Chaitra Navratri 2024: Start Date, Puja Rituals, and Religious Significance

The word Navratri is made of two Hindi words - Nav and Ratri.  
Nav - 9 
Ratri - Night   

Thus, the word Navratri translates to a festival of 9 nights. It is a prominent festival, celebrated 5 times a year. Out of these 5, Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri hold utmost significance and are celebrated with great zeal, enthusiasm, and devotion to pay respect to the Goddess Durga, the divine feminine, and ask for their blessings for the well-being of everyone. The celebration of Navratri is also a celebration of the victory of good over evil. The importance of this festival in Hinduism is so significant that people observe fasts and conduct Navratri puja at home, offices, and factories to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga with proper Vedic rituals and traditions.  

When is Chaitra Navratri 2024?  

According to the Vikram Samvat, the Hindu calendar, Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu New Year. This month is considered auspicious as one of the most prominent festivals of Goddess Durga, called Navratri, is celebrated across the Indian subcontinent during this month. The ninth and the last day of Navratri is called Ram Navmi, that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama.  

In 2024, Chaitra Navratri will start on 9th Aril, 2024. People perform Ghatsthapana or Kalash Sthapana to manifest and invite the positive energies of Goddess Durga or Maa Durga into their homes. During this festival, people worship the nine avatars or manifestations of goddess Durga over nine days. The 8th Day of the Navratri is known as Ashtami, and the 9th day as Navmi; people feel food to little girls on these days as it is believed that little girls symbolize the Goddess Durga, and their blessings bring good health, prosperity, and happiness to homes.  

Shubh Muhurat and Dates of Chaitra Navratri 2024 

This year, Chaitra Navratri Puja will start on 9th April by establishing a Kalash or earthen pot in home temples. This ritual is known as Ghatsthapana or Kalash Sthapana and is performed on the first day of this nine-day festival.  

a. Shubh Muhurat for Kalash Sthapana 

9th April: 06:00 AM to 10:15 AM  
                 11:57 am to 12:48 pm  

b. Dates of Chaitra Navratri 

Day 1: April 09, Tuesday 
Goddess Shailputri  

Day 2: April 10, 2024, Wednesday 
Goddess Brahmacharini 

Day 3: April 11, 2024, Thursday 
Goddess Chandraghanta 

Day 4: April 12, 2024, Friday 
Goddess Kushmanda 

Day 5: April 13, 2024, Saturday 
Goddess Skandmata 

Day 6: April 14, 2024, Sunday 
Goddess Katyayani 

Day 7: April 15, 2024, Monday 
Goddess Kaalratri 

Day 8: April 16, 2024, Tuesday 
Goddess Mahagauri 

Day 9: April 17, 2024, Wednesday 
Goddess Siddhidatri  

Religious Significance of Chaitra Navratri  

Navratri celebrates the victory of good over evil. A legend associated with Navratri tells the tale of Mahishasura, a demon, who received the boon of immortality. As a result of his power, he troubled the Devas and citizens of the Bhuloka (Earth) and disturbed peace and harmony. It is when Devas combined their divine energies and manifested Goddess Durga in physical form. She fought against the evil Mahishasura and killed him, thus ending the era of evil and beginning a time of peace and happiness.  

Therefore, people worship Goddess Durga and her 9 manifestations to seek her blessings for protection against evil and to ensure peace and balance.  

Puja Rituals followed in Chaitra Navratri 

During the 9 days, diverse rituals are performed to worship Goddess Durga, pay her respect, and seek her blessings. The rituals might differ according to individual beliefs, but the essence remains the same - to celebrate the existence of the supreme feminine divine and share with future generations the significance of honoring one's customs and traditions.  

  1. Fasting - During Navratri, people adhere to dietary restrictions to worship the goddess with purified mind, body, and spirit. Fasting detoxifies the body and raises consciousness, which helps in establishing a strong connection with the divine energies in Navratri. Some people observe fasting for all 9 days, while others observe for the 1st and the last day.     

  2. Ghatsthapana - Also known as Kalash Sthapana, this ritual involves the placing of establishing a sacred pot (usually mud pots) in home temples. This pot usually contains Gangajal (Ganga Water), rice grains, saffron, turmeric powder, and a gold or silver coin. Then, the mouth of the Kalash is covered with Coconut and Mango Leaves. It is kept on a pile of rice grains and decorated with a Swastika sign made with Sindoor (vermillion).  

  3. Durga Saptashati and Devi Kavach Path - These are sacred texts that people recite during Navratri to invoke the blessings of Goddess Durga and seek protection against negative influences and energies. Devi Kavach is a very powerful Strotam that consists of 47 Shlokas and was recited by Lord Brahma to Lord Markandeya. It is believed that reciting Devi Kavach during Navratri protects the devotees by creating a spiritual protection cover against evil eyes, misfortunes, illnesses, and negative energies.  

  4. Kanya Pujan - A puja ritual that commences the 9-day celebration, it includes feeding Halwa, Puri, Chane, and Sabzi to little girls from the neighborhood. Before feeding the girls, people put tilak and rice on their foreheads to welcome them, and after they eat food, people bend down to touch their feet and seek their blessings. It is considered an auspicious ritual in Sanatan Dharma, and people often give gifts, such as bangles, lunch boxes, chocolates, etc., to little girls to honor their presence.  

Vaikunth is an online pandit booking platform that connects people with the knowledgeable pandits of Sanatan Dharma. With us, you can book Pandit for Navratri Puja in Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, or any location in Delhi-NCR to conduct rituals with Vedic Vidhi and mantras and seek blessings from goddess Durga.