Sharad Navratri (September – October) is the nine-day Hindu festival dedicated to Mother Goddess Durga and her numerous forms in Hindu religion. Sharad Navratri 2022 dates are from September 26 to October 4, 2022 in India as per Hindu Calendar. The festival is of great importance as it is the most significant festival dedicated to Mother Goddess in Hinduism.
The nine-day festival of Navratri in Hinduism celebrates the victory of good over evil – Dharma overcomes Adharma with the blessing of Goddess Durga.
The nine-day festival begins on the first day of the bright half of Ashwin or Ashwayuja (September-October) as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar.
2022 Navratri Calendar
Day 1 – September 26 – Ghatasthapana – Chandra Darshan – Shailputri Puja
Day 2 – September 27 – Brahmacharini Devi Puja
Day 4 – September 29– Upang Lalita Vrat – Lalitha Panchami – Kushmanda Devi Puja
- Saraswati Avahan in Maharashtra is on Oct 2.
- Saraswati Puja is on Oct 3 in Maharashtra.
- Saraswati Balidan is on October 4 in Maharashtra.
- Mahalakshmi Puja is on October 2 in Maharashtra.
The tenth day is celebrated as Dasara or Vijaya Dashami. (October 4/ October 5, 2022)
The nine days are famous for Bathukamma in Telangana (Sept 26 to Oct 4).
Dasara in Mysore (Karnataka) is from (September 26 to October 5)
Vijaya Dashami in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala is marked on October 5, 2022
Vidyarambham in Kerala is on October 5, 2022. (Puja Vyappu is on the evening of October 3, 2022).
Significance of Navratri
Mother Goddess Shakti who appears in various forms to save and protect her children are worshipped on the nine days. There is no end to her forms. Whenever her children are in difficulty she takes a form to annihilate the evil and protect her children like a caring mother. She is the all providing mother who nourishes and feeds her children. Life on earth exists due to her blessing.
Symbolically the first three days of Navratri are an opportunity to overcome inertia (Tamas), the next three days are dedicated to overcoming passion (Rajas) and the next three days are for keeping the mind eternally focused on purity (Sattva).
The nine days are an opportunity to reboot. Make positive changes to life with blessings of Maa Durga.
Navratri – Importance and Spiritual Significance
Every Hindu festival has a spiritual message for the sadhaka. This nine-day festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil. In fact the theme of the entire Vedas is reflected in the Navratri festival: first remove all negativities; then purify the mind and cultivate positive virtues; and finally gain spiritual knowledge and transcend all limitations.
Source: An article published in the magazine October 2000 edition of Chinmayam a magazine of Chinmaya Mission.
Navratri Traditional Puja
House should be cleaned properly.
The person performing puja should take bath early in the morning.
Sankalp or decision should be made to have a peaceful nine days.
No alcohol, smoking, paan, and sexual intercourse during the nine days.
The first puja is performed to Ganesha.
Next puja should be offered to Matrika, Lokpal, Navagraha, and Varuna.
Mother Goddess is offered the usual sixteen step puja (Shodashopachara Puja)
Puja should be offered to Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali.
Chant a Mother Goddess Mantra daily.
You can find more about the puja and how to observed here – How to do Navratri Puja?
Begins with Ghatasthapana
Wheat or Jowar is sowed in a clay flat pot on the first day of Navratri. Water is sprinkled and it is covered with Mango leaves. The first shoots will appear on the third day. It then grows quickly symbolically representing fertility, hope, and progress. It is also a sign of good health and wealth.
In South and Eastern parts of India this ritual is skipped.
Nine Goddess Worshipped
Navdurga or nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped on the nine days of Navratri. The nine forms are Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.
Scripture Read During Navratri
Durga Saptasati is the scripture read during the nine days of Navratri. There are 700 slokas and it was composed by Lord Brahma, Rishi Vasishta and Rishi Vishwamitra. Saptasati indicates the 700 slokas.
Vrat/Fasting
You can perform Vrat on all nine days by consuming water and fruits.
Vegetarian food should only be consumed during the nine days.
Majority people observe fast only on the seventh (seventh) or eighth (Ashtami) or ninth day (Navami). (Navratri Fasting Rules and how to observed the vrat can be read here in detail)
Navratri Fasting Should Not Be Starving or Eating Oily Food
During Navratri either people fast from morning to evening or eat oily and deep fried vrat food items creating health problems. The Navratri fasting and the eating habits cause damage to health.
The best method to fast during the period is by eating small portions of food. One should eat salads, fruits, milk, water, fresh juice, vegetable juices, lassi, curd, or lemon juice during short intervals. But Why? Earlier people used to meditate during the fasting period – there was inactivity. But now people do lot of activities working, studying, traveling etc – this includes house wives they should also realize that they are working like anyone else. Proper nutrients are needed for these activities. Fasting and working causes dehydration, fatigue, weakness, stomach related disorders. It is like asking a vehicle to run without petrol.
