Navratri 2017 ( 21st Sept - 30th Sept )

The festival of Navratri is a cheerful and gladsome way of worshipping Goddess Durga. The festival is commemorated all over the country with great zeal and vehemence. The festival lasts for a period of almost 10 days and 9 nights. The Navratri festival is celebrated 5 times in a year, amongst which Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri holds utmost importance.

Navratri is a propitious festival when Goddess Durga, the universal mother is worshipped and the nine nights that celebrate the Divine Feminine are a period of conviviality in India. This nine day festival cachets illustrates the nine Navratri colours i.e. the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is known for eliminating all miseries and troubles from the lives of their devotees. In accordance with the beliefs, the energy of Goddess Durga carries out the eternal cycle of creation, conservation and destruction of the universe. The devotees observe fast and proffer their prayings in order to please Goddess Durga to get their wishes fulfilled.

5 TYPES OF NAVRATRAS

According to Hindu Panchang, every year 5 types of Navratras are celebrated. Let us have a glimpse of all the 5 types with their dates:

1. Paush Gupt Navratri (December 26, 2017 to January 2, 2018)
2. Ashadha Gupt Navratri (June 24 to July 3, 2017)
3. Magha Gupt Navratri (January 28 to February 6, 2017)
4. Chaitra Navratri (March 28 to April 5, 2017)
5. Sharada Navratri (September 21 to September 30, 2017)

9 Days and the Corresponding 9 Manifestations of Goddess Durga:

If we talk about all the 5 types of Navratras, then all the nine forms of Goddess Durga on each Navratri is same. So, let us ponder over all the 9 forms of Goddess Durga:

Day 1- Goddess Shailputri

Day 2- Goddess Brahmacharini

Day 3- Goddess Chandraghanta

Day 4- Goddess Kushmanda

Day 5- Goddess Skandamata

Day 6- Goddess Katyayani

Day 7- Goddess Kaalratri

Day 8- Goddess Maha Gauri

Day 9- Goddess Siddhidatri

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Puja Materials

This Navratri 2017, celebrate Navratri with full fervour & avidity and worship Maa Durga with absolute ardour. We, at Mykundali have made certain that you don't miss out any of the prerequisites required for Navratri Puja in 2017. So, to enlightened with the the Puja materials for Navratri 2017, check out the following points:

1. Red bangles, mehndi, bindi, kajal, red chunri, red lipstick, mirror and nail polish are the shringar items for Maa Durga.
2. A Lamp( Diya ) is burnt which is also called Akhand Jyot throughout the 9 days of Navratri.
3. An earthen pot known as Kalash is kept in the Puja room which is filled with 5 Suparis (betel nuts),sugar, rice and water. Then, a red colour sacred thread is tied on the Kalash.

Navratri Fast

To begin the fast from the Day 1 of Navratri, the observer takes shower in the morning and is supposed to wear clean clothes.The two famous rituals associated with Navratri are called as "Paath" and "Durga Aarti." An Aarti is considered as an atavistic practice of singing hymns as a part of the worship of the Goddess. Then, the devotee brings along all the essential items to worship Goddess Durga. After this, t "pooja" is performed according to the traditional methods. Once you arrange your thaali for pooja, apply kumkum with some rice on the idol of the goddess. After this the mantras are chanted that are meant for the pooja followed by "Aarti" (hymns). Mata Durga is worshipped and an Aarti is done. A Bhog comprising of fruits, mishri, milk and 5 types of dry fruits are offered to Goddess Durga. After doing the Aarti and offering the Bhog, in the evening, Puja is done again by doing Aarti by lighting incense sticks (Agarbatti). So, get ready to keep the Navratri fast during Navratri 2017 in the best possible manner, so that Goddess embraces all your prayers and gets them fulfilled.

Bhog/ Prasad For The 9 Days of Navaratri

The nine different manifestations of Goddess Durga are served up with variety of Bhog (food) for all the nine days of Navratri. The Bhog for all the nine days are envisaged below:

1st day : Ghee is offered to Goddess Shailputri

2st day : Sugar is offered to Maa Brahmacharini

3st day : Milk/ sweets prepared from milk is offered to Goddess Kushmanda

4st day : Malpua is offered to Goddess Chandraghanta

5st day : Banana is offered to Goddess Skandamata

6st day : Honey is offered to Goddess Katyayani

7st day : Jaggery (Gur) is offered to Goddess Kaalratri

8st day : Coconut is offered to Goddess Maha Gauri

9st day : Til (sesame seeds) is offered to Goddess Siddhidatri

LEGEND BEHIND NAVRATRI

Basically, Navaratri is a concoction of various notions, with the customary theme of the triumph of good over evil. One of the chief concept comprises of Dussehra or Vijayadashami which is commemorated on the day when Lord Rama killed Ravana in the Rama Ravana war. On the other hand, another concept is that, Durga, the warrior goddess of power and strength who is believed to have nine manifestations called Navadurga, and presumes a new form on each of the nine days (celebrated as Durga Puja ) with the arsenal of weapons, mounted on a lion and fought the demon Mahishasura. Dussehra or Vijayadashami is celebrated on the 10th day as the coup of good over evil when the Goddess killed Mahishasura. It is believed that Lord Rama worshipped the Goddesses, to seek her blessings in order to vanquish the malicious thrust of Ravana, who abducted his beloved wife, Goddess Sita.