Chaitra Navratri: Story Time of 9 days, Gods, Colours, and More.
India, ‘the land of festivals’ which is basically our country’s second name, has tonnes of festivals and some of them even come twice a year. Isn’t this crazy how deep our mythological stories are and every story has given birth to some festivals? We should be quite grateful to be born in a land where we get so many reasons to celebrate life, mythologies, stories, and more through these festivals.
One of the top Indian festivals that happen twice a year is Navratri. One is the main Navratri that happens in the month of September – October and one is the time during March – April. The one that happens in the month of March – April is called Chaitra Navratri.
Read More – Ram Navami Story behind it and how it is Celebrated
The 9 Nights
Navratri basically means nine nights which are considered to be really auspicious and are dedicated to the nine Devis or the nine forms of Maa Durga. Each day is dedicated to one form of Maa Durga and people pray to each of them on these 9 days.
Navratri and its Importance
Navratri is a very important festival for the Hindus. People worship during these 9 days in different ways. One of the commonest ways is to take a fast. Devotees go on a 9-day fast to pay their regards to Maa Durga. There are different ways in which fasting can be done like full-day fasting with just fruits, one-time fasting with consuming food in the other half, some devotees also take a fast on the first and on the 8th day, some only take fast on the 8th or the 9th day. etc. Apart from fasting, some devotees make sure to light diyas, offer flowers, and sing Aarti in the morning and evening on all 9 days. On the 9th day of Navratri which is called Navami, Kanya Puja is hosted at many devotees’ houses where they worship 9 young girls in form of Maa Durga.
Prayers
A lot of devotees go on a strict Jain diet where they do not consume onions and garlic for 9 days. Most of the devotees give up non-vegetarian food as well for these auspicious 9 days because it is considered a sin to consume non-veg food in this holy period of time. In the Navratri that comes in the autumn month, major Garba and Dandiya sessions are organised. These 9 days are full of zeal and happiness.
Let us know more about each day of Navratri in detail.
Day 1
God – The first day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Shailputri. Maa Shailputri is the daughter of mountains or Himavat and she is also known by the names of Maa Parvati, Maa Bhavani and Maa Hemavati. She has two hands and a crescent moon on her forehead.
Her Significance – She is the devi of root chakra or Muladhara Chakra. She is the provider of fortune and prosperity and also spiritual awakening.
Colour – To impress her, the devotees should wear clothes in orange colour and offer their prayers to her. Orange signifies happiness, bright days, and cheerfulness.
Day 2
God – The second day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Brahmcharini. She always wears a white dress and has a rosary in her right hand and Kamandala in her left hand. She is the epitome of calm energy and she grants the way to ‘Moksha’.
Her Significance – It is believed Maa Brahmacharini governs Lord Mangal, the provider of all fortunes. Her white saree symbolises purity. She is known to have power, resolve, determination and focus at the core of her existence.
Colour – The colour dedicated to Maa Brahmacharini is white. White signifies peace and tranquillity.
Day 3
God – The third day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Chandraghanta. She is also known as Chandrakhanda, Chandika or Rannchandi. Her name means the “one who has a half-moon shaped like a bell”.
Her Significance – Maa Chandraghanta is known for her bravery, grace and courage and gives this to all her devotees who worship her wholeheartedly. The moon bell on her forehead is believed to remove negativity and cleanse the aura.
Colour – The colour to wear on this day is red because red symbolises fearlessness, beauty, and bravery.
Day 4
God – The fourth day of Navratri is of Maa Kushmanda. She has eight hands and thus is also known as Ashtabhuja Devi. It is believed that she created the world with her divine smile.
Her Significance – Maa Kushmanda is believed to improve health and bestow wealth and strength. It is believed that the Sun God is governed by Maa Kushmanda as she provides energy and direction to him.
Colour – The colour that the devotees should wear on this day is royal blue. Royal blue signifies health and wealth.
Day 5
God – The fifth day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Skandamata. She is the mother of Lord Karthikeya whose other name is Skanda. She rewards devotees with salvation, power, prosperity, and treasures. She is mounted on a lion carrying her divine child Karthikeya.
Her Significance – Not only does Maa Skandamata fulfil all the desires of her devotees but also grants oceans of wisdom to even the illiterates if worshipped wholeheartedly.
Colour – Yellow is the colour of this day. Yellow is all about happiness, cheerfulness, and brightness in one’s life.
Day 6
God – The sixth day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Katyayani. She is known as the bravest of all forms of Maa Durga who is the destroyer of evil forces. She is the destroyer of Mahishasura, the evil king. She is known as the warrior Goddess. She rides a lion and is depicted with four hands that carry a lotus flower and sword on the left side and Abhaya and Varada Mudras on the right.
Her Significance – She symbolises intelligence and peace. She can grant her female devotees the husbands of their choice if worshipped wholeheartedly. She is believed to take a stand against all wrong happening in front of her.
Colour – Green is the colour to wear on this day. Green denotes success, growth, and happiness.
Day 7
God – The 7th day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Kaalratri. She is fierce but provides calmness and power to her devotees. Her form looks like Maa Kali.
Her Significance – She is known to destroy negative energies, evil spirits, demons, and ghosts. Her other name is Shubhankari which means the provider of auspicious results to her devotees. She has the power to make the devotees fearless.
Colour – Grey is the colour to wear on this day. Grey is all about the strength of transforming.
Day 8
God – The 8th day of Navratri which is also called Ashtami is one of the most important days of all the 9 days. Maa Maha Gauri is worshipped on this day. It is also the day of Kanjak or Kanya Puja. She is the form of Goddess Parvati when she did penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband.
Her Significance – She has the power to fulfil all the desires of her devotees. She can remove the sufferings of her devotees forever. She can remove the planetary defects and bless the person with growth and happiness in life.
Colour – The devotees can wear purple coloured clothes on this day. Purple signifies intellect and peace.
Day 9
God – The last day of Navratri is called Navami. Maa Siddhi Datri is worshipped on the last day of Navratri. It is believed that one side of Lord Shiva’s body is that of Goddess Siddhidatri. This is the reason why her other name is Ardhanarishwar.
Her Significance – Mythology also says that Lord Shiva attained all the Siddhis by worshipping this Goddess. Siddhi means supernatural power and Datri means giver. She is known to fulfil all the divine inspirations.
Colour – Peacock green is the colour used on this day. This colour is all about the fulfilment of wishes.
Conclusion
In the Spring Navratri, Chhaiti Chhath is celebrated in between and it starts from the 4th day of Navratri. And in the autumn Navratri, the 10th day is celebrated as Dashmi when Maa Durga goes back to her husband’s house after loving for a few days in her mom’s house. And also the 10th day is celebrated as Dussehra.
India, ‘the land of festivals’ which is basically our country’s second name, has tonnes of festivals and some of them even come twice a year. Isn’t this crazy how deep our mythological stories are and every story has given birth to some festivals? We should be quite grateful to be born in a land where…