Navratri, the festival of nine nights, holds much significance religiously. In India, we celebrate Navratri four times a year. To honor the Divine Feminine Devi - Goddess Gurga, people observe the well-known Sharada or Shardiya Navratri after the monsoon season. The Ghatasthapana Muhurta and the Sandhi Puja Muhurta are the two muhurtas considered regularly during Shardiya Navratri. Chaitra Navratri 2024 is quite auspicious as Hindus observe Ghatasthapana and Sandhi Puja at Shardiya Navratri.

The Navratri puja is also known as Vasanta Navratri. During the Navratri festival, devotees worship Goddess Durga in her nine avatars. This Navratri is named from the Sanskrit word Vasanta, meaning spring. It takes place in the lunar month of Chaitra, that is, in March - April. Some locations experience the occurrence during the spring season, while others experience it after the harvest. As per the Vikram Samvat calendar, it is also the first day of the Hindu calendar, making it the beginning of the Hindu New Year.

Read Also: Sheetala Ashtami Puja Date and Time

Chaitra Navratri 2024: List of Days and Pujas to Perform

Chaitra Navratri is considered quite auspicious for the Hindus as it is believed to be the best time for enlisting the grace from God and promoting one's spiritual and material well-being. The Chaitra Navratri is celebrated by observing the rituals of chanting the mantra, lighting the diyas, and worshiping the Goddess Durga. The Ghatasthapana Puja Vidhi is the same for both, Sharadiya and Chaitra Navratri. Fasts and worship are traditionally done by the devotees on these days. 

Let us learn about the Chaitra Navratri 2024 date list in the below table:

Chaitra Navratri is celebrated to worship the nine divine incarnations of Maa Durga. Devotees find happiness as well as their true selves by practicing meditation. The Kalash Sthapana, or Ghatasthapana Vidhi, is held to install the holy pot. In Chaitra Navratri 2024, the Ghatasthapana Muhrat is from 06:23 am to 7:32 am.

Chaitra Navratri 2024 Muhurat

The Shubh Muhurata to do Ghatasthapana as per the Muhurat is the third day of the current Pratipada (i.e., for 24 minutes). The ritual shall be performed during the Abhijit Muhurata even if the deadline is missed for whatever reasons. On Chaitra Navratri 2024, the 48-minute window in the middle of the day known as the Abhijit Muhurat is favorable. It is the eighth of the 15 Muhurats that occur between dawn and dusk. 

The period between dawn and night is divided into fifteen equal segments, with the Abhijit Muhurat representing their center. Many find this muhurta favorable for beginning or initiating fortunate occurrences as they consider it strong enough to remove numerous karma doshas.

Visit: Choghadiya Muhurat for Kalash Sthapana

Brahma Muhurat

It is quite important for the devotees to check for the Chogadiya while performing the Ghatasthapana, as the choghadiya Muhurat should be avoided during Ghatasthapana. It is lucky to perform Ghatasthapana if the Dwi-Swabhav Lagna Kanya governs at dawn during Shardiya Navratri. Ghathastapnan is not permitted once 16 Ghatis pass after sunrise, at night, or noon.

Significance of Chaitra Navratri

Goddess Durga is considered the supreme form of femininity, and Chaitra Navratri marks this. Shakti, the Goddess, is thus worshiped during the Navratri in April or the end of March, which holds much significance for Hindu worshipers. Devotees performing the Chaitra Navratri puja vidhi can expect immense luck and wealth in their favor. 

The devotees worshiping the Goddess have to follow some rules to seek her blessings. Such as a strict adherence to fast in which the devotee shouldn't consume any grains and maintain cleanliness, perform the Aarti, and do the Ghatasthapana as per the rituals. 

Lord Rama, as per the Ramayana, worshiped Goddess Durga during the month of Chaitra, and it is said that because of this worship, he could defeat Ravana. Due to this story of Chaitra Navratri, devotees all over India observe the fast extravagantly, especially in the northern states of India. The celebration of Chaitra Navratri commences with Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, while in southern states, it begins with Ugadi.

