Chaitra Navratri 2025, starts from March 30 and will go on until April 7. During this nine-day festival, devotees celebrate and worship Goddess Durga in her nine forms. Unlike the Sharad Navratri observed in Autumn, Chaitra Navratri is held during Spring, upon the beginning of the Hindu New Year. It is also called Vasanta Navratri and holds deep spiritual and cultural significance, especially in Northern India.
The festival is as much about the rituals and fasting, as it is about inner cleansing, devotion, and honoring the feminine energy. This energy drives creation, protection, and destruction in the universe.
In order to observe and celebrate the festival, one must carefully follow the rituals that have deep meanings. Here is a step-by-step guide as to what all to take care of during the nine days.
First and foremost, ensure that the space is clean and free from any negative energy. Followed by placing Goddess Durga’s idol on a pedestal and covering it with a red cloth. To add to the positivity, you may offer fresh flowers, and light up the space with diyas and lights.
You must be clear about the days you’re planning to fast on. Fasting is a form of devotion. Many choose to fast on all nine days, but it is a choice. Taking your health and other concerns into consideration, you can choose the days you wish to fast on.
The puja begins with gathering all the essentials like sweets, fruits, copper pot, vermillion, incense sticks, mango leaves, coconut, ganga jal, roli and rice. After this, you’ll be required to do the Kalash Sthapana. For this, you must fill up the copper pot with water and put in a coin, rice grains, roli, turmeric and ganga jal. Now, set five mango leaves near the mouth of the pot and put a coconut over it. This pot must stay in the place you’re worshipping, from the first day of Navratri itself. Also, you must check for the appropriate timings, called muhurat, to perform this Kalash Sthapana, as it is considered auspicious.
As mentioned above, each day of Navratri, a different form of Goddess Durga is worshipped. Devotees light lamps and diyas, offer flowers, fruits, sweets, and chant mantras. Reading the Durga Saptashati or other sacred texts is common. The energy of each goddess symbolizes qualities like strength, courage, wisdom, and compassion. Also, as each day is associated with a specific colour, devotees wear the respective colour on each day of Navratri.
During the fasting period, people mostly consume fruits or simple food like sabudana, buckwheat flour’s chappatis, potatoes, and avoid onion, garlic and non vegetarian food. It is advisable to opt for boiling, roasting, or steaming means of cooking rather than frying. As for hydration, one must keep consuming either coconut water, juices or buttermilk to maintain the energy to carry out daily tasks.
They end the festival with a Kanya Pujan. Some do it on the Ashtami, while others on the Navami. For this, they call little girls over (seven or nine), wash their feet, and offer them food. They treat them as forms of Goddess Durga.
One of the most important aspects of any Hindu ritual is the chanting of mantras. Navratri being as big and important of a festival as it is, also has specific mantras for each of the nine days. The mantra is dedicated to the form of Durga being worshipped on that day. One may chant them in the morning after a bath, during puja (worship), or in the evening during aarti.
Below, all the mantras are mentioned day-wise.
Day 1, Devi Shailputri: The Daughter
Shailputri Mantra:
- ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah॥
Shailputri Prarthana:
- वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥ - Vande Vanchhitalabhaya Chandrardhakritashekharam।
Vrisharudham Shuladharam Shailaputrim Yashasvinim॥
Day 2, Devi Brahmacharini: Symbol of Purity and Sanctity
Brahmacharini Mantra:
- ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah॥
Brahmacharini Prarthana:
- दधाना कर पद्माभ्यामक्षमाला कमण्डलू।
देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥ - Dadhana Kara Padmabhyamakshamala Kamandalu।
Devi Prasidatu Mayi Brahmacharinyanuttama॥
Day 3, Devi Chandraghanta: Embodiment of courage and strength
Chandraghanta Mantra:
- ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥
Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah॥
Chandraghanta Prarthana:
- पिण्डज प्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता।
प्रसादं तनुते मह्यम् चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥ - Pindaja Pravararudha Chandakopastrakairyuta।
Prasadam Tanute Mahyam Chandraghanteti Vishruta॥
Day 4, Devi Kushmanda: The creator of the universe
Kushmanda Mantra:
- ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥
Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah॥
Kushmanda Prarthana:
- सुरासम्पूर्ण कलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च।
दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे॥ - Surasampurna Kalasham Rudhiraplutameva Cha।
Dadhana Hastapadmabhyam Kushmanda Shubhadastu Me॥
Day 5, Devi Skandamata: Mother of Lord Skanda (Kartikeya)
Skandamata Mantra:
- ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः॥
Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah॥
Skandamata Prarthana:
- सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माञ्चित करद्वया।
शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥ - Simhasanagata Nityam Padmanchita Karadvaya।
Shubhadastu Sada Devi Skandamata Yashasvini॥
Day 6, Devi Katyayani: The warrior goddess
Katyayani Mantra:
- ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah॥
Katyayani Prarthana:
- चन्द्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना।
कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद् देवी दानवघातिनी॥
Day 7, Devi Kalaratri: The destroyer of evil forces
Kalaratri Mantra:
- ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah॥
Kalaratri Prarthana:
- एकवेणी जपाकर्णपूरा नग्ना खरास्थिता।
लम्बोष्ठी कर्णिकाकर्णी तैलाभ्यक्त शरीरिणी॥
वामपादोल्लसल्लोह लताकण्टकभूषणा।
वर्धन मूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥ - Ekaveni Japakarnapura Nagna Kharasthita।
Lamboshthi Karnikakarni Tailabhyakta Sharirini॥
Vamapadollasalloha Latakantakabhushana।
Vardhana Murdhadhwaja Krishna Kalaratrirbhayankari॥
Day 8, Devi Maha Gauri: Symbolizes purity and grace
Mahagauri Mantra:
- ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah॥
Mahagauri Prarthana:
- श्वेते वृषेसमारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।
महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेव प्रमोददा॥ - Shwete Vrishesamarudha Shwetambaradhara Shuchih।
Mahagauri Shubham Dadyanmahadeva Pramodada॥
Day 9, Devi Siddhidatri: The granter of all the Siddhis (supernatural abilities)
Siddhidatri Mantra:
- ॐ देवी सिद्धिदात्र्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah॥
Siddhidatri Prarthana:
- सिद्ध गन्धर्व यक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि।
सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥ - Siddha Gandharva Yakshadyairasurairamarairapi।
Sevyamana Sada Bhuyat Siddhida Siddhidayini॥
Conclusion
Chaitra Navratri is not just a festival, but a means to get closer to the divine feminine energy. People observe fasts and offer prayers to cleanse their minds and souls. It stands as a reminder that good always conquers and evil is always destroyed.
The spiritual aspect of the festival brings one close to the divine, while the lively energy brings people closer to rejoice in the cultural gatherings.
Whether or not one offers prayers or observes fast, they can still feel the essence of Navratri through the positivity it brings to homes and hearts.
Read More Articles: Chaitra Navratri 2025: Dates and Significance Explained
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