Why is Navratri Festival Celebrated Twice?
Navratri, the most important Hindu festival, is celebrated twice a year during the months of March-April and September-October. The festival signifies the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. The nine days of Navratri symbolise each avatar of Maa Durga, and each avatar corresponds to the particular colour that devotees wear during the festival. Moreover, four Navratri are usually celebrated yearly: Sharad Navratri, Chaitra Navratri, Magha Gupta Navratri and Ashadha Gupt Navratri. But Chaitra Navratri(March-April) and Sharad Navratri(September-October) are the two most important festivals.
The nine days of Navratri define the nine forms of Maa Durga, and each day is dedicated to one form. Therefore, each day is considered auspicious. The nine forms of Maa Durga are Goddess Shailputri, Goddess Brahmacharini, Goddess Chandraghanta, Goddess Kushmanda, Goddess Skandamata, Goddess Katyayani, Goddess Kalratri, Goddess Mahagauri, and Goddess Siddhidhatri.
Why is Navratri celebrated twice?
The tradition of celebrating Navratri twice a year originates in ancient texts and scriptures. Sharad Navratri emerged earlier and is a most popular festival celebrated at the arrival of winter. Meanwhile, Chaitra Navratri started later. The one thing that is common between the two is the love and devotion towards Goddess Durga, known to have three forms: Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
As per Hindu scriptures, Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga before defeating Ravana; he was blessed with victory after nine days, which is now known as Vijayadashami; this story of Rama’s Navratri worship before defeating the evil gives rise to the practice of Sharad Navratri festival. Later, Goddess Durga, from the combined power of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, killed the demon Mahishasura after a nine-day battle. This event is said to have occurred in the month of Chaitra, which led to the beginning of the Vasant Navratri festival.
Other Reasons of Navratri:
Seasonal Change
The beginning of both Navratri marks the beginning of a change in weather. It marks the beginning of summer and winter, as significant changes are expected in nature. It is believed that Maa Durga will take care of our earth during such changes, which is why Navratri is celebrated twice a year.
Day and Night Length
The length of day and night is almost equal in both the Navratri periods. The weather is at its best, which creates a pleasant atmosphere for everyone. This perfect time is the cherry on top for celebrating this festival most emphatically.
Chaitra Navratri V/S Sharad Navratri
- In Chaitra Navratri, the word ‘Chaitra’ is derived from the Sanskrit word, which means the beginning of anything. It marks the start of the Hindu lunar calendar. On the other hand, Sharad Navratri falls between October and November.
- Chaitra Navratri revolves around a person’s spiritual desires, while Sharad Navratri focuses on worldly desires.
- The last day of Chaitra Navratri is known as Ram Navratri, as it commemorates the birth of Lord Rama. On the other hand, the last day of Sharad Navratri is seen as Vijayadashmi, to celebrate the victory of Maa Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
- Chaitra Navratri is most prevalent in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while Sharad Navratri is the most important festival in Gujarat and West Bengal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many Navratri are celebrated in a year?
A: The festival of Navratri is celebrated twice a year: Chaitra Navratri, which falls between March and April, and Sharad Navratri, which is celebrated between September and October.
Q: Why do we celebrate Navratri?
A: The festival of Navratri is celebrated as a most significant festival among the Hindus. This is a time which is believed when Goddess Durga came on earth to bless her devotees with health, wealth and good life.
Q: Why is Navratri celebrated for nine days?
A: The word Navratri itself explains that ‘Nav’ means nine and ‘ratri’ means night. During these nine days and nights, devotees worship Maa Durga in her nine divine forms or Avatars.
Q: Why do we celebrate Navratri two times in a year?
A: The first one is celebrated in the transition of winter and summer, summer and the second, done in autumn, is also the transition of Summer to Winter. If you notice care, both navratristri’s are celebrated during seasonal changes.
