Navratri - Navratri, literally interpreted as 'nine nights' is the most celebrated Hindu festival devoted to Goddess Durga symbolizing purity and power or 'shakti'. Navratri festival combines ritualistic puja and fasting and is accompanied by resplendent celebrations for nine consecutive days and nights. During Navratri, people from villages and cities gather to perform 'puja' on small shrines representing different aspects of Goddess Durga, including Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. Chanting of mantras and renditions of bhajans and folk songs usually accompany the puja rituals for nine consecutive days of Navratri. Navratri Celebrations Defining both the religious and cultural themes, Navratri celebrations are seeped in traditional music and dance. Gujarat is the focus of Navratri celebrations with all night-long dance and festivities. What's more, with time, Navratri festival has seen changes in celebrations with well-choreographed dance performances, high-end acoustics and people dressed in made-to-order, bright costumes. Tourists flock to Vadodara in Gujarat to enjoy a mix of high-energy band music performances, singing and dancing. Navratri 2019 Dates Navratri in India witnesses myriad forms of devotion across the country while retaining the common underlying theme of good over evil. In Jammu, the Vaishno Devi shrine sees a huge rise in the number of devotees making their way to the pilgrimage during Navratri. In Himachal Pradesh, the Navratri Mela marks the auspicious occasion of Navratri. In West Bengal, men and women celebrate 'Durga Puja' with great devotion and reverence and worship Goddess Durga destroying the demon 'Mahishasura'. In South India, during Navratri, people arrange idols in a step pattern and invoke the name of God. In Mysore, the nine-day Navratri festival coincides with 'Dasara' Festival involving folk music renditions and dance performances, wrestling tournaments and tableau participation. The procession of tableaux along with embellished elephants, camels and horses starting from the brightly-lit Mysore Palace is a famous one. Navarathri festival 2019 Durga is worshipped for the first three days of Navratri followed by Goddess Laxmi for the next three days. Last three days of Navratri are devoted to Goddess Saraswati. Celebrate Navratri with sacred devotion to get the blessings of Maa Durga. Chaitra Navratri 2019 is starting from April 06 and will continue till April 14. Navratri Day 1 Pratipada - September 29, 2019 Sunday - Ghatsthapana, Shailputri Puja, Chandra Darshan Day 2 Dwitiya - September 30, 2019 Navarathri festival 2019 - Brahmacharini Puja Day 3 Tritiya - October 1, 2019 Tuesday - Chandraghanta Puja Day 4 Chaturthi - October 2, 2019 Wednesday - Kushmanda Puja Day 5 Panchami - October 3, 2019 Thursday - Skandamata Puja Day 6 Shashthi - October 4, 2019 Friday - Saraswati Awahan, Katyayani Puja Day 7 Saptami - October 5, 2019 Saturday - Saraswati Puja, Kalaratri Puja Day 8 Ashtami - October 6, 2019 Sunday -Sandhi Puja, Maha Navami Day 9 Navami - October 7, 2019 Monday - Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa, Navratri Parana Day 10 Dashami - October 8, 2019 Tuesday -Sharadiya Navratri ends Nine Goddess of Navratri A religious fervor and excitement accompanies Navratri celebrations throughout India. While the formal displays and ceremonies may differ, the underlying sentiment and message is the same across communities and states.
