Festivals
Navratri Durga Puja 2023- Date, Muhurat, Puja Vidhi
Durga Puja
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Most auspicious of all auspicious, Parvati, Who fulfills all desires|
Refuge of everything, Three-eyed, Devi(Parvati), Lakshmi, We salute you ||
This shloka describes the powers of Great Mother Durga. Shri Devi Durga is the mother of all powers and represents the oneness of Lakshmi and Parvati. She gives us material prosperity (bhoga) as Lakshmi. She provides us liberation (moksha) as Parvati. Your prayer goes to the same power, no matter whom you pray, whether it is Lakshmi or Parvati. Shridevi Durga is that power who bestows you with whatever you ask for with complete devotion and faith.
Navaratri, which means ‘nine nights’ is the most celebrated Hindu festival devoted to Goddess Durga symbolizing purity and power or ‘Shakti’. The festival is celebrated at four different times in a year. Magh Navaratri (aka Gupt Navaratri), Chaitra / Vasant Navaratri (aka Ram Navaratri), Ashada Navaratri and Shardiya Navaratri also known as Maha Navaratri.
For every night of the Navaratri, nine forms of Goddess Maa Durga – Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri are worshiped by the devotees.
Navratri Puja Muhurat 2023
In 2023, Navratri will begin on Sunday, 15 October 2023, and last through the celebration of Dussehra on Tuesday, 24 October 2023.
According to the Hindu calendar, The auspicious Muhurat for Shardiya Navratri will begin at 11:44 AM and terminate at 12:30 PM.
On Saturday, 14 October 2023, at 11:24 PM, the Pratipada Muhurat will start and end On Monday, 16 October 2023, at 12:32 AM.
Upcoming Navaratri Day And Dates
Chaitra Navratri Dates 2023
| Day | Goddess Worship | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday [Ghatasthapana] (Pratipada) | Goddess Shailputri Pooja | 22nd March 2023 |
| Thursday (Dvitiya) | Goddess Brahmacharini Pooja | 23rd March 2023 |
| Friday (Tritiya) | Goddess Chandraghanta Pooja | 24th March 2023 |
| Saturday (Chaturthi) | Goddess Kushmanda Pooja | 25th March 2023 |
| Sunday (Panchami) | Goddess Skandamata Pooja | 26th March 2023 |
| Monday (Shashti) | Goddess Katyayani Pooja | 27th March 2023 |
| Tuesday (Saptami) | Goddess Kalaratri Pooja | 28th March 2023 |
| Wednesday (Ashtami) | Goddess Mahagauri Pooja | 29th March 2023 |
| Thursday [Ram Navami] (Navami) | Goddess Siddhidatri Pooja | 30th March 2023 |
| Friday [Dussehra] (Dashmi) | Navratri Parana | 31st March 2023 |
Sharad Navratri Festival Dates 2023-2024
| Day | Goddess Worship | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday [Ghatasthapana] (Pratipada) | Goddess Shailputri Pooja | 15th October 2023 |
| Monday [Chandra Darshan] (Dvitiya) | Goddess Brahmacharini Pooja | 16th October 2023 |
| Tuesday [Sindoor Tritiya] (Tritiya) | Goddess Chandraghanta Pooja | 17th October 2023 |
| Wednesday (Chaturthi) | Goddess Kushmanda Pooja | 18th October 2023 |
| Thursday [Upang Lalita Vrat] (Panchami) | Goddess Skandamata Pooja | 19th October 2023 |
| Friday (Shashti) | Goddess Katyayani Pooja | 20th October 2023 |
| Saturday (Saptami) | Goddess Kalaratri Pooja | 21st October 2023 |
| Sunday (Ashtami) | Goddess Mahagauri Pooja | 22nd October 2023 |
| Monday [Ram Navami] (Navami) | Goddess Siddhidatri Pooja | 23rd October 2023 |
| Tuesday [Dussehra] (Dashmi) | Navratri Parana | 24th October 2023 |
Mythological Story Behind Navaratri
Hindus celebrate Navratri as a time to commemorate Durga’s victory against Mahishasura, the Demon.
