The first day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra begins two things at once in the north: the new year of the Vikram Samvat, and Chaitra Navratri, nine days and nights in honour of the nine forms of Durga. A pot is installed over a bed of sown barley on the first morning, a lamp is kept burning beside it, and the nine days end on Ram Navami.
The story
The Vikram era is named for Vikramaditya of Ujjain and runs fifty-seven years ahead of the common one. Tradition also holds this to be the day Brahma began creation, which is why the year turns in spring, as the wheat ripens.
There are four Navratris in a year. The autumn one is the most public; this spring one, also called Vasant Navratri, is kept more at home, and is tied to Rama, whose birthday closes it.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
To the goddess who abides in all beings as power: salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations again and again
From the Devi Mahatmya
How the nine days go
- GhatasthapanaOn the first morning a kalash of water is set on a bed of earth sown with barley, and the goddess is invoked in it.
- Akhand jyotiA ghee lamp is lit and kept burning for all nine days.
- The fastGrain, onion and garlic are given up; meals are of kuttu and singhara flour, sabudana, potatoes, fruit and sendha namak.
- Nine formsEach day belongs to one of the Navadurga, from Shailputri to Siddhidatri, and the Durga Saptashati is recited.
- Kanya pujanOn Ashtami or Navami nine small girls are welcomed as the goddess, their feet washed, and fed puri, halwa and black chana.
Why this date
Chaitra Navratri begins on the Pratipada of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, taken on the day it is present at sunrise; the pot is installed that morning. The Vikram year changes on the same day.
Chaitra Navratri in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday | |
| 2027 | Wednesday | |
| 2028 | Monday | |
| 2029 | Saturday | |
| 2030 | Wednesday | |
| 2031 | Monday |
More North Indian festivals
15 AprilRam Navamiराम नवमी
23 MarchHoliहोली
20 AprilHanuman Jayantiहनुमान जयंती
6 MarchMaha Shivaratriमहाशिवरात्रि
13 FebruaryRatha Saptamiरथ सप्तमी
8 MayAkshaya Tritiyaअक्षय तृतीया
Where to see Chaitra Navratri
In North India
- VindhyachalUttar PradeshThe hill shrine of Vindhyavasini near Mirzapur, with a Navratri fair that draws lakhs.
- MaiharMadhya PradeshSharda Devi's temple at the top of more than a thousand steps.
- Mansa Devi, HaridwarUttarakhandA hilltop shrine above the Ganga, reached on foot or by ropeway.
- Jhandewalan Temple, DelhiDelhiThe capital's busiest goddess temple during both Navratris.
Across India
- Vaishno Devi, KatraJammu and KashmirThe cave shrine in the Trikuta hills, at its most crowded in the two Navratris.
- Naina DeviHimachal PradeshA Shakti Peeth on a ridge above the Gobind Sagar lake.
- Kamakhya, GuwahatiAssamThe spring Navratri is kept here as Basanti Puja.