When is Navaratri This Year

In India, people get united to celebrate the joy of various festivals together. And, Navratri is one such festival which brings the nation together. People have already geared up for this festival and have decided how to celebrate Navratri, which usually falls either in September or October. As per Hindu Calendar, this festival is celebrated for 9 days, where each state adds up to its way of celebrating this festival. Reflecting the true spirit of Indian culture, this festival is welcomed by people of every culture through traditional dances, pujas, and fasting and shopping for Navratri gifts. This is how to celebrate Navratri at home particularly, every year.

Now, the question is why is Navratri celebrated for 9 days? Navratri in Sanskrit would literally mean “nine nights.” Which seems to be a perfect connotation as this festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga, who is worshipped in all her nine forms during this festive period. So, there is nothing in particular as the Navratri date. Rather, it has got a starting and an ending date. Navratri 2019, this year shall be witnessed from September 29, 2019, to October 07, 2019.

While the first day is known as Pratipada, the second day as Dwitiya, the third day as Tritiya, the fourth day as Chathurthi, the fifth day as Panchami, the sixth day as Shasthi, the seventh day as Saptami, the eighth day as Asthami and finally, the ninth day as Navami. While the fast is observed for a whole period of 9 days, the Durga Puja is celebrated only for 4-5 days. On the last day (i.e. Dashami), it calls for Durga idol immersion, symbolising the Divine’s marital home calling in Kailash. The last day of Navratri is celebrated as Dusshera in the northern part of the country, burning large effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhakaran.

Where one enjoys Ram-Leela skits over prayer meetings and food offerings, to simply commemorate the day when Lord Rama killed Ravana.

This festival not only celebrates the power of femininity, rather celebrates the victory of good over evil. Seeking the answer to the question, why is Navratri celebrated, there are several folktales and stories attached to this festival across various cultures, but the most popular one surrounds the demon Mahishasura.

The story goes like this...the buffalo demon, also known as Mahishasura was considered to be sexist enough to believe that he could not be killed by a woman. Mahishasura was a Lord Brahma devotee and by getting pleased by his constant devotion, granted him the boon of immortality. Taking this blessing to his advantage, Mahishasura waged war against all the Lords of Indralok.To stop this, Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva came together and gave birth to Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga, who is said to be the daughter of Himavan and an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, fought the demon for 15 days. During these 15 days of wrath and war, Mahishasura kept changing his forms to mislead her. When he finally changed his form into a buffalo, he was defeated by the Goddess, and that was the end of him.

Gujarat, West Bengal, Kerala, Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu are said to celebrate this festival with great pomp and show. While people in the East tend to observe worship Goddess Durga, while people in the West celebrate this festival by tapping their feet to Dandiya or Garba tracks. After knowing when is Navratri, when does Navratri start and when does Navratri end, one must explore and experience this festival, if one hasn’t yet. Because Navratri is one such festival celebrated with gaiety and ardent fervor across the country.