Navratri 2024 Highlights: Hindu devotees throng temples on Chaitra Navratri Day 1; pray to Maa Durga, Maa Shailputri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted people on the auspicious occasion of the beginning of Chaitra Navratri. In a post in Hindi on X, Modi said, "Today on the first day of Navratri, I bow down and pay my respects to Maa Shailputri! May Devi Maa infuse new power and energy in the lives of all my family members in the country. This prayer to Maa Shailputri is for all of you…" 

Day 1: Red

Red is considered an auspicious colour on day 1 of Chaitra Navratri. Person who wears red is considered to be more energetic and vibrant. 

Day 2: Royal Blue

This colour represents contentment and prosperity. 

Day 3: Yellow

The person who wears yellow on Day 3 feels happy all day with an incomparable sense of optimism and excitement.

Day 4: Green

Green symbolises nature and evokes a sense of growth, fertility, peace and serenity.

Day 5: Green

Day 6: Orange

Day 7: White

Day 8: Pink

Day 9: Sky Blue 

Know significance of the other colour here. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended greetings on the occasion of the traditional New Year to people living in different states of the country, wishing them happiness and good health.

"Jai Mata Di! Happy Chaitra Navratri. I pray to Shakti Swaroopa Maa Bhagwati for the health, wealth, prosperity and advancement of all," he wrote on X.

Here are some dos and don'ts one needs to follow during the nine-day-long fasting of Chaitra Navratri

1) Take a bath every morning before puja, clean the puja area, recite Maa Durga mantras, perform aarti and offer the goddess bhog made of sweets and other satvik foods.

2) One should consume vrat-friendly and satvik ahaar, including Kuttu, sabudana or sago, rajgira, makhana, arbi, pumpkin, aloo, singhare ka atta, samak ke chawal, nuts and dry fruits, rock salt, cumin, buckwheat, ginger, green chillies are some of the food people consume during their Navratri fast.

Learn more here. 

During Navratri, grains like wheat and rice, non-vegetarian foods, eggs, onion, garlic and other tamasic foods are prohibited. Check out what you should eat and avoid during these nine days --

1. Increase intake of hydrating fruits and vegetables during this time.

2. Having foods high in protein during your fast will not only help provide sustained energy throughout the day, but also keep you full for longer.

3. Onion and garlic are not only prohibited for people who are fasting but even those who are not.

4. Being tamasic foods, non-veg foods like chicken and mutton are strictly prohibited during Navratri fasting and even by those Hindus who aren't observing fast.

Learn more about what you should and should not eat here.

For Ghatasthapana, devotees should install a pot (kalash) at a sanctified place at home, light a diya (lamp) for nine days near the pot, place a pan with mud and navadhanya seeds, and fill it with water. Then, the kalash is filled with Ganga Jal. Some coins, supari, and akshat (raw rice and turmeric powder) is placed in the water. Five mango leaves are placed around the Kalash and covered with coconut. Then, devotees place an oil lamp, incense sticks, flowers, fruits, and sweets near Maa Shailputri. A special bhog of Desi Ghee is also offered to the Goddess.

Chaitra Navratri is a time for praying, meditating, fasting and enjoying with loved ones during the nine days. During this time, Maa Durga's devotees give up consuming non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and tobacco. They also consume food prepared without garlic and onion. Devotees also pray to Maa Durga and her nine incarnations, read mantras, and decorate their homes. Hindus believe that by practising these rituals they will be blessed by Maa Durga.

The nine-day festival of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to Maa Durga worship and her nine incarnations. It observes Goddess Durga's universe birth and all living things inside it. Devotees believe that Maa Durga shows up during Navratri and visits her devotees. Learn more here. 

Ingredients: 

For Soaking 

Sabudana (sago) – 1 cup 

Water – 1 cup 

Salt – a generous pinch

For Khichdi 

Peanuts (skinless) – ½ cup 

Ghee – 2 tbsp 

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp 

Green Chilli chopped – 1no 

Ginger chopped – 2tsp 

Tomato chopped – ½ cup 

Potatoes boiled, diced – 1cup 

Curry leaves – 1 sprig 

Salt – to taste 

Black Pepper powder – to taste 

Lemon – ½ no 

Coriander chopped – Handful

Method: 

Wash the sabudana and soak in water with salt for about four to five hours. Then dry roast the peanuts and coarsely crush them in a blender. In a pan, heat ghee, add jeera, green chillies, ginger, tomatoes and diced potatoes and saute everything. Add curry leaves and the roasted crushed peanuts. Add soaked sabudana, pepper and salt and squeeze lemon juice and cook until the sabudana turns transparent. Add freshly chopped coriander leaves on top and serve hot.

(Recipe: Kunal Kapur, Chef)

Make your Chaitra Navartri celebrations special by sharing wishes, images, messages, greetings, WhatsApp status, Facebook status, and SMS to your loved ones. We have curated some for you. See below. 

1) The nine forms of Goddess Durga bring nine different strengths to the world. May you be blessed with all. 

2) I hope this Chaitra Navratri brings lots of joy, prosperity, and success to you and your family. May Maa Durga fill your life with divine blessings and your home with love, luck and happiness.

3) On this pious occasion of Chaitra Navratri, may Goddess Durga guide you towards the path of righteousness and bring peace and calm in your life.

Find images and more wishes here. 

Prathama Durga Tvamhi Bhavasagarah Taranim 

Dhana Aishwarya Dayini Shailaputri Pranamamyaham 

Trilojanani Tvamhi Paramananda Pradiyaman 

Saubhagyarogya Dayini Shailaputri Pranamamyaham 

Charachareshwari Tvamhi Mahamoha Vinashinim 

Mukti Bhukti Dayinim Shailaputri Pranamamyaham

Puja Mantra - Om Devi Shailputryai Namah

Prayer - Vande Vanchitlabhay Chandrardhakrit Shekharam

Stuti - Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Shailaputri Rupena Samsthita Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah

April 9 - Day 1, Red

April 10 - Day 2, Dark Blue 

April 11 - Day 3, Yellow 

April 12 - Day 4, Green 

April 13 - Day 5, Grey 

April 14 - Day 6, Orange 

April 15 - Day 7, White 

April 16 - Day 8, Pink 

April 17 - Day 9, Sky Blue

Maa Shailputri is one of the nine avatars of Maa Durga. Devotees worship her on the first day of Chaitra Navratri. She is believed to be the provider of prosperity and all fortunes. Hindus hail Maa Shailputri as mother nature and pray to her for their spiritual awakening. The Goddess governs the Moon. According to Drik Panchang, Maa Parvati was born as Lord Himalaya's daughter and was known as Shailputri after her self-immolation. In Sanskrit, Shail means the mountain, Putri means daughter, and Shailputri is the daughter of the mountain.

Ghatasthapana Muhurat: 6:02 am to 10:16 am on April 9

Ghatasthapana Abhijeet Muhurat: 11:57 am to 12:48 pm on April 9

Pratipada Tithi begins on April 8 at 11:50 pm

Pratipada Tithi ends on April 9 at 8:30 pm

Vaidhrti Yog begins on April 8 at 6:14 pm

Vaidhrti Yog ends on April 9 at 2:18 pm

April 9 - Ghatasthapana Puja, Maa Shailputri 

April 10 - Maa Brahmacharini 

April 11 - Maa Chandraghanta 

April 12 - Maa Kushmanda 

April 13 - Skanda Mata 

April 14 - Maa Katyayani 

April 15 - Maha Saptami, Maa Kaalratri 

April 16 - Maha Ashtami, Maa Mahagauri Puja 

April 17 - Rama Navami, Maa Siddhidatri