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NAVARATRI

When is Navaratri in 2024?

Navaratri in 2024 is on the Thursday, 3rd of Oct (10/03/2024).

Navaratri is on the 277th day of 2024. There are 89 days left in the year.

Navaratri Facts

  • Date: Oct 03, 2024
  • Religious
  • Also Called: Sharad Navaratri
  • Celebrations: Nine forms of godess are worshiped.
Navaratri iImage Credit: wikiPedia

"India is the cradle of human race, the birth place of human speech, the mother of history, the grand mother of legends, and the great grandmother of traditions" --Mark Twin

Social customs and traditions are the essential element of Indian culture. No where else on the earth the natural and spiritual worlds are so intertwined as in India. This is the place where fire and air, animals and trees, mountains and rivers are revealed as Gods. One of the most powerful in these natural deities is the Goddess Durga- the Goddess of power, energy and strength. In Indian mythology, deity Durga is the energy aspect of Lord, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. She is embodiment of purity, knowledge, and truth. It is mentioned in the oldest and the most important scriptures of India that "Mother, you have created this Universe. You are the strength of all (god and sages). Without you Lord has no expressions".

Navarati or Navadurga Parva is the festival, dedicated to the Hindu deity Durga as a destroyer of evil and misery. These auspicious nine days are celebrated all over the India, when nine forms of goddess Durga, Bhadrakali, Sarvamangla, Bheravi, Chandika, Lalita, Annpurna, Amba, Bhavani and Durga are worshipped each day. In north India, people celebrate Navaratri by worshipping the idols of deity Durga. In Bengal, decorative Pandals are made, where devotees visit for the blessings of goddess Durga. In Gujrat, the nine nights of this festival are celebrated by performing Garba. In South India, during this festival 'Golu' is celebrated in which various kinds of clay dolls are decorated on the nine steps of Kolu. This festival is very popular in the states of west Bengal, Orrisa, Bihar, and Utter Pradesh.

This festival is also popular by other names as Dusshera and Durga Puja.The word "Navaratri" means 'nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning night. During these ten days we invoke the energy aspect of goddess Durga in the form of universal mother. Navaratri in India follows the lunar calendar and is celebrated in March/April as Chitra Navaratri and in September/October as Sharad Navratri.

As per the Hindu Holy scriptures, this festival has a rich historical and cultural background. Hindu mythology tells an interesting tale of the fierce battle of Durga and Mahishasura who harassed devas and humans. Deity Durga, destroyed the demon on the ninth day of the battle. All the humans and devas rejoiced her victory. From that day the tenth day of the navratri is celebrated as "Vijyadasmi". In the Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabhatra there are various refrences of deity Durga. In Ramayana, Lord Rama worshipped deity Durga before starting for his battle with Ravana to get her blessings. In Mahabharta, Lord Krishna also advised Arjuna to worship goddess Durga to ensure his victory in the battle of Kurukshetra.

Hindu celebrated these days to glorify the deity Durga with a great joy. Prayers and fasting for nine consecutive days are offered to her. The first day is dedicated to Kumari which signifies the girl child. On the second day prayers are offered to Deity Parvati who is embodiment of a young woman. On the third day, Kali is worshipped and the other days are dedicated to Goddess lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of art and knowledge). Prayers are offered to her to seek spiritual knowledge.

Thus, the nine nights of Navaratri are considered as the most auspicious days in Hindu culture. This festival is also a reminder that evil can never triumph over the power of truth.

Author: Dr. Nidhi Jindal

Navaratri Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME
  • Thu
  • Sep 25, 2014
  • Tue
  • Oct 13, 2015
  • Sat
  • Oct 01, 2016
  • Thu
  • Sep 21, 2017
  • Wed
  • Oct 10, 2018

