Navratri 2020 – Auspicious Dates, Colors & Rituals

Navratri or Vasant Navami as many refer to it is a nine-day festival primarily celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil. Dedicated to Goddess Durga, it’s one of the most prominent festivals of the Hindu religion and is celebrated with full joy and fervor.

The word Navratri is a combination of two words: “Nava” meaning nine and “Ratri” meaning Night. Thus, the devotees worship Goddess Durga and her nine divine forms during this period and also observe fasts and abstinence.

As per legends, Goddess Durga (also called as Goddess Kali) is the epitome of strength (Shakti) and it is believed that she killed Mahishasura (the buffalo demon) after a long fight that continued for 9 days and nights and on the 10th day, the asura was killed.

According to the Hindu calendar, Navratri comes 4 times a year – Magha Navratri (January – February), Chaitra Navratri (March – April), Ashad Navratri (June-July), and Sharad Navratri (September-October). Out of these, only Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are celebrated with enthusiasm and fervor.

As per the Gregorian calendar, Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar and thus the Navratri celebrated is termed as Chaitra Navratri. Similarly, Sharad Navratri typically falls in September and October (as per the Gregorian calendar), is a post-monsoon autumn festival, and is observed in the honor of feminine Devi Durga celebrated in the month of Ashwin. Despite having different names, the rituals of both Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are the same.

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Navratri 2020 Dates and Significance

Chaitra Navratri 2020 this year celebrated from March 25, 2020, to April 2, 2020, while Sharad Navratri dates are as follows:

October 17, 2020 (Saturday)

To

October 25, 2020 (Sunday)

Each day in Navratri signifies a different meaning and so is true for the colors. If you’re someone who loves wearing auspicious colors, this checklist might help you:

Day 1: Orange (signifies energy and happiness)

The first day of Navaratri is dedicated to Goddess Shailputri – the daughter of mountains. She was born after Goddess Sati immolated herself. Orange is her colour. It represents boldness, confidence, and optimism. It offers emotional strength and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. It also represents gut instincts and spontaneity. Worshipping orange stimulates the individual physically and emotionally and bestows a positive outlook on life.

Day 2: White (symbol of purity, peace, and meditation)

On the second day, Goddess Brahmacharini is worshipped. She represents tapas and spiritual knowledge. She is adorned in white. White represents purity, perfection. It is the perfect balance of colours, implying fairness, impartiality, and neutrality. White also represents readiness to receive knowledge. Worshipping white will help to cleanse the spirit and purify thoughts, emotions, and refresh and strengthen the entire energy system.

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Day 3: Red (signifies beauty and fearlessness)

Goddess Chandraghanta is worshipped during the third day of Navarathri. She is the female version of Lord Shiva. She is represented by the colour red. It means physicality, strength, and masculinity. Red inspires leadership, action, and determination. It stimulates passion and aggression, which reflects the warrior energy of the Goddess. Worshipping red will bestow sexual energy, will to succeed, and courage to defy odds upon the individual.

Day 4: Royal Blue (good for health and wealth)

On the fourth day of Navaratri Goddess Kushmanda is worshipped. She is adorned in royal blue colour during worship. It represents warmth, safety, and security. It is the colour of devotion and spirituality. Worshipping blue means worshipping the virtues of giving, helping, and being ethical. It creates in the individual a sense of calmness, relaxation, and order. He/she is inspired to act honestly, and strengthen bonds within the family.

Day 5: Yellow (stands for happiness and brightness)

On the fifth Navaratri day, goddess Skandamata is worshipped. She is the mother of Skanda or Lord Karthikeya and is adorned in yellow. She ensures peace, prosperity, and happiness. The colour yellow represents logic and practical intelligence. It offers hope, cheerfulness, and fun. It inspires enthusiasm, new ideas, and unbiased thinking. Worshipping yellow gives the individual clarity of thought and the ability to make shrewd decisions.