The story starts with Lord Brahma, who bestowed Mahishasura (demon) immortality as a reward for his dedication to him. But he made a condition for this gift that only a woman could defeat him. The deal seemed fair to Mahishasura since he was confident that no woman could ever kill him.
With time, Mahishasura and his army became a formidable threat to earth’s inhabitants, and no god was capable of defeating him.
After seeing his cruelty, the three most powerful Hindu gods – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva – united and transformed themselves into Goddess Durga, the only one capable of destroying Mahishasura.
The gods provided several weapons to Durga before she faced Mahishasura.
The Demon fought with Goddess Durga for ten days, which was quite arduous for Goddess as he constantly changed his form to confuse her. Ultimately, Goddess Durga defeated that monster when he transformed himself into a buffalo.
It’s considered most auspicious to perform Maa Durga Puja during Navratri. You can book the ceremony on our Portal – www.smartpuja.com
Significance of Navaratri Durga Puja
Navaratri festivity is celebrated for nine nights, which commences on the 7th of October and ends on the 15th of October. Also known as Sharad Poornima (Navratri), this festival falls during the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. During these Nine days, Bengalis pay their respects to all 9 manifestations of goddess Durga by celebrating Durga Pooja.
- On the 1st day of Navaratri, devotees reverent the daughter of the Himalayan Raja, Goddess Shailputri, for attaining enlightenment.
- On the 2nd day of Navaratri, devotees propitiate Goddess Brahmacharini, the unmarried manifestation of Devi Parvati. Devotees dedicate this day to meditation.
- The 3rd day of Navaratri is devoted to Goddess Chandraghanta, where Chandra is known as the moon and Ghanta as the bell. Devotees eliminate all the caprice from their minds and focus on the divine.
- On the 4th day of Navaratri, devotees revere Devi Kushmanda, also known as Pumpkin. This goddess represents the power of creative creation.
- The 5th day of Navaratri is devoted to Goddess Skandamata (Mother Of Skanda). A day of worship on this day is believed to bring luck, prosperity, wisdom, abundance, health, and power to the devotee.
- On the 6th day of Navaratri, devotees revere warrior Goddess Katyayani who exterminates all evil forces throughout the universe.
- On the 7th day of Navaratri, devotees worship Goddess Kaalratri, known as the fierce manifestation of Devi.
- The 8th day of Navaratri is devoted to Devi Mahagauri, invoking freedom and momentum in the lives of her devotees.
- The 9th day of Navaratri is devoted to Devi Siddhidatri, where siddhi denotes perfection. Devotees worship on this day to make their impossible task possible.
- The 10th day of Navaratri, known as Vijaya Dashmani, is celebrated by Navaratri havan and immersing idols in water.
Significance of 9 Colours in Navratri
| Day | Colour | Significance | Goddess Worshipped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Orange | Happiness and Energy | Goddess Shailputri |
| Day 2 | White | Purity and Peace | Goddess Brahmacharini |
| Day 3 | Red | Fearlessness and Beauty | Goddess Chandraghanta |
| Day 4 | Blue | Wealth and Health | Goddess Kushmanda |
| Day 5 | Yellow | Brightness and Happiness | Goddess Skandamata, Goddess Durga |
| Day 6 | Green | Growth and New Beginning. | Goddess Katyayani |
| Day 7 | Grey | Transformation | Goddess Kalaratri |
| Day 8 | Purple | Peace and Intellect | Goddess Mahagauri |
| Day 9 | Peacock Green | Fulfillment of Wishes | Goddess Siddhidhatri |
Rituals and Practices During Navaratri
Hindus give particular emphasis to Navratri; thus, during its nine days, devotees of the Goddess Durga observe a variety of ceremonies. Barley or “jowar” seeds are placed in a painted clay pot on the first day, and by the tenth day, the delicate shoots are given to the worshippers. Barley is thought to have been the first crop grown after the planet was created. The primary justification for planting barley is that since Brahma reveres food, it deserves respect.
