Chaitra Navratri 2025: Start and End Dates, Full List Fasting Days, and History

Chaitra Navratri 2025: Chaitra Navratri is a sacred festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, celebrated with devotion and reverence across India. As the festival approaches, it’s time to know the start and end dates, nine days of fasting, and the significance of worshipping Goddess Durga in her nine different forms. As Jyotishacharya Radhakant Vats explains, this year’s Chaitra Navratri will be observed with special prayers, rituals, and fasting.

What is Chaitra Navratri?

Chaitra Navratri occurs during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the moon) in the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar. The festival is dedicated to the worship of Maa Durga in her nine incarnations. Each festival day is focused on one form of Goddess Durga, and devotees seek her blessings for health, wealth, and spiritual growth.

Chaitra Navratri 2025: Start and End Dates

In 2025, Chaitra Navratri will begin on March 30, 2025, Sunday, and end on April 6, 2025, Sunday. The festival will last for eight days this year, as the rituals for Ashtami and Navami will be combined and observed on the same day, April 6, 2025.

Chaitra Navratri 2025 Calendar: Full List of Fasting Days and Tithi

Each of the nine days of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to one of the nine forms of Maa Durga, with special prayers, fasts, and worship. The fasting days are observed to purify the body and mind while seeking the Goddess’s blessings for strength, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment. The forms of Goddess Durga are:

Chaitra Navratri 2025: Worshipping Nine Forms of Maa Durga

Each day is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga with its unique significance. Let’s take a look at the nine forms and their meanings:

• Maa Shailputri: The first day honours Maa Shailputri, the daughter of the mountains. She is worshipped to seek stability, peace, and health.
• Maa Brahmacharini: On the second day, Maa Brahmacharini is worshipped, the Goddess of penance and discipline. She helps devotees gain control over their desires and attain spiritual progress.
• Maa Chandraghanta: The third day is dedicated to Maa Chandraghanta, the symbol of tranquillity and peace. Her worship provides mental peace and removes all obstacles.
• Maa Kushmanda: On the fourth day, Maa Kushmanda, the creator of the universe, is worshipped. She blesses devotees with wealth, prosperity, and happiness.
• Maa Skandamata: The fifth day honours Maa Skandamata, the mother of Lord Skanda (Kartikeya). Her blessings bring peace, prosperity, and happiness.
• Maa Katyayani: On the sixth day, Maa Katyayani, the powerful form of Goddess Durga, is worshipped. Her blessings help devotees overcome obstacles and win battles.
• Maa Kalaratri: The seventh day is dedicated to Maa Kalaratri, the dark form of Goddess Durga. She is worshipped to destroy evil and negative forces in one’s life.
• Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri: On the last day, both Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri are worshipped. Maa Mahagauri represents purity and serenity, while Maa Siddhidatri is known for granting spiritual powers and fulfilling desires.

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Chaitra Navratri 2025: Special Rituals and Observances

• During these nine days, devotees observe strict fasting and offer special prayers to Goddess Durga. They also prepare prasad (offerings) like fruits and sweets and offer them to the Goddess at temples or at home. Each day, the devotees dedicate themselves to spiritual growth and inner peace through prayers and worship.
• On Ashtami (the eighth day), young girls are worshipped, as they are considered to be the incarnations of the Goddess in her youthful form. The ninth day coincides with Ram Navami, where devotees commemorate the birth of Lord Rama by offering prayers, fasting, and singing devotional songs in temples.

With each of the nine days dedicated to a different form of the Goddess, devotees seek her blessings for health, wealth, prosperity, and spiritual progress.

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