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Day 6: Green (signifies new beginnings and growth)

Goddess Katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day of Navaratri. She ensures harmony and peace in life and is adorned in green. It represents fertility and growth. It generates positive emotions and inspires good deeds. Worshipping green helps the individual to be mentally calm and optimistic. The individual gains a sense of compassion and will tend to show affection towards nature and fellow beings. It also helps with marriage and giving birth.

Day 7: Grey (stands for the strength of transformation in an individual)

The seventh day of Navaratri is devoted to Goddess Kalaratri. She is known for eradicating ignorance. She adorns the colour grey. It represents responsibility and maturity. It is detached, unemotional, neutral, and impartial. Grey is never glamorous. Worshipping grey helps the individual to view problems objectively and come up with fitting solutions. The individual can attain stability with emotions and be a pillar of support to close ones.

Day 8: Purple (it signifies the power of intellect and peace)

Goddess Mahagauri is worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri. It is considered that worshipping her will make the heart clean and the devotee pious. She adorns purple. It stimulates imagination and spirituality. Worshipping purple will help the individual gain new insights about themself. It helps to horn psychic abilities against daily mundanity. It will also help with meditation and develop confidence in the individual.

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Day 9: Peacock Green (it’s believed to fulfill the desires of all devotees)

On the final day of Navaratri, Goddess Siddhidatri is worshipped. She grants knowledge of the highest kind. She flaunts the color peacock green. Worshipping peacock green will help with the balance of mind. It helps the individual attain humility and politeness. It radiates the energy of nature and the individual can make more sense of what is going on around the world. It will help the decision-making capacity of the individual.

Wear these Navratri colors as per the day and seek the blessings of Maa Durga to keep your family and loved ones safe and secure.

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9 Avatars of Maa Durga & Significance of Each Day 

Goddess Durga is worshipped in 9 different forms (avatars) during the Navratri celebration. Each day represents a different incarnation of Maa Durga and worships her nine avatars (Navdurga).

• Day 1 of 2020 Navratri: Devi Shailputri

Goddess Shailputri is the first manifestation of Maa Durga and the daughter of mountains. She’s an incarnation of Goddess Parvati or as an incarnation of Mahakali and is shown riding a bull (Nandi) with a Trishul in her right hand and a lotus in her left hand.

This day marks the beginning of Navratri celebrations and the devotees offer pure ghee to Mata Shailputri. It’s believed that if the devotees offer pure ghee, they are blessed with a healthy life, free of diseases and illnesses.

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• Navratri 2020 Day 2: Devi Brahmacharini 

On the second day of Navratri (Dwitiya), devotees worship Goddess Brahmacharini. She walks barefoot with a Japa Mala (Rudraksha) in one hand with a sacred kamandalu (a water utensil) in the other hand. She’s the goddess of asceticism and penance and symbolizes Goddess Parvati (in her meditative form) when she was engaged in deep meditation to please Lord Shiva.

To ensure the longevity of their loved ones, devotees offer sugar to Devi Brahmacharini as she’s the symbol of bliss and calm.

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•  Day 3 Navaratri 2020: Devi Chandraghanta

Navratri day 3 (or Tritiya) marks the worship of Devi Chandraghanta who is believed to be a 10-armed goddess that represents the married form of Maa Durga. It is believed that Maa Parvati adorned her forehead with Ardha Chandra (half-moon) thus the name “Chandraghanta”.

Devi Chandraghanta is an embodiment of beauty and also encourages an individual to be brave. She’s one who’s always ready to fight against the demons and can be both malevolent and serene for her devotees. She wears the moon on her forehead and carries Trishul, Gada, Sword, and Kamandalu in her 4 left hands, while her 5th hand (left) is in Varadamudra. Similarly, she carries a lotus, arrow, Dhanush, and Japa Mala in her 4 right hands, while the 5th right hand is in Abhaya Mudra. 