What are the Benefits of Fasting on Chaitra Navratri date?

The benefits of fasting on Chaitra Navratri 2024 are:

• It promotes consciousness and pleasure while reducing mental disturbance. 
• Fasting reawakens the digestive fire as per Ayurveda
• An increase in the digestive fire burns the body's poisons.
• When the toxins get flushed off the body, the body loses its dullness and fatigue.
• Every cell in the body regenerates.
• Fasting is thus a potent therapy for purifying our bodies.
• As the body and mind are intimately connected, when the body is cleansed, the mind also becomes more peaceful and relaxed.

Read Also: Gangaur Puja Date and Time

Kalash Sthapana Puja Rituals 

The Kalash Sthapana puja is a great way to attract good health, money, and fortune. During the Chaitra Navratri, which usually falls in March and April, many families get the Kalash Sthapana puja performed at their homes as well as offices. Ghatasthapana is one of the most important traditions performed during Navratri. It is performed on the opening day of the festival and signals its commencement.

In Ghatasthapana, barley seeds are sown in the Kalash filled with holy water. Devotees willing to do the Kalash Sthapana puja can talk to Astrologer on phone and appoint a priest to perform the puja. However, they can also do it themselves by adhering to the rituals mentioned below. 

• Wake up early in the morning and bathe.
• Make the place of keeping the Kalash clean and tidy. Clean the idols too. 
• Place a red cloth over a wooden stool, and chant the mantras of Lord Ganesha. Cover the red fabric with raw rice.
• After placing the Kalash on the ground, add little water.
• Create a swastika on the Kalash using vermillion paste. Fasten a holy thread around the neck of the Kalash thereafter.
• In the Kalash, now keep some mango leaves, and add betel nuts and coins.
• Wrap a coconut in a red chunari as well as a sacred thread. Place it on the top of Kalash and pray to the Goddess.
• Offer flowers to the Gods and worship with complete devotion.

Visit: Chaitra Amavasya Date

Chaitra Navratri 2024: Rituals

The rituals to be followed on Chaitra Navratri are:

• Install a holy pitcher on the first day of Navratri in April or March. Keep it in the prayerful corner of the house.
• Akhand Jyot, or everlasting flame of traditional ghee lamp, is lit on day 1 of Navratri.
• Barley seeds are planted as a part of Chaitra Navratri puja vidhi, as Barley is considered the first crop of the creation. Moreover, it is also one of the first crops of spring.
• Read the Durga Saptashati during all nine days of Navratri.
• Kanya Pujan is one of the most important aspects of adoring the Divine Mother. Feed them with Halwa, puri and black gram, and give them gifts such as fruits, betel nuts, sweets, clothing, decorative items, etc.
• Difference between Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri 

Navratri is usually celebrated twice a year - one is Chaitra Navratri which falls in March-April, while the other is Shardiya Navratri during September-October. Chaitra Navratri rituals and traditions are similar to those observed at Shardiya Navratri in September or October. On Shardiya and Chaitra Navratri, the same puja vidhi is performed during the Ghatasthapana. Apart from the months that Navratri falls, the difference between Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri is that the former, which takes place in the Chaitra month, marks the beginning of the new year as per the Hindu calendar. 

Devotees worship the Goddess Durga in her nine forms while fasting, such as - Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalraatri, Mahagauri, & Siddhidatri. Some devotees even keep Nirjala fast, forbidding the observant from even drinking water. In the falahar, devotees can devour only fresh fruits, milk, and water. During these nine days, people abstain from eating onions and garlic.

Astrological Significance of Chaitra Navratri 2024

Apart from the significance the story of Chaitra Navratri denotes, this Navratri also has astrological significance. It is the period when the Sun returns to the first of the 12 zodiac signs - Aries, after passing through all of them. The most significant Navratri is Chaitra Navratri, when devotees worship all nine incarnations of Goddess Durga.

Endnote

Make sure you observe the rituals as per Chaitra Navratri 2024 date list as the benefits of doing so are many. We hope you get all the success, health and wealth you aspire for.

Wish you a very Happy Chaitra Navratri 2024!