Chaitra Navratri 2023: Everything you need to know about the first day of Navratri

Navratri is a festival that lasts for nine days and is celebrated with enthusiasm and devotion across the country. It is a festival to honour Goddess Durga. Navratri means nine nights in Sanskrit.

From March 22 to 30 this year, Chaitra Navratri will be held. During Navratri, people fast, worship nine different forms of Goddess Durga, enjoy delicious food, and participate in devotional activities. The main focus of Navratri is to worship and honour the various forms of Goddess Durga.

Chaitra Navratri Day 1: Goddess

On the first day of Navratri, people worship Goddess Shailputri, also known as Hemvati or Parvati. It is believed that she married Lord Shiva in the form of Parvati. The word Shailputri has been derived from two words, 'Shail' and Putri, meaning mountain and daughter, respectively.

Chaitra Navratri Day 1: Colour

People associate the colour Royal Blue with the celebrations. Royal Blue is a bright shade of blue that represents richness and calmness. You can take part in Navratri festivities by wearing elegant clothes in the colour Royal Blue.

Chaitra Navratri Day 1 : Importance

Chaitra Navratri is a nine-day festival celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion across the country.

The first day of Navratri is known as Vasanta Navratri and begins with the Ghatasthapana ritual, which marks the beginning of the festival. According to Drik Panchang, Ghatasthapana should be performed during a specific time at the start of Navratri, called the Ghatasthapana Muhurat, which falls on Pratipada Tithi. In this ritual, Goddess Shakti is invoked and doing it at the wrong time may bring the wrath of Goddess Durga. The significance of the first day is to start the Navratri festival by invoking Goddess Shakti through the Ghatasthapana ritual.

FAQs

1- Whom do we worship on Chaitra Navratri?
On Chaitra Navratri, we worship Goddess Durga, and her nine avatars in nine days.

2- Which colours are associated with Chaitra Navratri?
Colours red, blue and yellow are associated with the celebration of Chaitra Navratri.