Chaitra Navratri is one of the most celebrated festivals in India especially in the northern part of the country. This festival of nine days usually occurs between the months of March and April. According to the Hindu calendar, Chaitra is the first month of the year and people welcome the new year with great enthusiasm.

During the month of Chaitra, goddess Durga who is an epitome of power and courage is worshipped by devotees for a period of 9 days hence the festival is called Chaitra Navratri. This festival is celebrated in other parts of India but is known by other names like Gudi Padva, Ugadi and Vasant Navratri.

The significance of Chaitra Navratri is explained in the Hindu religious texts. It is stated that those who worship Maa Durga with utmost faith and dedication on these ten days will be blessed by the deity. Goddess Durga will wipe away all your sins and relieves you from the pains of life and provides moksha.

As per the mythological scriptures, Lord Shiva permitted his consort Parvati to visit her mother’s place for nine days so it has been in practice that women even today go their parents’ house during this festival. There is another legend that states Maa Durga assassinated the ruthless demon hence Durga puja is performed during Navratri.

In India, the Navratri festival is celebrated two times in a year; one is the Chaitra Navratri celebrated at the beginning of the summer season and the other Navratri festival is observed on the arrival of the winter season. However, the customs and rituals practiced during both the Navratri festivals are mostly similar.

Below are mentioned the rituals of Chaitra Navratri:

• One must ensure that cleanliness is maintained in the house
• Devotees must wake up early in the morning and take a bath and then make arrangements for the puja.
• Observing fast during Chaitra Navratri is believed to appease the deity and the performer will get rid of all the negativities.
• Puja is performed to the idols of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati on all the nine days.
• Fresh flowers and fruits are offered to deities, mantras are chanted and aarti is performed for nine days and devotees break their fast on the ninth day that is on Ramnavami.
• On the tenth day, after performing puja and offering prasad; the idols are submerged in water bodies.