Sharad Navratri 2024: Nine Nights and Nine Incarnations of Maa Durga

Sharad Navratri begins on the first day of the lunar month Ashwin and ends on the tenth day of the lunar month Ashwin. This festival honours Maa Durga and is celebrated with great devotion. It is also known as Durga Puja and is celebrated mostly in Northern and Eastern India.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ram revered the holy goddess to fight and destroy the Demon King Lord Raavan. He was a symbol of good triumphing over bad.

The tenth day is known as ‘VIJAYADASHAMI’ or ‘DUSSEHRA’. Sharad Navratri is observed during the Ashwin month, which marks the start of the winter season.

People perform Navratri in their homes or temples dedicated to various embodiments of Goddess Durga during the festival of Navratri. For nine days, mantra chanting, bhajan recitals, and shloka recitals follow the Navratri rituals.

The Significance of Nine days of Sharad Navratri and Rituals

Here is the significance of the nine days of the Shardiya Navratri 2024. Also, the rituals are to be performed to appease NavDurga.

Make faster progress in life by performing Durga Sapatasati Puja.

Celebrations of Sharadiya Navaratri 2024

Worshipping nine goddesses during Navratri, stage decorations, recital of the legend, live dramas and enactment of the plot, and chanting Hindu scriptures are all part of the festivities. The nine days also serve as a significant crop harvesting season followed by cultural events, competitions for pandal design, and stage decoration. People love to visit these pandals, and they perform puja each day till Dashmi.

Apart from pandal hopping, people enjoy various activities, including classical songs and folk dances. The statues are submerged in a water body, like a river or ocean, on the final day, known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra. The statue symbolising evil is burned with fireworks and its symbolised death. The festival also kicks off the countdown to one of the most popular and commonly observed holidays, Diwali, or the festival of lights, which falls twenty days after Sharad Navratri.

Dates and Muhurat Timings of Sharad Navratri Puja Vidhi

Navratri is said to occur four times a year in Hindu scriptures such as the Shakta and Vaishnava Puranas. By the way, Navratri occurs in the light half of the Hindu lunisolar months in all cases. However, the Hindus’ imagination and tastes are left to the fore in their celebrations, which differ by area.

The most well-known of the four Navaratris is Sharadiya Navratri, named after Sharada, which means autumn. It falls in the lunar month of Ashvin (September–October, post-monsoon). The festival occurs after the autumn harvest in certain areas and during the harvest in others.

Sharada Navaratri is a post-monsoon autumn festival dedicated to the divine feminine Devi (Durga). The festivity is celebrated in the country and the globe as well. The festival is held in the bright half of the Hindu calendar month Ashvin, which corresponds to September and October in the Gregorian calendar.

Final Thoughts

Sharadiya Navratri, the symbolic celebration of nine incarnations of Durga is worshipped all over India in a different style. May this Navratri, Goddess Durga bless you with good health, happiness, and prosperity.

Apart from the blessings of Maa Durga, you also have the support of astrology. Talk to astrologers for guidance. The first consultation with 100% Cashback.