After a hard fast of nine days, they begin the ceremonies by chanting pious melodies throughout these glorious nine nights. People pray to the mother deities in temples and other religious settings to receive their full blessings. One of the religious customs associated with Navratri is giving sweetmeats (bhog) to young girls.
The worshippers worship the Goddess all day while reciting the Navratri mantras and studying sacred books.
Navratri Vrat Katha
There is a Katha after every puja during Navratri.
There was an ancient Brahmin named Sunantha whose story goes like this:
- Sunantha was a true devotee of Goddess Durga, and he worshipped her daily.
- He was bestowed with an exquisite daughter Sumathi who was captivated by her appearance and was never attentive during the Pooja, which infuriated her parents to such an extent that they acted swiftly to punish her by marrying her off to a leprous man.
- Despite her marriage, she still believed in Durga Maa, that she would shield her from all troubles.
- A few hours after her marriage, she entered the jungle, where the Goddess Durga encountered her.
- The Goddess told the girl that if she wanted her husband to be healed, she must fast without water for nine nights.
- As a result of her devotion, the girl kept the fast and led a contented life afterward.
Navaratri Puja Samagri
These are some of the most common samagris which are required during Pooja:
| Coconut | Mango and Ashoka Leaves |
| Red Fabric (cloth) | Sandalwood Paste |
| Rice | Haldi (Turmeric) |
| Paan | Roli |
| Cardamom | Cloves |
| Moli | Supari |
| Vermilion | Coins |
| Incense Stick | Wooden Lamp |
| Kalash | Dhoop |
| Rose Petals | Flowers like hibiscus and bael leaves |
| One tin of Ghee | Coal |
| Havan Samagri | Ganga Jal |
| Clay Pot | Soil |
Navaratri Pooja Vidhi At Home
Here’s the step-by-step Vidhi for Navaratri Pooja:
- The vidhi starts with Ghatasthapana, a ritual that entails placing the idol of Goddess Durga on a chowki surrounded by barley and clay pots. Please make sure you perform Ghatasthapana in the prescribed Muhurat.
- The second step involves Kalash Sthapana, where the devotee should pour some sacred water into the Kalash and then places coins, flowers, Ashoka, and five mango leaves inside. Then, place a coconut wrapped in red cloth and rice on top of the lid used to cover the Kalash’s upper part.
- The third step involves lighting the Diya in front of the idols of deities and then worshipping either the Kalash or Ghat by Panchopachar (these are Naivedya, Deepak, Flower Dhoop and Scent).
- In the fourth step, Chowki Sthapana is done, where the devotee evokes the Goddess Durga and installs her. For this, the devotee should cover the chowki with red cloth. Place the idol Goddess Durga on the chowki and tie the Moli around it.
- In the fifth step, Durga Pooja is done where the devotee invokes Goddess Durga to enlighten their home by chanting necessary mantras/prayers. During the nine days of the festival, devotees pray to the Maa Durga for her presence in their homes.
- In the sixth step, Aarti of Goddess Durga is performed, where the devotee recites Aarti joyfully with the Pooja thali and bell. Once the Aarti is concluded, offer ‘bhog’ (sweets and fruits) along with homemade Navratri recipes to family and guests.
Many devotees practice fasting in Navratri.
Benefits of Navaratri Puja
- The Navaratri Pooja is a simple yet powerful Pooja that devotees perform yearly with devotion.
- Navaratri Pooja Vidhi is similar for Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri.
- It is believed that those who perform the puja with great enthusiasm will be endowed with abundance, prosperity, good health, fortune, peace, and happiness.
Navaratri Across Different Regions
North India
In north India, Navratri is a festival celebrating Lord Rama’s victory over the cruel king Ravana. It is shown in the Ramlila celebrations, which are performed on Dussehra. On “Vijaya Dashami,” the dummies of Ravana are burned to mark the triumph of good over evil.
In honour of Mother Divine and her entire creation, including all forms of life, art, music, and wisdom, these nine days are packed full of special pujas, homas, meditations, yagnas, fasting, singing, and dance. She is revered as the person who will deliver humanity from ignorance and all wickedness.
