Chaitra navratri 

The Hindu festival of Chaitra Navratri lasts 9 days. It starts on the first of the Hindu lunar calendar's days. The festival honours nine avatars of Goddess Shakti, also known as Goddess Durga. Every year in the months of April and March, this fortunate Hindu festival is celebrated. It is observed in the Hindu month of Chaitra and is dedicated to Goddess Durga's nine avatars.

Chaitra Navratri is also known as Rama Navratri in various parts of northern India. Rama Navami, Lord Rama's birthday, happens on the ninth day of the Navratri festival. The Hindu lunar calendar depicts the celebrations of the month of Chaitra, which is also known as the New Year. In Maharashtra, Gudi Padwa is the first day of Chaitra Navratri, but in Andhra Pradesh, Ugadi is the first day of the festival.

Navratri Day 1 – April 2, 2022 (Saturday) – Ghatsthapana, Pratipada, Shailputri Puja

Day 2 – April 3, 2022 (Sunday) – Dwitiya, Brahmacharini Puja

Day 3 – April 4, 2022 (Monday) – Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja

Day 4 – April 5, 2022 (Tuesday) – Chaturthi, Kushmanda Puja

Day 5 – April 6, 2022 (Wednesday) – Panchami, Skandamata Puja

Day 6 – April 7, 2022 (Thursday) – Shashthi, Katyayani Puja

Day 7 – April 8, 2022 (Friday) – Maha Saptami, Kalaratri Puja

Day 8 – April 9, 2022 (Saturday) – Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja

Day 9 (Chaitra Navratri ends) – April 10, 2022 (Sunday) – Navami, Ram Navratri

Importance of Chaitra Navratri

The universe is considered to have begun on the first day of Chaitra Navratri. As a result, it marks the start of the Hindi new year. People all around the country, particularly in the north, celebrate the advent of Chaitra Navratri by fasting, doing pujas, and producing various sweets associated with the holiday. Every avatar of Goddess Durga is commemorated with special pujas and the recitation of fortunate mantras.

People put on new outfits and exchange sweets with one another. In the evenings, many ladies repeat the mantras together. People have a particular place in their hearts for the sacred holiday.

Puja Vidhi of Chaitra Navratri

The Chaitra Navratri Puja samagri includes both Kalash Sthapana and Ghatasthapana puja elements as well as everyday puja ingredients.

Do not use steel or plastic kalash for Kalash Sthapana or Ghatasthapana. A copper, bronze, brass, or silver Kalash is required. The husk of a brown coconut. Mango leaves, Haldi, Kumkum, Chandan, Water, a few currency pieces, and fresh flowers, as well as crimson chunari (piece of cloth). 

Chaitra Navratri Kalash Sthapana Puja

On the 1st day of Navratri, there is a aupicious technique to install the pooja Kalash.

·  The first thing you should do when you wake up in the morning is take a shower.

·  After you have cleaned the idols, the subsequent step is to clean the area where Kalash will be housed.

·  The next step is to spread a red-colored cloth on a wooden bench and chant Lord Ganesha's mantras while placing raw rice on the red cloth.

·  You must make an earthen altar and sow Barley seeds in it.

·  Fill the Kalash with water and place it on the earth.

·  Make a swastika sign with the vermillion paste on the Kalash and tie a holy thread around its neck.

·  Mango leaves, betelnut, and cash should all be kept in the Kalash.

·  Wrap a holy thread and a red Chunari around a coconut.

·  Place this coconut on top of Kalash to pray to the almighty God.

·  Flowers, as well as adoration from the religious mind and spirit, should be offered to the gods.

The Kalash Sthapana puja has been shown to help us attract greater health, riches, and prosperity into our life.

Benefit of Chaitra Navratri

·  People strengthen their bodies by eating a sattvic diet (foods without spices, oil, onion, garlic, meat, and so on) because the changing seasons at that time bring with them sicknesses and ailments.

·  Navratri is also a great opportunity to cleanse and strengthen your body from the inside out.

·  Incorporating fresh into one's diet entails consuming healthful meals. Furthermore, antioxidants in fruits aid in the removal of free radicals from the body.

·  Coconut water, milk, fresh fruit juices, and other liquids will keep your body hydrated and wash out impurities.

·  Good components peculiar to Vrat Singhare Ka Atta and Kuttu Ka Atta are both easy to digest and gentle on the stomach. 

·  Excluding table salt or processed/refined salt and replacing it with Sendha Namak increases immunity and improves overall health.

·  Finally, meditation and prayer can help you relax your senses, body, and mind.