List of Religious Holidays of Hindu in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
MondayMonJan 15, 2024Jan 15Makarsankranti / Pongal
FridayFriJan 26, 2024Jan 26Thaipusam
WednesdayWedFeb 14, 2024Feb 14Vasant Panchami
FridayFriMar 08, 2024Mar 08Maha Shivaratri
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20Hindi New Year
SundaySunMar 24, 2024Mar 24Holika Dahan
MondayMonMar 25, 2024Mar 25Holi
TuesdayTueApr 09, 2024Apr 09Ugadi / Gudi Padwa / Telugu New Year
SaturdaySatApr 13, 2024Apr 13Vaisakhi / Baisakhi / Vishu
SundaySunApr 14, 2024Apr 14Tamil New Year
MondayMonApr 15, 2024Apr 15Bengali New Year / Bihu
WednesdayWedApr 17, 2024Apr 17Ramanavami
TuesdayTueApr 23, 2024Apr 23Hanuman Jayanti
FridayFriMay 10, 2024May 10Akshaya Tritiya
ThursdayThuJun 06, 2024Jun 06Savitri Pooja
SundaySunJul 07, 2024Jul 07Puri Rath Yatra
SundaySunJul 21, 2024Jul 21Guru Purnima
FridayFriAug 09, 2024Aug 09Nag Panchami
FridayFriAug 16, 2024Aug 16Varalakshmi Vrat
MondayMonAug 19, 2024Aug 19Raksha Bandhan
MondayMonAug 26, 2024Aug 26Krishna Janmashtami
SaturdaySatSep 07, 2024Sep 07Ganesh Chaturthi
MondayMonSep 16, 2024Sep 16Vishwakarma Puja
TuesdayTueSep 17, 2024Sep 17Onam
WednesdayWedOct 02, 2024Oct 02Mahalaya Amavasya
ThursdayThuOct 03, 2024Oct 03Navaratri begins
FridayFriOct 11, 2024Oct 11Navaratri ends / Maha Navami
SaturdaySatOct 12, 2024Oct 12Dusshera
WednesdayWedOct 16, 2024Oct 16Sharad Purnima
SundaySunOct 20, 2024Oct 20Karwa Chauth
TuesdayTueOct 29, 2024Oct 29Dhan Teras
FridayFriNov 01, 2024Nov 01Diwali
SundaySunNov 03, 2024Nov 03Bhai Dooj
ThursdayThuNov 07, 2024Nov 07Chhath Puja
FridayFriNov 15, 2024Nov 15Kartik Poornima
WednesdayWedDec 11, 2024Dec 11Geeta Jayanti
SundaySunDec 15, 2024Dec 15Dhanu Sankranti

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
FridayFriJan 12, 2024Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
FridayFriJan 19, 2024Jan 19National Popcorn Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02National Wear Red Day
WednesdayWedFeb 07, 2024Feb 07National Signing Day
FridayFriFeb 09, 2024Feb 09National Pizza Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 14, 2024Feb 14Valentine's Day
ThursdayThuFeb 15, 2024Feb 15National Bagel Day
SundaySunFeb 18, 2024Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
ThursdayThuFeb 22, 2024Feb 22National Margarita Day
ThursdayThuFeb 29, 2024Feb 29Leap Day
FridayFriMar 01, 2024Mar 01National Employee Appreciation Day
ThursdayThuMar 07, 2024Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 10, 2024Mar 10Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11National Napping Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Walkout Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Pi Day
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20National Proposal Day
SaturdaySatMar 23, 2024Mar 23National Puppy Day
SaturdaySatMar 30, 2024Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 03, 2024Apr 03National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 04, 2024Apr 04National Burrito Day
SundaySunApr 07, 2024Apr 07National Beer Day
ThursdayThuApr 11, 2024Apr 11National Pet Day
FridayFriApr 12, 2024Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 02, 2024May 02National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 12, 2024May 12Mother's Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Towel Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 07, 2024Jun 07National Donut Day
SaturdaySatJun 08, 2024Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 16, 2024Jun 16Father's Day
FridayFriJun 21, 2024Jun 21National Selfie Day
SaturdaySatJun 22, 2024Jun 22National Kissing Day
SaturdaySatJul 13, 2024Jul 13National French Fry Day
SundaySunJul 14, 2024Jul 14National Nude Day
WednesdayWedJul 17, 2024Jul 17National Hot Dog Day
SundaySunJul 21, 2024Jul 21National Ice Cream Day
TuesdayTueJul 23, 2024Jul 23Amazon Prime Day
WednesdayWedJul 24, 2024Jul 24National Tequila Day
MondayMonJul 29, 2024Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
ThursdayThuAug 01, 2024Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 04, 2024Aug 04National Sister Day
WednesdayWedSep 18, 2024Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
ThursdayThuOct 03, 2024Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Vodka Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Taco Day
WednesdayWedOct 09, 2024Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 19, 2024Oct 19Sweetest Day
TuesdayTueOct 29, 2024Oct 29National Cat Day
ThursdayThuOct 31, 2024Oct 31Halloween
SundaySunNov 03, 2024Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 29, 2024Nov 29Black Friday
MondayMonDec 02, 2024Dec 02Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 07, 2024Dec 07Candle Day
MondayMonDec 09, 2024Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 20, 2024Dec 20National Ugly Sweater day