Western India
The well-known Garba and Dandiya-Raas dances are performed during Navratri in Western India, especially in Gujarat. Women dance gently in circles around a pot holding a lamp in the beautiful dancing style known as garba. The womb is referred to as “Garba” or “Garbha” in this context, and the lamp in the pot is meant to symbolise the life within a womb. Along with the Garba, there is another dance called the Dandiya, in which women and men perform in pairs while clutching tiny, ornately decorated bamboo sticks, or dandiyas.
Eastern India
In North East India and West Bengal, Sharad Navratri’s final five days are celebrated as Durga Puja. Goddess Durga is seen carrying many weapons and riding a lion. The lion symbolises dharma or determination, and the weapons represent the intensity and attention required to extinguish the evil in our minds. The eighth day is known as Durgashtami. In some locations and temples, life-size clay statues of the Goddess Durga showing her slaughtering the demon Mahishasura are installed. They are exquisitely constructed and painted. Then, after five days of worship, these statues are immersed in the river.
Southern States
Navratri is a festive period in south India when people invite their friends, family, and neighbours to view the Kolu, an exhibition of different dolls and figurines. In Karnataka, Navratri is known as Dasara. During the nine nights of Navratri, a night-long dance called Yakshagana, which takes the shape of epic dramas from the Puranas, is performed. During the Mysore Dasara, the win of good over evil is celebrated with great pomp. On the Mahanavami, the Ayudha Puja is performed in many regions of South India.
Navaratri Cuisine
Regular grains like wheat and rice are not permitted when fasting during Navratri. During Navratri fasts, you should consume buckwheat flour, water chestnut flour, or amaranth flour. Instead of rice, use barnyard millet to make khichdi, dhoklas, or kheer. Another essential meal during Navratri is sabudana, used to make kheer, vadas, and papads. You can eat all kinds of fruits. In vegetables, avoid onion and garlic. You should also avoid eating non-vegetarian food because it is considered unholy and inauspicious.
Navaratri Durga Puja With SmartPuja
SmartPuja is a religious startup offering Hassle-Free end-to-end Sacred Puja services. Based on your language preference, we’ll assign an experienced Pandit Ji from our team and perform Durga Puja as per proper Vedic rituals. You can easily book pandits in:
| Ahmedabad | Bangalore | Chennai | Delhi |
| Hyderabad | Kolkata | Mumbai | Pune |
| Lucknow | Patna | Indore | Agra |
| Jaipur | Mysuru | Nagpur | Varanasi |
| Visakhapatnam | Bhopal | Chandigarh | Haridwar |
We’ll also send all Puja items and Puja materials, including Flowers, Leaves, Havan Samagri, etc., for the auspicious Puja and will also assist with catering, florist, and photography services. From your side, you’ll need to arrange the Prasad items like Sweets, Fruits, and Panchamrit.
For Navaratri, We offer different variants of this Auspicious Puja, namely –
– Durga Puja (9 Days) with Havan
– Durga Puja (9 Days – Samput Path) with Havan
– Durga Puja (1st and 9th Day) with Havan
– Durga Puja and Havan (1 Day)
Here are the service details –
1. Durga Puja (9 Days) with Havan
SmartPuja will send an experienced North Indian Pandit Ji to perform the Puja ceremony. In this Puja, we perform Durga Saptashati Path for 9 days with Havan on the final day.
- The daily rituals include Ganapati Puja, Sankalp, Kalash Puja, Durga Puja and Path. Puja duration will be around 1.5 – 2 hours each day.
- The total cost of Puja includes Pandit Ji’s Dakshina, Travel expenses, Puja items, materials, etc.
2. Durga Puja (9 Days Samput) with Havan
SmartPuja will send an experienced North Indian Pandit Ji to perform the Puja ceremony. In this Puja, we perform Durga Saptashati Samput Path for 9 days with Havan on the final day. Here we perform an elaborate Puja where a Samput Mantra is chanted after each Shloka in the Path. Hence the duration of this Puja is 3+ hours each day.
