Shardiya Navratri 2024: Know Date, Time And Significance Of This Festival

Shardiya Navratri is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. Devotees worship Goddess Durga for her hard-fought victory against the demon Mahishashura. The battle lasted for nine days and nights. The tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra. People worship Goddess Durga on this day. This year, Navratri will start from the Pratipada of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month. It will begin on October 3 and is said to be performed till Navami on October 11. Navratri is observed four times a year, but Chaitra and Sharadiya Navratri are said to be the major ones among them. Devotees perform pujas and keep fast during these nine days to worship Goddess Durga. It is also believed that the Shardiya Navratri is associated with Lord Rama and Mother Sita.

In Hindu mythology, it is said that Lord Rama did not want to wait to worship the Goddess of Shakti before the final battle with Ravana. He worshipped the Goddess for 9 days before the final battle with Ravana. Pleased with Lord Rama’s dedication, the Goddess Durga blessed him to achieve victory. In the scriptures, Vedas and Puranas, the importance of Navratri is said to be associated with Lord Rama.

According to Haridwar-based astrologer Pandit Shridhar Shastri, the importance of Shardiya Navratri is associated with Lord Rama and Ravana. Before the final battle with Ravana, Lord Rama invoked Goddess Durga, the goddess of power, to worship her. After the completion of Navratri, Lord Rama conquered Ravana on Dashami.

According to religious scriptures, every year, Sharadiya Navratri begins from the Pratipada of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month. During these nine days, the devotees keep fast and worship Goddess Durga by reciting Durga Stotra and Durga Chalisa. As per the Hindu belief, Goddess Durga blesses their devotee and fulfils all their wishes if they worship her with dedication during Navratri.

Each day of Navratri is associated with a different incarnation of Durga, such as Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, and Chandraghanta. It is also considered a harvest festival that celebrates the goddess as the motherly power behind life and creation.