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Chaitra Navratri — Spring

Goddess Durga (nine forms)

Hindu

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Nine sacred nights of Goddess Durga — March 19 to 27, 2026 (Chaitra/Spring Navratri)

Dates 2026–2027

March 19, 2026March 20, 2026March 21, 2026March 22, 2026March 23, 2026March 24, 2026March 25, 2026March 26, 2026March 27, 2026April 7, 2027April 8, 2027April 9, 2027April 10, 2027April 11, 2027April 12, 2027April 13, 2027April 14, 2027April 15, 2027

Mantra

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shaktirupena Samsthita, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah — The goddess who resides in all beings as their energy and power; salutations to her, again and again

Foods Allowed

All fruitsMilk, curd, ghee, buttermilkSabudana (tapioca pearls)Singhara atta (water chestnut flour)Kuttu atta (buckwheat flour)Rajgira (amaranth)Rock salt (sendha namak)Potatoes and sweet potatoesArbi (taro root)Lauki (bottle gourd)CoconutDry fruits and nuts

Foods to Avoid

All grains (rice, wheat, corn, bajra)All lentils and legumesOnion and garlicRegular table saltNon-vegetarian foodAlcoholEggAny fermented food

Meal Idea

Kuttu ki puri with aloo sabzi, served with curd and sliced banana — the quintessential Navratri thali

📜 The story behind this vrat

In ancient times there was a powerful demon king named Mahishasura. He had performed severe penance and received a boon from Lord Brahma — that no man or god could kill him. With this boon he became arrogant and began terrorising the three worlds. He defeated the gods and threw them out of Swarga. The gods went to Lord Brahma, then to Lord Vishnu, then to Lord Shiva in desperation. From the combi…

Read full katha ›

In ancient times there was a powerful demon king named Mahishasura. He had performed severe penance and received a boon from Lord Brahma — that no man or god could kill him. With this boon he became arrogant and began terrorising the three worlds. He defeated the gods and threw them out of Swarga. The gods went to Lord Brahma, then to Lord Vishnu, then to Lord Shiva in desperation. From the combined divine energy of all the gods a great light emerged — golden, blinding, magnificent. From this light the divine mother was born — Goddess Durga — riding a lion, carrying weapons in her ten arms, radiant with the power of all creation. The gods offered her their weapons — Vishnu gave his Sudarshana Chakra, Shiva gave his trishul, Indra gave his vajra, Varuna gave his conch. Armed with divine power Goddess Durga fought Mahishasura for nine days and nine nights. The demon changed forms — from buffalo to lion to elephant to man — but the goddess was relentless. On the ninth day she pierced him with her trishul and destroyed him. The three worlds were freed. The gods sang her praises and the nine days of battle became Navratri — the nine nights of the divine mother. Each of the nine days is dedicated to one of her nine forms: Day 1 Shailputri, Day 2 Brahmacharini, Day 3 Chandraghanta, Day 4 Kushmanda, Day 5 Skandamata, Day 6 Katyayani, Day 7 Kalaratri, Day 8 Mahagauri, Day 9 Siddhidatri. Devotees who fast for all nine days with devotion receive her blessings of strength, courage, prosperity and liberation. Jai Mata Di. Om Dum Durgayei Namaha.

Your family's version of this story may differ — all versions are sacred.

🪔 Aarti

Jai Ambe Gauri

जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी । तुमको निशिदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी ॥ मांग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को । उज्जवल से दोऊ नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको ॥ कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजे । रक्त पुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजे ॥ केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी । सुर-नर-मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी ॥ कानन कुंडल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती । कोटिक चंद्र दिवाकर, राजत सम ज्योति ॥ शुम्भ-निशुम्भ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती । धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशिदिन मदमाती ॥ चंड-मुंड संहारे, शोणित बीज हरे । मधु-कैटभ दोऊ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे ॥ ब्रह्माणी रुद्राणी तुम, कमला रानी । अगम निगम बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी ॥ चौंसठ योगिनी मंगल गावत, नृत्य करत भैरूं । बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू ॥ तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता । भक्तन की दुख हर्ता, सुख सम्पत्ति करता ॥ भुजा चार अति शोभित, वरमुद्रा धारी । मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर नारी ॥ कंचन थाल विराजत, अगर कपूर बाती । श्री अम्बेजी की आरती जो कोई नर गावे, कहत शिवानंद स्वामी सुख-सम्पत्ति पावे ॥

Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Kali

अम्बे तू है जगदम्बे काली, जय दुर्गे खप्पर वाली । तेरे ही गुण गावें भारती, ओ मैया हम सब उतारें तेरी आरती ॥ तेरे भक्त जनों पर माता, भीड़ पड़ी है भारी । दानव दल पर टूट पड़ो मां, करके सिंह सवारी ॥ सौ-सौ सिंहों से बलशाली, है अष्ट भुजाओं वाली, दुष्टों को तू ही ललकारती ॥ मां-बेटे का है इस जग में, बड़ा ही निर्मल नाता । पूत-कपूत सुने हैं पर ना, माता सुनी कुमाता ॥ सब पे करुणा दर्शाने वाली, अमृत बरसाने वाली, दुखियों के दुखड़े निवारती ॥ नहीं मांगते धन और दौलत, ना चांदी ना सोना । हम तो मांगे तेरे चरणों में, एक छोटा सा कोना ॥ सबकी बिगड़ी बनाने वाली, लाज बचाने वाली, सतियों के सत को संवारती ॥ चरण शरण में खड़े तुम्हारी, ले पूजा की थाली । वरद हस्त सर पर रख दो मां, संकट हरने वाली ॥ मां भर दो भक्ति रस प्याली, अष्ट भुजाओं वाली, भक्तों के कारज तू ही सारती ॥

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