Menu
Login

Navratri

नवरात्रि • Navarātri

"Nine Nights (dedicated to the Divine Mother)"

Ashwin Shukla Paksha Nine nights and ten days Religious/Multi-day
Sharad Navratri Maha Navratri Durga Navratri

Timing & Schedule

Month
Ashwin
Month (Hindi)
आश्विन
Tithi
Pratipada to Navami (1st to 9th)
Paksha
Shukla Paksha
Gregorian Approx
September-October
Duration
Nine nights and ten days
Observance
Fasting, Puja, Garba/Dandiya, Durga Worship
Calculation
Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami (9 nights); culminates in Vijayadashami

Presiding Deity

Primary Deity
Durga (Divine Mother in various forms)
Deity (Hindi)
दुर्गा देवी
Deity (Sanskrit)
Durgā Devī
Associated Deities
Nine forms of Durga Lakshmi Saraswati

Mythology & Legends

Celebrates the Divine Mother's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura after a nine-day battle.

Durga Slays Mahishasura

The demon Mahishasura, after receiving a boon that no male could kill him, conquered the heavens. The gods combined their powers to create Goddess Durga, who battled him for nine nights and slayed him on the tenth day (Vijayadashami).

Source: Devi Mahatmya (Markandeya Purana)

Rama's Worship

Before battling Ravana, Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga for nine days to seek her blessings for victory.

Source: Ramayana (Krittibas version)

Navratri celebrates the victory of the Divine Feminine over evil forces. Each night honors a different aspect of the Goddess, representing the journey from tamas (inertia) through rajas (activity) to sattva (purity).

Nine Nights Schedule

1 Shailputri Yellow/Orange

Daughter of the Mountain (Himalaya)

Beginning of Navratri; Ghatasthapana

शैलपुत्री

2 Brahmacharini Green

The Ascetic Goddess

Worship for penance and wisdom

ब्रह्मचारिणी

3 Chandraghanta Grey

The Goddess with Moon-shaped Bell

Worship for courage and grace

चन्द्रघण्टा

4 Kushmanda Orange

Creator of the Cosmic Egg

Worship for health and energy

कूष्माण्डा

5 Skandamata White

Mother of Skanda (Kartikeya)

Worship for motherhood and children

स्कन्दमाता

6 Katyayani Red

Born in Katyayana's Ashram

Worship for marriage and relationships

कात्यायनी

7 Kaalratri Blue/Royal Blue

The Dark Night (Destroyer of Evil)

Worship for destruction of negativity

कालरात्रि

8 Mahagauri Pink

The Extremely White/Pure Goddess

Durga Ashtami; Kanya Puja; Sandhi Puja

महागौरी

9 Siddhidatri Purple

Giver of Supernatural Powers

Maha Navami; Ayudha Puja

सिद्धिदात्री

Rituals & Puja

Preparation

  • Cleaning and decorating home and temple
  • Setting up Kalash (Ghatasthapana)
  • Arranging for nine days of puja
  • Preparing for fasting

Main Rituals

Ghatasthapana

Installing the sacred pot with sprouting barley representing the Goddess

Timing: Pratipada (Day 1) during specific muhurta

Daily Durga Puja

Worship of the specific form of Durga for each day

Timing: Morning and evening

Durga Saptashati Path

Recitation of the 700 verses of Devi Mahatmya

Timing: Throughout the nine days

Kanya Puja

Worship of nine young girls representing the nine Durgas

Timing: Ashtami or Navami

Puja Items

Kalash (pot) Mango leaves Coconut Red cloth Flowers Bilva leaves Sindoor Durga image/idol

Puja Procedure

  1. 1 Ghatasthapana on Day 1
  2. 2 Daily invocation of the day's Durga form
  3. 3 Offer red flowers, sindoor, kumkum
  4. 4 Recite Durga Saptashati
  5. 5 Light akhand jyoti (continuous lamp)
  6. 6 Perform aarti
  7. 7 Kanya Puja on Ashtami/Navami

Mantras

Durga Gayatri

Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Durga Chalisa

Durga Saptashati

Food & Celebrations

Traditional Celebrations

  • Garba and Dandiya Raas (Gujarat)
  • Durga Puja pandals (Bengal)
  • Ramlila performances
  • Kanya Puja
  • Community gatherings

Prasad: Halwa, Poori, Chana (post-fasting), Kheer

Decorations

Pandal decorations Durga idols Flower decorations Lights

Activities

  • Temple visits
  • Garba/Dandiya dances
  • Visiting Durga Puja pandals
  • Ramlila watching
  • Fasting and puja

Fasting (Vrat)

Required Yes
Type Various levels: fruit only, single meal, sattvic food, some observe nirjala
Breaking After Navami puja or on Vijayadashami

Regional Variations

Durga Puja

Local Name: Durga Puja

  • Grand pandals
  • Elaborate idols
  • Sindoor Khela
  • Dhunuchi dance
  • Immersion procession
Navratri

Local Name: Navratri

  • All-night Garba and Dandiya
  • Mataji puja
  • Garbas with thousands
Navratri

Local Name: Navratri

  • Ghatasthapana
  • Kanya Puja
  • Dandiya events
Navratri/Ramlila

Local Name: Navratri/Ramlila

  • Ramlila performances
  • Dussehra Ravana burning
  • Fasting
Navaratri/Bommai Kolu

Local Name: Navaratri/Bommai Kolu

  • Bommai Kolu (doll display)
  • Saraswati Puja on 9th day
  • Ayudha Puja

Astrological Significance

Planetary Position
Shukla Paksha of Ashwin; ascending Moon period
Zodiacal Importance
Season change from autumn; considered spiritually charged
Muhurta
Ghatasthapana muhurta calculated for each year

Benefits

Spiritual Benefits

  • Divine Mother's blessings
  • Purification through fasting
  • Shakti awakening
  • Victory over inner demons

Religious Benefits

  • Great merit from worship
  • Fulfillment of desires
  • Protection from evil

Social Benefits

  • Community celebrations
  • Cultural preservation
  • Family bonding

Classical References

Puranas
Markandeya Purana (Devi Mahatmya) Devi Bhagavata Purana Skanda Purana
Scriptures
Durga Saptashati Devi Suktam Tantric texts
Historical Mentions
Ancient temple inscriptions Medieval literature