Chaitra Navratri 2023: Navratri Devi Names and Nine Chaitra Navratri Colours 2023

The Chaitra Navratri 2023 will begin on Wednesday, March 22, 2023; the following nine days, till March 31, 2023, holds immense religious significance in Hinduism. Chaitra Navratri falls in the month of Chaitra according to the Hindu calendar which corresponds to March-April as per the Gregorian calendar.

Chaitra Navratri 2023

Navratri is one of the most popular and widely celebrated festivals in India. The word 'Navratri' literally means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, and it is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu goddess Durga and her nine avatars - Durga, Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandmata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Maha Gauri, and Siddhidatri being worshipped. During Navratri, different types of religious programs are organised across the country.

Chaitra Navratri 2022: Date, Timings (When is Navratri 2022?)

The Chaitra Navratri will be observed from March 22, 2023, to March 31, 2023. The Ashtami of the Chaitra Navratri, which is considered to be the most important day of ritual, falls on the 9th day of the Navratri which is on March 30.

Chaitra Navratri 2023: Navratri Devi Names and Nine Chaitra Navratri Colours 2023

Chaitra Navratri 2023 Tithi

Chaitra Navratri 2023 Significance

The festival is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India, but some customs and traditions are common across the country. During Navratri, people worship Durga and her nine forms, known as Navdurga, with great fervor and devotion. They observe fasts and offer prayers to seek her blessings for prosperity, happiness, and good health.

Chaitra Navratri Date and Time 2023 | BCCL

The festival begins with the installation of clay idols of Durga in homes and pandals (temporary structures) in various parts of the city. The idols are beautifully decorated with flowers, clothes, and jewelry, and people gather around them to offer prayers and seek blessings. The pandals are usually brightly lit up with colorful lights and decorations, creating a festive atmosphere.

9 forms of Navratri Devi | All about 9 incarnations of Goddess Durga

1. Goddess Shailputri

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Navratri begins with the worship of Goddess Shailputri who is also known as the Daughter of Mountain because in Sanskrit daughter means 'putri' and mountains means 'shail' (Shail+Putri = Shailputri). She rides on a white bull called Nandi and holds a Trishul in one hand and a lotus in the other. On this day devotees offer pure desi ghee or food made of it to Goddes Shailputri so that they get her blessing for a healthy life. Her favourite colour is white.

2. Goddess Brahmacharini

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On the second day of Navratri, devotees worship Goddess Brahmacharini--also known as the mother of devotion and penance--by offering her foods made of sugar to get her blessings. This form symbolises Goddess Parvati when she was engaged in deep meditation for many years to please Lord Shiv. She is adorned with white clothes with a chanting rosary (rudraksha mala) in her right hand and a kamandalu in her left hand. Her favourite colour is red.

3. Goddess Chandraghanta

Rudraksha Ratna

On the third day, devotees worship Goddess Chandraghanta also known as the destroyer of demons. She has 10 hands and nine of them hold a trident, mace, bow, arrow, lotus, sword, bell, and a waterpot and one hand remains in Abhay Mudra that blesses her devotees. She has a crescent moon on her forehead, which this why she is called Chandraghanta. She rides on a tiger and her favourite colour is royal blue. It is believed that if devotees offer her kheer, she takes away all their pain.

4. Goddess Kushmanda

Rudraksha Ratna

On the fourth day, devotees worship Goddess Kushmanda also known as Goddess of The Cosmic Egg. She is claimed to have created the world with her divine and radiant smile. She has eight hands and she rides on a lion. During this time, devotees offer her malpua which is considered to be her favourite food. Her favourite colour is yellow.

5. Goddess Skandamata

Rudraksha Ratna

Also known as Panchami or the Goddess of motherhood and children, Goddess Skandmata is worshipped by her devotees on the fifth day of Navratri. She has four arms two of them hold a lotus, and the other two held sacred kamandalu and a bell. She has three eyes and a bright complexion. Goddess carries Lord Kartikeya or Skanda on her lap that is why she is called Skandmata. Her favourite colour is green and her favourite food itemis bananas.

6. Goddess Katyayani

Rudraksha Ratna

On the sixth day of Navratri, devotees worship one of Goddess Shakti's forms 'Katyayani' or the warrior goddess. She has four hands that carry a sword, shield, lotus, and trident. She rides on a lion. Her favourite colour is grey. Devotees worship the goddess by offering her honey as prasad.

7. Goddess Kalaratri

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The seventh day of Navratri is dedicated to one of the most ferocious forms of Goddess Parvati, called Kalaratri, also known as Kali who sacrificed her skin colour and embraced a dark complexion to kill demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. She rides on a donkey. She has four hands and carries a sword, a trident and a noose, and the fourth one is on Abhaya and Varada Mudra to bless devotees. Her favourite colour is orange and devotees offer jaggery as prasad get her blessings.

8. Goddess Mahagauri

Rudraksha Ratna

Asthami or the eighth day of Navratri is dedicated to the four-armed deity Devi Mahagauri who rides on a bull or a white elephant and carries a Trishul and a damru in her hands. Her favourite colour is peacock green. Devotees offer coconut to maa Mahagauri.

9. Goddess Siddhidatri

Rudraksha Ratna

Goddess Siddhidhatri is the last form of Goddess Durga who sits on a lotus. She has four hands and holds a mace, discus, book and lotus in her hands. Her favourite colour is pink. The ferocious goddess is pleased with sesame seeds for safety and security from unnatural events.

9 points on Navratri that you should know about

1. Navratri is the most important and auspicious festival of India which is celebrated by Hindus around the world that dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga.

2. The word Navratri comes from the Sanskrit language - Nav' means ' Nine ' and ' Ratri ' means ' Night

3. Navratri comes four times a year - Magh Navratri, Chaitra or Vasanta Navratri, Ashadha Navratri, and Sharadiya Navratri out of them two - Chaitra and Sharadiya Navratri festivals are celebrated with great pomp.

4. Navratri is a nine-day long occasion that is dedicated to the worship of the nine avatars of Goddess Durga.

5. Ghatasthapana also known as Kalash establishment is one of the significant rituals during Navratri that marks the beginning of nine days of festivities.

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6. Durga puja begins on the 6th day of Navratri till the tenth day. During the nine-day festival, devotees pray, take part in the Dandiya Raas and Garba, and offer prasad to please Goddess Durga.

7. The nine-day festival is dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Durga - Shailaputri /Pratipada, Brahmacharini/ Dwitya, Chandraghanta/ Tritya, Kushmanda/ Chaturthi, Skandamata/ Panchami, Katyayini/ Shashti, Kalaratri/ Saptami, Mahagauri/ Ashtami, Siddhidaatri/ Navami, Vijayadashami (Dussehra)

8. Devotees fast for nine days and avoid grains, onions, meat, and alcohol.

9. In many places, devotees do Kanya Poojan or Kanjak Poojan on Ashtami (the Eighth day of Navratri) while some do it on Navami.

What are the nine Chaitra Navratri colours 2023?

Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.

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