Navratri prasad – sweet saffron rice
A delicacy for Devi’s bhog to savour as Prasad, no bhog is complete without one sweet dish.
Chaitra Navratri, observed in the month of March or April, heralds nine-day festivities starting on the first day of Hindu Luni-Solar calendar. Chaitra being the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar, the festival is called Chaitra Navratri. Chaitra Navratri 2018 will be celebrated from March 18 to 25.
The last day of the nine days usually coincides with Rama Navami, the birthday of Lord Ram. Chaitra Navratri is hence also known as Ram Navratri, and Vasanta Navratri too because it marks the transition from spring to summer.
With Ashtami and Navami falling on the same day, the festivities will be restricted to eight days this year.
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Chaitra Navratri begins with Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, and with Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh.
The nine days are dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Shakti. The customs and rituals for Chaitra Navratri are mostly same as those followed during Shardiya Navratri, observed in the month of September or October.
The period of nine days is considered holy for Hindus who perform special poojas and havans to invoke the Goddess. Offerings (prasad) are made to the deity, and people observe fast on all nine days. Devotees observing fast shun all non-vegetarian food, onions, garlic, and even common salt, besides alcohol, as they are required to eat only sattvik meal food usually comprising fruits, milk, fruit and vegetable juices, kheer etc. Snacks made of kuttu and singhada, sabudana vada and khichdi are among the most popular ‘vrat ka khana’.
Some people also avoid wearing black during the period and don’t cut hair or nails, and many families follow a tradition of ‘Kanya Pujan’ on Ashtami and Navami.
Chaitra Navratri 2018 dates:
Day 1 (Pratipada): 18 March 2018
Day 2 (Dwitiya): 19 March 2018
Day 3 (Tritiya): 20 March 2018
Day 4 (Chaturthi): 21 March 2018
Day 5 (Panchami): 22 March 2018
Day 6 (Shashthi): 23 March 2018
Day 7 (Saptami): 24 March 2018
Day 8 (Ashtami-Navami): 25 March 2018
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