Chaitra Navratri, a nine-day festival celebrating the nine forms of Goddess Durga, is set to begin on Tuesday, 9 April, 2024 and end on 17 April. The festival is marked by Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana), which falls on the first day of the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar. This year, the rituals and puja timings for Ghatasthapana have been announced and devotees are gearing up to seek Maa Durga's blessings.
Navratri: A Celebration of the Divine Feminine
Navratri is a nine-day festival celebrated in honor of Goddess Durga, one of the most powerful deities in the Hindu pantheon. The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil and celebrates the nine forms of Durga, each representing a different aspect of her power and divinity.
Chaitra Navratri: The Spring Festival
Chaitra Navratri is the Navratri festival that falls during the spring months. In 2024, it will begin on Tuesday, 9 April, and end on 17 April. The first day of Navratri is known as Ghatasthapana, which marks the installation of a sacred vessel called a Ghat (a clay pot) filled with holy water and barley seeds. This ritual is believed to invoke the presence of Goddess Durga.
Rituals and Puja Timings for Ghatasthapana 2024
This year, the auspicious time for Ghatasthapana is between 06:22 AM and 08:39 AM on 9 April. This is the time when the moon is in the Rohini Nakshatra and the Abhijit Muhurta is prevailing. During this period, devotees perform the Kalash Sthapana ceremony, which involves placing a Ghat filled with holy water and barley seeds in the northeast corner of their home.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. What are the nine forms of Goddess Durga?
The nine forms of Durga are Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.
2. Why is Ghatasthapana considered important?
Ghatasthapana is significant because it symbolizes the arrival of Goddess Durga and the commencement of her worship. The barley seeds planted in the Ghat are believed to represent the manifestation of Goddess Durga's power.
3. What is the significance of the Rohini Nakshatra during Ghatasthapana?
The Rohini Nakshatra is considered auspicious for starting new ventures and spiritual practices. Performing Ghatasthapana during this Nakshatra is believed to bring prosperity and success.
4. What are some of the popular traditions observed during Navratri?
During Navratri, devotees observe fasting, perform daily worship (puja), recite mantras, and participate in cultural festivities such as Garba and Dandiya.
5. What is the significance of the final day of Navratri (Vijayadashami)?
Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, marks the culmination of Navratri. It commemorates Goddess Durga's victory over the demon king Ravana and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
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