Several Hindu scriptures advise us against Nakshatra Chitra & Vaidhriti Yog during Ghatasthapana. The essential thing to consider is that the ritual of Ghatasthapana must be done before Hindu early afternoon while Pratipada. All through the nine auspicious days of Chaitra Navratri, all the nine goddesses must be invoked only during sunrise; a time which is also considered auspicious as Ghatasthapana Muhurta. Hindu scriptures advise against invoking the Goddess or performing the Ghatasthapana any time during the afternoon, night time and any time beyond sixteen Ghatis after sunrise.

According to the Hindu Puranas and scriptures, Chaitra Navratri was the most important Navratri in which Goddess Shakti was worshipped, until Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga in the ‘Ashwin’ month during the Ramayana war. Chaitra Navratri is celebrated with immense pomp and show in whole of India, especially the northern states. This Hindu festival is very popular in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to name a few. In most of these states, a huge fair is organised in the Shakti temples. Praying and fasting marks the Chaitra Navratri celebrations. Before the start of the celebrations, the house is cleaned for welcome the Goddess in their home. The devotees performing the puja observe a fast for all nine days.

While fasting only ‘satvik’ food and fruits are allowed. Consumption of non-vegetarian food and also use of onion and garlic should be strictly avoided. During the Navratri period, while maintaining strict discipline in food, a person should also monitor their behaviour. The devotees spend their day worshipping the Goddess and chanting the Navratri mantras. The fast is broken on the ninth day after the ‘havan’ and the Prasad, after offering to the Goddess, is eaten along with other members of the family.

As during the Navratri time, Goddess Shakti manifests herself in three forms, namely, Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, the puja rituals of Navratri are also categorised in set of three days, with each set dedicated to a particular Goddess. The first three days of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated 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 devotes to Maa Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge.

During this time, devotees worship Maa Durga, the Goddess of cosmic powers, to be blessed by Her divine benediction. It is believed that if devotees worship Goddess Durga without any desires to be fulfilled, they will attain salvation. Chaitra Navratri also marks the onset of the summer season and is observed when the Mother Nature undergoes a major climatic change. It is popular belief that by observing a vrat (fast) during the Chaitra Navratri the body is prepared for ensuing summer season.

Even though Chaitra Navratri is a 9-day festival, the celebrations come to an end on the day of ‘dashami’ (10th day). This day is known as ‘Navratri Parana’ and devotees bid farewell to the Goddess Durga, and pray for Her return soon, next year.




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