Another method of fasting is eating oily and fried food and lots of sweets. All these foods are gorged in the name of Prasad or vrat foods.
Sabudana vada, potato fries, numerous vrat fried foods, various types of puris, kheer, laddoos and other sweets from temples contain high calorie and a person ends up taking in more calories. And majority of the vrat foods are harmful when eaten on empty stomach. As it is fasting, most people end up consuming more of such foods.
The best option therefore is to include milk, yoghurt, fruits, salads, vegetables, nuts, seeds, dry fruits and coconut in the diet during Navratri fasting. Avoid fried items and opt for simple salads without dressing and simple food.
Another option is to skip all non-vegetarian food during the fasting period and eat vegetarian food. This is much better than starving or over eating the friend snacks and causing harm to the body.
Navratri Essential Food Items – Ingredients Used to Prepare Dishes during Navratri
There are some essential food items needed during Navratri festival. These ingredients are used to prepare dishes mostly by people who opt for partial fasting or only eat vegetarian food.
Kuttu ka Atta (buckwheat flour) – This is very much part of nine days as most people only eat food prepared using Kuttu ka Atta.
Rock Salt – Rock salt is widely used during the nine days as all other types of salt are prohibited.
Rice – A special rice known as ‘Vrat ka Chawal’ is used widely in western and northern parts of
Sabudana or Sago – This is widely used during fasting. Vada, Khichdi and Upma is prepared using Sabudana.
Khoya – Sweets are prepared using khoya. So large quantities of khoya is used during the period.
Peanuts – It is widely used in dishes and on its own during Navratri.
Mixtures, chips, farsan without salt is widely consumed during the period.
Another type of atta or flour that is used during the period is Singhare Ka Atta. Singhare is prepared from water caltrop also known as water chestnut, buffalo nut, bat nut, devil pod or ling nut.
Lime water. This is widely used to keep the body fluid levels intact.
In some regions, fruits are only consumed during the nine days.
Samak Rice as Vrat Food during Navratri – Health Benefits of Sama Ke Chawal – Moriyo or Varicha Tandul
Health benefits of Samak Rice
- High fiber content.
- Easily digestible
- Similar to rice in taste.
- Rich source of minerals and vitamins.
- High in potassium
- Good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin C
- Good source of Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Phosphorus, iron, folate and copper.
Food prepared using Samak include
- Samak Pulao
- Samak kheer
- Khichadi
- Plain rice
Kanya Pujan
On eight or ninth day of the festival, people perform Kanya Pujan. Young girls less than the age of nine is invited and given food and clothes.
Navratri Mantra
You can chant any mantra dedicated to Mother Goddess. Here are three mantras chanting of which are considered highly helpful and meritorious.
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvartha sadhike |
Sharanye trayambake gauri, Narayani namostute ||
शङ्खचक्रगदाशङ्र्गगृहीत परमायुधे।
प्रसीद वैष्णवीरूपे नारायणि नमोस्तुते।।
देवि प्रपन्नाॢतहरे प्रसीद प्रसीद मातर्जगतोखिलस्य।
प्रसीद विश्वेश्वरि पाहि विश्वं त्वमीश्वरी देवि चराचरस्य।।
Durga Puja in Eastern Parts of India
In eastern parts of India mainly in Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Assam, Tripura and other states, Navratri is famous as Durga Puja. The main rituals are observed on Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami day. (You read more about the Durga Puja here – A guide to Durga Puja)
Dashain in Nepal
The nine-day Navratri is popularly known as Dashain in
The seventh day is known as fulpati. Animal sacrifices are held on the eighth and ninth day.
Chandra Darshan during Navratri – Worship of Moon
Chandra Darshan is the viewing of the moon and worship of it during the second day of Navratri. Nine nights of Navratri dedicated to Mother Goddess Shakti begins on the day after Amavasya (September/October) – the no moon day. Chandra Darshan is observed on the second day of Navaratri. In 2022, Chandra Darshan is on September 26.
Sindoor Tritiya
Sindoor Tritiya is observed on the third day of the 9-day Navratri festival. On this day Maa Chandraghanta is worshiped. In 2022, Sindoor Tritiya is observed on September 28. This day is of great significance in
Other Navratri’s in a Year
Apart from the Navratri in September – October, there are three other Navratras in a year. The most important among the three is the festival observed in March-April especially in North India. This is also known as Vasant or Ram Navaratri as it coincides with the Ram Navami festival.
Thus there are four important Navratri in a year in a traditional Hindu lunar calendar.