Navratri 2024: When does Chaitra Navratri begin? Date, history, significance, celebrations and all you need to know

Updated on: Apr 9, 2024, 09:06:45 IST

By Krishna Priya Pallavi, New Delhi

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Chaitra Navratri 2024: Chaitra Navratri begins on the first day of the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar. (HT File Photo)

Chaitra Navratri 2024: Here's all you need to know about the correct dates, history, significance and celebrations of the nine-day festival of Chaitra Navratri

Navratri 2024: The festival of Navratri is celebrated annually with pomp across the country. The nine-day auspicious Hindu festival is marked four times in a year. However, Shardiya Navratri and Chaitra Navratri hold the most significance. Beginning on the first day of the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar is Chaitra Navratri. During this nine-day-long period, Hindu devotees worship Maa Durga and her nine incarnations - Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kaalratri, Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri. Each day of the festival is devoted to the worship of the nine avatars. If you and your family celebrate the festival, you should know all about its history, significance, correct date, celebrations and more.

(Also Read | Chaitra Navratri 2024: When is Ghatasthapana? Know the shubh muhurat for Kalash Sthapana, puja timing and rituals)

Navratri 2024 Dates: When does Chaitra Navratri begin?

This year, Chaitra Navratri begins on April 9. It will end on April 17. Check out the Navratri calendar and which goddess to worship on each day below, as per Drik Panchang:

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

Chaitra Navratri 2024 History, Significance and Celebrations:

The nine-day festival of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to the worship of Maa Durga and her nine incarnations. It celebrates Goddess Durga's birth of the cosmos and all living things within it. Devotees believe that Maa Durga arrives from heaven during Navratri and visits her devotees.

Meanwhile, many Hindu devotees also dedicate this festival to Lord Ram. They celebrate Ram Navami on the last day of Chaitra Navratri as it is believed that the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, and son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya, was born during this time.

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Krishna Pallavi Priya
Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.Read More

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