Did you know that there are 4 Navaratris a year?
Most of us know what Navratri is. It’s the 9 day celebration of the 9 forms of the mother goddess, and it happens usually in October. While this is right, it’s not the only time these 9 forms are revered. Navratri actually happens 4 times a year! The 2 famous Navratris are Chaitra Navratri and Sharadiya Navratri. There are 2 much less known ones, Magh and Ashadha, called Gupt (secret) Navratri. Taken together, the 4 festivals are attuned to seasonal changes. So, Magh Navratri falls during winter (January or early February), Chaitra or Vasanta (during spring March /April), Ashadha (during monsoon in July / August) and Sharadiya (during autumn, i.e. September/October). Today, we are going to learn a bit more on this, especially about the Navratri that just happened in February.
What is the significance of the 4 Navratris?
The significance of these celebrations lie not just in ushering in a new season, it also underlines close ties between Shakti (the divine feminine power) and the never ending cycle of birth, fruition, destruction and rebirth. Like the crops, plants and all of nature, nothing is lost in the world, they just keep changing forms. Navratri is about recognising the core idea of this cycle and accepting that we have a place in it too, as part of god’s creation.
What happens during Magha Navratri?
Magha Navratri starts with the ‘Pratipada’ (1st day) and goes on till the ‘Navami’ (9th day) during the Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of moon) in the month of Magha in the Saka calendar. It’s also called ‘Shishir Navratri’, as heavy dew falls at this time of the year. An idol of Goddess Durga is placed on a red cloth at home. She is worshipped with vermillion, rice, seasonal flowers, and incense sticks. In North Indian states, devotees offer chunri, bindi and bangles to the idol. Most devotees wake up early and have a bath, despite the cold, since they want to be fresh and clean for the morning rituals. Most devotees also practice dietary restrictions, stcking to light vegetarian meals without onion or garlic.
How does the Magha Navratri celebration vary from state to state?
Magha Gupta Navratri is predominately celebrated for all 9 days by devotees of Shakti in the northern states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The 5th day is celebrated separately as Vasant Panchami in many states such as West Bengal, Orissa, Tripura, Karnataka, Bihar etc. This day is dedicated to the puja of Goddess Saraswati, the deity of arts and all knowledge. It’s a separate festival by itself.