Devi · Durga and her nine forms
Navratri
Nine nights given to the Divine Mother, with fasting, prayer and the worship of her nine forms.
Also known as: Sharad Navratri, Chaitra Navratri, Nine Nights of the Goddess
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
Sharad Navratri, the main one, runs from the first (Pratipada) to the ninth (Navami) tithi of the bright half of Ashwin, just before Dussehra. Chaitra Navratri runs over the same tithis of Chaitra in spring and ends around Ram Navami.
About Navratri
Navratri means "nine nights". Four such periods occur in a lunar year, but two are widely observed: the one in autumn (Sharad) and the one in spring (Chaitra). Each night and day is dedicated to a different aspect of the Goddess, and devotees spend the period in prayer, fasting and reflection.
In the north and west, homes set up a small shrine, sow barley in a clay pot and recite the Durga Saptashati. Evenings in Gujarat are filled with garba and dandiya, while temples of the Goddess draw long queues of worshippers from before dawn.
Significance
The nights are seen as the victory of divine feminine power (Shakti) over negative forces, but also as an inner work: each form of the Goddess is taken as a quality to cultivate, such as courage, patience, knowledge and compassion.
The season also marks a change of weather, and the lighter, simple food of the fasting days is traditionally seen as a way to prepare body and mind for it. Socially, the nine days bring neighbourhoods together through shared worship, music and community meals.
Observing the nine days
- 1On Pratipada, clean the prayer space, bathe and perform Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana) in the stated muhurat: place a kalash of water with mango leaves and a coconut over a bed of soil in which barley is sown.
- 2Light an akhand jyot or a daily lamp before the Goddess and take a sankalp for the nine days.
- 3Worship one form each day: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri, with flowers, incense, fruit and sweets.
- 4Recite the Durga Saptashati, the Devi Kavach or simply the Durga mantras morning and evening.
- 5Keep a fast if you wish, eating fruit, milk, sabudana, kuttu or singhara flour and rock salt, or taking just one meal a day.
- 6On Ashtami or Navami, perform Kanya Pujan: wash the feet of young girls, offer them halwa, chana and puri, give a small gift and seek their blessings. A havan is also done by many.
- 7On the last day, sprinkle the water of the kalash around the house, take the sprouted barley as prasad and break the fast after the puja.
The story
According to the Devi Mahatmya, the buffalo demon Mahishasura gained a boon that no man or god could kill him, and he drove the gods out of heaven. The gods joined their energies to create a radiant goddess, each giving her a weapon, and she rode a lion into battle.
The fight lasted nine nights, and on the tenth day Durga defeated Mahishasura. This is why the nine nights are for the Goddess and the tenth is Vijayadashami. Another tradition, found in later and regional Ramayana retellings such as the Bengali Krittivasi Ramayana rather than in Valmiki, says that Rama worshipped the Goddess in this period before his battle with Ravana, which is why Sharad Navratri is also linked with the story of the Ramayana.
What to do
- ✓Keep the house and prayer space clean and calm.
- ✓Perform Ghatasthapana in the stated muhurat.
- ✓Eat simple, sattvic food on fasting days and drink enough water.
- ✓Honour young girls at Kanya Pujan with respect and warmth.
- ✓Spend some time in prayer, mantra or silence each day.
What to avoid
- ✕Traditionally, onion, garlic, grains and non-vegetarian food are avoided during the fast.
- ✕Avoid anger, quarrels and harsh speech.
- ✕Do not let the akhand jyot go out through carelessness.
- ✕Avoid cutting hair and nails on these days, as many families follow.
- ✕Do not leave the sprouted barley or the kalash unattended or disrespected.
Around the country
- Gujarat and Rajasthan: garba and dandiya raas are played every night around a lamp or an image of the Goddess.
- Bengal, Odisha and Assam: the nine nights lead into Durga Puja, with the main worship on the last four days.
- South India: Golu or Bommai Kolu, a display of dolls on steps, is arranged in homes, and Saraswati and Ayudha Puja are held on the last days.
- North India: Ramlila plays are staged during the same days and end with the burning of Ravana on Dussehra.
Frequently asked questions
How many Navratris are there in a year?
By the common count, four: Chaitra, Ashadha, Sharad (Ashwin) and Magha (some lists also name Paush). Chaitra and Sharad are the main ones; Ashadha and Magha are Gupt (secret) Navratris, kept by relatively few people, mainly devout practitioners and those following tantric paths.
Can Navratri have more or fewer than nine days?
Yes. Because tithis can begin or end within a day, one tithi may be repeated or skipped in the calendar, so the festival can span eight or ten calendar days in some years.
What can be eaten during the Navratri fast?
Customs vary, but commonly fruit, milk, curd, potatoes, sabudana, kuttu and singhara flour and rock salt are used. Those with health conditions should adjust the fast to suit themselves.