Navratri 2024 Start Date : Durga Puja Kalash Sthapana, Chaitra Navratri 2024 images, Colours, Dandiya Registration Portal.
Navratri, a highly esteemed festival in India, will begin on October 10, 2024. This nine-night festival honors Goddess Durga and includes fasting, prayer, and lively cultural events. Important details about Navratri 2024 include key dates, the Durga Puja Kalash Sthapana, images for Chaitra Navratri, colors for each day, and information on Dandiya registration.
While the October Navratri is celebrated with vibrant festivities, Chaitra Navratri in spring (March-April) also holds significance. During Chaitra Navratri, devotees greet the goddess in another form, with images often showcasing her in peaceful and colorful scenes that reflect the season. For 2024, expect images of Goddess Durga in various forms, each highlighting different virtues.
Start Date and Significance :
The festival runs from October 10 to October 18, with each night dedicated to a different form of Goddess Durga, concluding with Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra. This time is filled with deep devotion, fasting, and various cultural activities, including music and dance.
Durga Puja Kalash Sthapana :
An essential ritual is the Durga Puja Kalash Sthapana, which marks the festival’s start. On the first day, devotees place a sacred pot filled with water, topped with mango leaves and a coconut, symbolizing the goddess’s presence. This ritual is performed with great respect, inviting the goddess into homes.
Dandiya Registration :
Dandiya, a traditional dance performed during Navratri, is one of the festival’s highlights. This dance features participants using colorful sticks for intricate movements to rhythmic music.
To participate in Dandiya events, it’s best to register early. Many cities organize large Dandiya events and competitions, with registration details typically available on event-specific websites or community boards. If you plan to join, early registration ensures a spot and allows you to fully enjoy the celebrations.
Navratri 2024 promises to vibrant and spiritually uplifting. From the significant Kalash Sthapana to the colorful outfits and lively Dandiya dances, every element of the festival fosters a sense of devotion and joy. As the celebration approaches, embracing the rich traditions and practices that make Navratri a unique time of year is essential.
Each day of Navratri has a corresponding color, worn by devotees as part of the celebrations. The colors for Navratri 2024 are :
| October 10 (Day 1) | Yellow | Representing the energy of Goddess Shailputri |
| October 11 (Day 2) | Green | Symbolizing growth with Goddess Brahmacharini |
| October 12 (Day 3) | Grey | Reflecting the fierce nature of Goddess Chandraghanta |
| October 13 (Day 4) | Orange | Denoting enthusiasm linked to Goddess Kushmanda |
| October 14 (Day 5) | White | Signifying purity associated with Goddess Skandamata |
| October 15 (Day 6) | Red | Representing passion for Goddess Katyayani |
| October 16 (Day 7) | Blue | Reflecting serenity with Goddess Kalaratri |
| October 17 (Day 8) | Pink | Symbolizing compassion linked to Goddess Mahagauri. |
| October 18 (Day 9) | Purple | Representing spirituality associated with Goddess Siddhidatri |
General Daily Rituals :
Morning Preparations : Begin your day early, take a bath, and dress in clean clothes.
House Cleaning : Purify your home with holy water, including the area where you will worship.
Kalash Setup :
Fill a copper kalash (pot) with water.
Place mango leaves and a coconut on top of the kalash.
Draw a swastika using roli (sacred red powder) on the kalash.
Idol Placement :
Set up the idol of Goddess Durga on a chowki (platform).
Light a diya (lamp) beside the idol.
You may also place images of the nine avatars of Goddess Durga next to the main idol.
Prayers to Lord Ganesha: Offer prayers to seek his blessings for a fruitful nine-day observance.
Offerings : Daily, present fruits, flowers, sweets, and prashad (sacred food) to the goddess.
Aarti : Light an incense stick and perform aarti for each avatar of the goddess.
Devotional Activities : Engage in prayer, sing bhajans (devotional songs), and celebrate with devotion.
Navratri is a lively festival that honors Goddess Durga and her nine forms. Each day is filled with joy and specific puja rituals. Below is a straightforward guide to the Kalash Sthapana Puja Vidhi and the unique ceremonies for each day :
Special Puja Rituals for Each Day :
| Day | Deity | Decorations /Offerings | Mantras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Shailputri Mata | Decorate the idol with jasmine flowers. | “Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Shailaputri Rupena Samsthita Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah” “Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah” |
| Day 2 | Brahmacharini Mata | Offer Panchamrit (ghee, milk, honey, curd, sugar). | Ohm Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah “Om Devi Brahmcharinyai Namah Dadhaanaa Kar Padmaabhyaamakshmala Kamandaloo” |
| Day 3 | Chandraghanta Mata | Present suhag samagree (sindoor, bangles, toe rings). | “Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah” |
| Day 4 | Kushmanda Mata | Offer white pumpkin (bali) and halwa. | “Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah” |
| Day 5 | Skanda Mata | Provide flowers, durva (grass), sandalwood, sindoor. | “Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Skandamata Rupena Samsthita Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah” |
| Day 6 | Katyayni Mata | Present kalava (sacred thread), coconut, roli. | “Om Devi Katyaynyai Namah” |
| Day 7 | Kalratri Mata | Offer red flowers, jaggery, and a garland of lemons. | “Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah” |
| Day 8 | Mahagauri Mata | Sandhi Puja: Conduct during the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the start of Navami tithi. | “Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah” |
| Day 9 | Siddhidatri Mata | Present pan and supari (betel leaf and areca nut). | Recite Shri Durga Saptashati path. “Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah” |
The Significance of Navratri involves honoring Durga’s different avatars over the nine days, which include :
- Shailputri
- Chandraghanta
- Brahmacharini
- Skanda Mata
- Kushmanda
- Katyayni
- Mahagauri
- Kalaratri
- Siddhidatri
Goddess Durga symbolizes Shakti, the divine feminine energy, which brings together the strengths of all deities. Worship during these nine days thought to bring health, wealth, and prosperity.
The festival also commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, which believed to have liberated humanity from his oppression. Various texts attribute this victory to different forms of Durga, with the most common belief being that she defeated him in her Ugrachandi form. This event represents the triumph of good over evil.
Northern India, especially in Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Orissa, large temporary structures, called pandals, constructed, and idols of Goddess Durga are placed within them. Devotees often wear new clothes, with red being a prominent color.
In Gujarat, people fast for nine days and participate in lively dandiya nights featuring Garba dance.
In Tamil Nadu, a unique display called Kolu is set up, showcasing miniature idols of deities on a nine-step arrangement, each representing a day of Navratri.
Andhra Pradesh, there a similar nine-day celebration called Batukamma Panduga, culminating in an immersion of the display in water.
In Karnataka, grand processions with elephants are organised, drawing inspiration from the Vijayanagara dynasty.
In Kerala, the festival emphasises education by honouring musical instruments and books.
Punjab, the Kanjak Ceremony takes place on the last day, where young girls celebrated as representations of Goddess Durga and are given gifts and food.
- Know Navratri 2024 Start Date
- Navratri 2024 Start Date : October 10 (Day 1)
- Start Date and Significance :
- Durga Puja Kalash Sthapana :
- Dandiya Registration :
- Navratri 2024 Date and Corresponding Colours :
- General Daily Rituals :
- Check Navratri 2024 Images :
- Navratri Kalash Sthapana Puja Vidhi :
- Special Puja Rituals for Each Day :
- Significance of Navratri :
- Rituals associated with Chaitra Navratri vary by region :
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