Shardiya Navratri 2023, also known as Maha Navratri, is a nine-day Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her various forms.
It begins on October 15, 2023, and ends on October 24, 2023.
Each day of Navratri is associated with a specific form of Goddess Durga, and devotees engage in various rituals, prayers, and cultural festivities.
The tenth day, known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra, symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, as it marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.
Here is the schedule for Shardiya Navratri 2023, along with the significance of the colors to be worn on each day:
Ghatasthapana, Maa Shailputri Puja - Wear orange for warmth and positivity.
Maa Brahmacharini Puja - Dress in white for purity and inner peace.
Maa Chandraghanta Puja - Wear red to symbolize passion and love.
Maa Kushmanda Puja, Vinayaka Chaturthi - Don royal blue to showcase elegance and richness.
Maa Skandamata Puja - Choose yellow attire to radiate optimism and joy.
Maa Katyayani Puja - Embrace green symbolizing growth, peace, and new beginnings.
Maa Kalaratri Puja - Opt for grey for balanced emotions and understated style.
Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja, Kanya Puja - Wear purple on Sunday to signify luxury and nobility.
Maha Navami, Maa Siddhidatri Puja, Havan - Adorn peacock green to embrace uniqueness, compassion, and freshness.
On the first day of Navratri, the festival begins with the ritual of Ghatasthapana, where a pot symbolizing Goddess Durga is filled with water and sown with barley seeds.
This pot is kept in the puja room and nurtured for nine days until the seeds sprout into small plants, which are considered auspicious.
Throughout the nine days, devotees perform puja ceremonies, offer flowers, fruits, and sweets to the goddess, and some observe fasting as a form of penance and devotion.
Evenings during Navratri come alive with energetic and colorful Garba and Dandiya Raas dances.
People dressed in traditional attire gather in large groups to dance to the rhythmic beats of Garba and Dandiya sticks, celebrating the joyous spirit of the festival.
On the eighth or ninth day of Navratri, young girls are worshipped as incarnations of Goddess Durga in a ritual called Kanya Pujan.
They are treated as guests, given special meals, and presented with gifts as a gesture of honor.
Each day of Shardiya Navratri corresponds to a specific form of Goddess Durga, and devotees perform special prayers and pujas to honor that form.
The Durga Saptashati or the Chandi Path, a scripture narrating the tales of Goddess Durga's valor, is recited during these nine days.
The festival is celebrated with vibrant and elaborate Garba and Dandiya Raas dances, symbolizing the circle of life, unity, and devotion.