When is Shardiya Navratri 2023? Date, Puja Muhurat, Do’s And Don’ts For 9-Day Festival Schedule

When is Shardiya Navratri 2023? Date, Puja Muhurat, Do’s And Don’ts For 9-Day Festival Schedule

Shardiya Navratri 2023 Date: Navratri is an annual Hindu celebration observed to honor the goddess Durga, an incarnation of the supreme goddess Adi Parashakti. The fourth Navratri, named after the autumn season (Sharada), is one of the most important Navratri of the year. All around the nation, different ceremonies and traditions are used to celebrate the nine auspicious days with tremendous excitement. Also, the tenth day, after the 9 auspicious days of Navratri is celebrated as Durga Puja and Dussehra to mark the triumph of good over evil.

When will Shardiya Navratri commence?

The first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvini marks the beginning of Sharada Navaratri. Once a year, during this month, which usually falls in the Gregorian months of September and October, the festival is celebrated for nine nights. This year the festival starts on October 15 and will conclude with Dusshera on October 24, 2023.

Pooja Muhurat Timing and Other Details

Ghatasthapana is one of the important rituals during Navratri. It marks the beginning of nine days of celebration. The ritual symbolically marks the invocation of Devi Shakti. The most auspicious or best muhurat timing for Ghatasthapana is during the first one-third of Navratri Day 1 (Pratripada). Whereas, Chitra Nakshatra is considered the most inauspicious span for Ghatsthapana.

DateOctober 15, 2023
DaySunday
Pratipada Tithi Begins 11:24 PM on Oct 14, 2023
Pratipada Tithi Ends 12:32 AM on Oct 16, 2023
Chitra Nakshatra Begins04:24 PM on Oct 14, 2023
Chitra Nakshatra Ends06:13 PM on Oct 15, 2023

Shardiya Navratri 9-Day Festival Schedule

In Sanskrit, the word Navaratri means “nine nights,” with nava meaning “nine” and Ratri “nights.” It is celebrated in various parts of the world and holds greater religious and cultural values. The table below will help you understand the full 9-day Festival Schedule for Shardiya Navratri 2023:

DateDayEvent
October 15SundayNavratri Day 1PratipadaGhatasthapana, Shailputri Puja
October 16MondayNavratri Day 2DwitiyaChandra Darshana, Brahmacharini Puja
October 17TuesdayNavratri Day 3TritiyaSindoor Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja
October 18WednesdayNavratri Day 4ChaturthiKushmanda Puja, Vinayaka Chaturthi
October 19ThursdayNavratri Day 5PanchamiUpang Lalita Vrat, Skandamata Puja
October 20FridayNavratri Day 6ShashthiSaraswati Avahan, Katyayani Puja
October 21SaturdayNavratri Day 7SaptamiSaraswati Puja, Kalaratri Puja
October 22SundayNavratri Day 8AshtamiDurga Ashtami, Mahagauri PujaSandhi Puja
October 23MondayNavratri Day 9NavamiMaha Navami, Ayudha PujaNavami Homa
October 24TuesdayNavratri Day 10DashamiNavratri Parana, Durga VisarjanVijayadashami

What is the religious and cultural importance of Shardiya Navratri?

Shardiya Navratri is a Hindu festival celebrated in the country by the Indian diaspora living overseas. It holds immense religious, cultural, and social importance. On the religious ground, Navratri is a time for prayers, fastings and spiritual reflection which signify devotion and the worship of different manifestations of Durga, such as Kali and Lakshmi.

Family and Friends dressed in traditional and ethnic apparels indulge in festive foods. It unites people from diverse backgrounds in vibrant festivities. Communities organize traditional dances like Garba and Dandiya, creating a feeling of togetherness and cultural preservation.

Do’s & Don’t’s for Shardiya Navratri 2023

The 9 days of Shardiya Navratri come with some major do’s and don’ts. These do’s and don’ts help devotees to connect with utmost devotion and sanity. However, it’s essential to note that practices may differ among different regions and communities.

Do’s

  1. Engage in daily prayer.
  2. Take good care of cleanliness and sanitation.
  3. Offering flowers, sweets and fruits to the goddess.
  4. Visit temples, and do charity or donations.
  5. Do meditations to connect with the divine and assess your life’s direction.
  6. Remain focused and be positive.

Don’ts

  1. Do not eat non-vegetarian food.
  2. Maintain a distance from alcohol and tobacco products.
  3. Avoid negative thoughts and speech, and concentrate on positivity and harmony.
  4. Be trustworthy and honest in your actions and words.
  5. Avoid any sort of superstitions.

In conclusion, Shardiya Navratri is a multidimensional celebration that combines religious piety, artistic expression, and social unity, making it a treasured and significant occasion. And this year Maa Durga procession will come on earth on an elephant in place of a lion. According to mythology, when Navratri starts on Sunday or Monday, it is believed that Goddess Durga rides an elephant which is considered highly auspicious. This spiritual connection to an elephant is thought to bring abundant rainfall, promising a great harvest the following year.