• Navratri 2020 Day 4: Devi Kushmanda

The 4th day of Navratri (Chaturthi) represents Devi Kushmanda. The amalgamation of 3 different words – “Ku” meaning Little, “Ushma” meaning warmth (energy) and “Amnda” meaning egg, the word Kushmanda indicates the creator of the universe. She’s depicted as having eight arms and sits on a tiger and is associated with the endowment of vegetation on earth.

•  Day 5 of 2020 Navratri: Devi Skanda Mata

 Devi Skandamata is worshipped on the 5th day of Navratri who’s known as the mother of Lord Kartikeya. Depicted as riding a lion she’s the symbol of transformation, and as she sits on a lotus flower, many call her Goddess Padmasana too.  

•  Day 6 of Navratri 2020: Devi Katyayani 

The Navratri day 6 marks the worship of Devi Katyayani, who’s a form of Shakti. She’s one of the most violent forms of Goddess Parvati and thus is also known as a warrior goddess. The daughter of sage Katyayana, she’s an incarnation of Maa Durga, with four hands and one who carries a sword and rides a lion. 

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• Navratri 2020 Day 7: Devi Kaalratri 

On Saptami or Navratri day 7, the devotees worship Devi Kaalratri. She rides on a donkey, carries a sword, a Trishul, and an iron hook in her hands. She’s also believed to have a third eye on her forehead that contains the entire universe. As per legends, it’s said that Maa Parvati shed her skin color to kill Shumbha and Nishumbha (demons). She’s depicted as riding a donkey. 

• Day 8 of 2020 Navartri: Devi Mahagauri 

Devi Mahagauri is known as the goddess of purity and cleanliness. She’s worshipped on the Durga-Ashtami aka the 8th day of Navratri festival. She’s a 4-armed deity who carries a damru and a Trishul in her hands and rides a bull. She symbolizes intelligence and peace.

• 2020 Navratri Day 9: Devi Siddhidatri

The 9th day of Navratri (also known as Navami) marks the worship of Devi Siddhidatri who bestows her devotees with Siddhi (supernatural powers). Human beings, Asuras, devas all worship Devi Siddhidatri with equal devotion. As legends foretell, Lord Rudra worshipped the unmanifested form of Maa Durga, Adi Parashakti for creation. Since Adi Parashakti was the purest form of Devi Durga, she appeared in the form of Siddhidatri from the left hand of Lord Shiva.

Devi Siddhidatri is often shown as a 4-armed deity who sits on a lotus or rides on a tiger/lion. She carries a Gada in one right hand, a chakram in the other right hand, a lotus in her left hand, and a shankha in her other left hand. In this form, she signifies perfection.

•  Day 10 of 2020 Navratri: Vijayadashami

This day marks the end of the Navratri 2020 celebration and marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana and the triumph of good over evil. North Indians celebrate this day in the form of Dussehra, while in the West, the Durga Puja celebration marks the end of this 9-day festival. 

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2020 Navratri Celebration: Different Forms United by One Goal

 Different parts of India celebrate Navratri as per their customs and traditions. A quick peek into some of the major forms:

• West Bengal celebrates Navaratri in form of Durga Puja which happens to be their biggest festival Thousands of pandals (temporary stages) are set up across the zone and the celebration marks the battle of Goddess Durga with Mahishasura and her emerging victorious.
• North Indians celebrate the festival by worshipping Lord Rama and his victory over Ravana. Different Ram-Leela acts are performed across the states enacting phases of Ramayana and is commonly observed in Vrindavan, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and other cities. On the 10th Day (Vijayadashami), statues of Ravana, Kumbhkarna, and Meghanada are lit to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
• Gujarat is another state where the Navratri festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Gujarati’s fast for 9-days and perform Navratri puja followed by a cultural program aka Garba (a form of Dandiya dance) at night with their loved ones.
• In the Southern regions, Karnataka state celebrates Navratri by lighting up the Hindu temples and other cultural sites. Locally, the festival is called “Dasara” and is known to be the state festival (Nadahabba) of Karnataka. Mysuru Dasara is one popular form among the many festivities.