Navratri 2023: Know auspicious dates, mahurat and puja rituals for 9-day festival

The air is filled with a sense of devotion and festive fervour as the devotees prepare to welcome Goddess Durga. The Navratri festival, dedicated to nine forms of Maa Durga, is just a few days away. As the Navratri festivities are observed in the Sharad Ritu, as per the Hindu calendar, it is also known as Sharadiya Navratri.

This year the festival begins on October 15 and ends on October 24, as per the Panchang. The Navratri festivities will culminate on Vijaya Dashami or Dussehra.

According to the Hindu calendar, Shardiya Navratri falls during the Pratipada to Navami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashwin. Devotees worship Goddess Durga and her nine manifestations, collectively known as the ‘Navadurga’. The festival holds immense significance, and preparations are underway for elaborate ceremonies and rituals.

- Start Date: Shardiya Navratri begins on October 15 on Pratipada Tithi.

- End Date: The festival concludes with Dussehra on October 24.

- Auspicious Time for Ghatasthapana: Devotees can establish the Kalash or Ghat between 11:48 a.m. to 12:36 a.m. on Pratipada Tithi during the Abhijeet Muhurta, which is considered the most propitious time to initiate the Navratri puja, as per the Panchang.

During these nine days of Navratri, devotees worship different forms of Goddess Durga. Here are the manifestations of Maa Durga worshipped during Navratri:

Day 1: Maa Shailputri

Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini

Day 3: Maa Chandraghanta

Day 4: Maa Kushmanda

Day 5: Maa Skandamata

Day 6: Maa Katyayani

Day 7: Maa Kalratri

Day 8: Maa Mahagauri

Day 9: Siddhidatri

- Pratipada Date: 6:16 a.m. to 11:52 p.m.

- Char Muhurta: 7:16 a.m. to 08:42 a.m.

- Amrit Muhurta: 10:09 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.

- Abhijeet Muhurta: 11:12 p.m. to 11:58 p.m.

- Auspicious Yoga Muhurta: 01:02 p.m. to 02:28 p.m.

Ghatasthapana marks the initiation of Navratri puja and it’s an important ritual for devotees to observe fast during the nine days. For Navratri Ghatasthapana devotees need Sapta Dhanya (seven types of grains), an earthen pot, soil, Kalash, Ganga water, mango or Ashoka leaves, betel nut, coconut, red clothes, and flowers.