In September, Hindus in India will get ready to celebrate Sharad Navratri, a nine-day Hindu festival that pays homage to Mother Goddess Durga and her various forms. Sharad Navratri 2022 will be from September 26 to October 4, 2022. It is the most important festival dedicated to the Mother Goddess.
The festival celebrates the victory of Dharma (righteousness) over Adharma (evil).
Here is some comprehensive information about the Navratri festival.
Day 1 (September 26) – Ghatasthapana – Chandra Darshan – Shailaputri Pooja
Day 2 (September 27)– Brahmacharini Devi Pooja
Day 3 (September 28) – Sindoor Tritiya – Chitrangada Devi Pooja
Day 4 (September 29) – Upang Lalita Vrat – Lalitha Panchami – Kushmanda Devi Pooja
Day 5 (September 30) – Skanda Mata Pooja
Day 6 (October 1)– Katyayani Devi Pooja
Day 7 (October 2) – Kalaratri Devi Pooja
Day 8 (October 3) – Mahashtami – Mahagauri Devi Pooja
Day 9 (October 4) – Maha Navami – Siddhidatri Devi Puja
Day 10 (October 5) – Dussehra (In North India, this is on October 4)
Saraswati Avahan in Maharashtra – Oct 2.
Saraswati Pooja in Maharashtra – Oct 3.
Saraswati Balidan in Maharashtra – Oct 4.
Mahalakshmi Pooja in Maharashtra – Oct 2.
The tenth day is Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami. (October 4/ October 5, 2022). In Telangana, the festival is known as Bathukamma (Sept 26 to Oct 4). In Karnataka, it is Dasara and is from September 26 to October 5.
People celebrate Vijaya Dashami in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka on October 5. In Kerala, Vidyarambham is on October 5, 2022. (Pooja Vaippu is on the evening of October 3, 2022).
Goddess Shakti takes different forms to protect her children from harm. Whenever her children face problems, she manifests to eliminate the evil like a caring mother. As the Divine Mother, she nourishes and feeds her children.
In symbolic terms, the first 3 days of Navaratri offer an opportunity to overcome inertia (Tamas). The next three days are for overcoming passion (Rajas), while the last three days are for focusing the mind eternally on purity (Sattva). On these nine days, we can make positive changes in our life with Durga’s blessings.
Navratri, like many Hindu festivals, celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It helps us to remove all negativities, purify the mind, and gain spiritual knowledge. In this manner, we can transcend all limitations.
During Navaratri, the Mother Goddess is worshipped as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
On the first 3 nights, we invoke Durga, for we need her strength and ferocity to uproot deep-seated negativities from our mind.
On the next 3 nights, we invoke Goddess Lakshmi and call upon her to nourish and purify the mind.
On the last 3 nights, we worship Goddess Saraswati to gain Higher Knowledge of the Self, which is possible only after the mind is cleansed and purified.
Once spiritual wisdom dawns on us, the ego dies. This destruction is represented by burning an effigy on the 10th night. The 10th day is Vijayadashami or Vidyarambha. ‘Vijaya’ means ‘victory’, and ‘dashami’ means ‘10th day’. ‘Vidya’ means ‘wisdom or knowledge’, and ‘rambha’ means ‘joy’. Thus, the terms mean Victory Day and Joy of Enlightenment.
During Navaratri, the Rasa Leela (dance of joy) of Lord Krishna and the Gopis is also performed. This dance represents the union of the self with the divine. When the mind is pure, it enables a greater understanding of the nature of the Inner Self. This leads to bliss which is expressed in the Rasa Leela.
The Navratri festival is celebrated at night to convey the spiritual message that it is time to awake and leave the sleepy realm of tamas/darkness.
- Clean the house properly.
- Take a bath early in the morning.
- Make the Sankalp to have a good celebration.
- Avoid alcohol, tobacco, paan, and sexual intercourse on all nine days.
- Perform the first Pooja to Lord Ganesha.
- Perform Poojas to the Matrikas, Lokpal, Navagrahas, and Lord Varuna.
- Offer the 16-step Pooja or Shodashopachara Pooja for the Mother Goddess.
- Offer Pooja to Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali.
- Chant a Mother Goddess Mantra every day. How to Do Ghatasthapana
Sow some wheat or jowar in a clay flat pot on the first day of Navaratri. Sprinkle some water and cover it with Mango leaves. On the 3rd day, the first shoots will sprout. It will grow quickly, representing fertility, hope, progress, good health, and wealth.
In the South and Eastern parts of India, this ritual is not performed.
Worship the Nine Goddesses
Worship Navadurga or the 9 forms of Goddess Durga on the nine days of Navratri. The nine forms are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.
Read the Scriptures
Read the Durga Saptashati during the 9 days of Navratri. This is a collection of 700 Slokas composed by Lord Brahma, Rishi Vasishta, and Rishi Vishwamitra. Saptashati means ‘700 Slokas’.
Observe Vrat/Fasting
Observe Vrat on all 9 days by consuming water and fruits. Consume only vegetarian food on the nine days.
Kanya Pooja
The ritual of Kanya Pooja is performed on the 8th or 9th day of the festival. Young girls who are less than 9 years old are invited home. These girls represent the Goddess. They are given food, clothes, and gifts.
Chant Mantras dedicated to the Mother Goddess to invoke her blessings. Here are two Mantras:
(1)
Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvartha sadhike |
Sharanye trayambake gauri, Narayani namostute ||
(2)
Shadkhchakragadashankagrahita paramayude
Prasida Vaishanaviroope Narayani Namostute
Navratri is celebrated in diverse ways in different regions. There are 4 Navaratris in a year. They are Magh Navratri (January-February), Chaitra/Vasanta Navratri (March-April), Ashada Navratri (June- July), and Sharad Navratri (September-October). Magh Navratri and Ashada Navratri are also called Gupt Navratris, and they are not as popular as Sharad Navratri.