- The daily rituals include Ganapati Puja, Sankalp, Kalash Puja, Durga Puja and Samput Path.
- The total cost of Puja includes Pandit Ji’s Dakshina, Travel expenses, Puja items, materials, etc.
3. Durga Puja (1st and 9th Day) with Havan
SmartPuja will send an experienced North Indian Pandit Ji to perform the Puja ceremony. In this Puja, we perform Durga Saptashati Path on 1st day with Kalash Sthapan and Durga Havan on the final day.
- The rituals include Ganapati Puja, Sankalp, Kalash Puja, Durga Puja and Path.
- The total cost of Puja includes Pandit Ji’s Dakshina, Travel expenses, Puja items, materials, etc.
4. Durga Puja With Havan (1 Day)
An experienced North Indian Pandit Ji to perform the Puja ceremony. In this Puja, we perform Durga Saptashati Path once with Havan.
- The Puja rituals include Ganapati Puja, Sankalp, Kalash Puja, Durga Puja and Path with Havan.
- The total cost of Puja includes Pandit Ji’s Dakshina, Travel expenses, Puja items, materials, etc.
How To Book Navaratri Durga Puja
To book the Puja, we’ll need some basic information like –
- Full Name:
- Mobile Number:
- E-mail Address:
- Puja Variant and Date of Puja:
- Location Address:
Once the Puja is booked, you’ll receive an E-mail and SMS with the booking details. Along with it, you’ll receive the link for advance invoice payment. The balance amount is to be paid online or in cash to Pandit Ji after completing the Puja.
We’ll also send you an email with the list of household items (like Plates, Bowls, Spoons, Napkins, etc.) that you’ll need to keep ready before the start of the Puja.
Please Click on the link below to Book the Navaratri Durga Puja.
Call us on 080-61160400 or WhatsApp @ 9036050108 for more details.
SmartPuja has a team of Qualified, Knowledgeable, and Experienced Pandits who perform Pujas as per your community, language, and region specifications. We take care of the entire process, right from booking and assigning the right Pandit, with the best Muhurat, Puja Items, Puja Samagri, Flowers, etc. All you need to do is to book the service, sit back and relax while we work on ensuring that you get a satisfying and divine Puja experience.
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FAQs Related To Navaratri Durga Puja
For those who are facing difficulties in health, wealth, growth or career, then chanting these mantras during Navaratri Pooja can resolve all your problems:
सर्व मंगल मंगलये, शिव सर्वार्थ साधिका
शरणये त्रयम्बके गौरी, नारायणी नमोस्तुते
सर्व स्वरूप सर्वेशे, सर्व शक्ति समन्वय
भये भ्यास्त्राही नो देवी, दुर्गे देवी नमोस्तुते
एत्त्ते वदानं सौम्य लोचन त्रैभुशीतम
पातु न सर्वभितिभ्या: कात्यायनि नमोस्तुते
सर्व वधविनरमुक्तो धन धान्य सुतनविता:
मनुश्यो मतप्रसादें भविष्यति न संशायम
According to tradition, orange is to be worn on Navratri’s first day because it symbolises happiness and energy.
According to beliefs, Hindus must not consume onion, garlic, eggs, and meat during the nine Navratri days. But for Bengalis in the Durga Puja celebration within these nine days, consuming rich and good food delicacies including vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes is a form of celebration.
Desi Ghee, sugar, kheer, malpua, banana, honey, jaggery, coconut and sesame seeds.
The Gujarati tradition of doing Dandiya and Garba dances during Navratri has gained enormous popularity throughout the rest of the nation. The dance styles are traditionally a creative dramatisation of a pretend battle between the Goddess Durga and Mahishasura.
In the nine days before Dussehra, Ramleela, an adaptation of the Ramayana, is performed throughout several festival grounds in the nation’s northern half. An all-day fast is kept during the nine nights of Navratri, and it is broken in the evening with celebrations and dancing.
