The day from Pratipada of Ashwin Shukla Paksha to Navami date is called Navratri. This Navratra is of greater importance as compared to other Navratras. This Navratra is also called Shardiye Navratra. In 2024, this Navratri will begin on 26th September and will end on 14th October 2024.

The devotees take bath on the Pratipada date and takes fast resolution of nine days. Kalash is established on the first day. After this lamp is burnt and mother is worshipped everyday along with Shodashopchar. There are many popular beliefs about Navratri:

Navratra means nine nights. Navratra comes twice every year in which the Navratra of Ashwin month is of more importance.

Some of the Popular Beliefs about Navratra are:

According to an ancient belief, Mahishashur worshipped Lord Shiva and gained extraordinary powers, due to which, not only the other Gods but even Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh were unable to defeat them. Then Mata Durga killed him during Navratri and freed everyone from his terror.

Another Popular Belief about Navratra:

There lived a Brahman with his daughter, Sumati, in a town. He was a great devotee of Goddess Durga whom he used to worship and perform Havan daily. Her daughter also used to participate in the worship but once she was busy in playing and did not participated. This made the Braman angry and in that rage he said that he will marry her from any poor and paralysed man.

This made the daughter upset but she accepted it cheerfully. The father married Sumati, as said, to a poor man suffering from leprosy. Sumati married and went away with her husband. Her husband did not even had a house of his own, due to which, Sumati had to spend her night in a forest, sleeping on grass.

Looking at the pathetic condition of Sumati, Mata Bhagwati appeared from her virtuous works that she did in her previous birth, and said “I am happy with you and want to give something”. Listening this Sumati asked the reason of her being happy on her. Maa Bhagwati said “I have came due to the virtuous work you did in your previous birth. In your previous birth you were a chaste wife of a Bhil tribesman”.

“Once your Husband stole something and you two were imprisoned by the police. They did not even gave any thing to eat and you two remained hungry for nine days. That period was of Navratri and in a way you observed this fast.”

Maa Bhagwati furthur said “That fast pleased me and brought me here today and I am giving you desirable blessing”. Sumati said “Mother, if you are happy with me then cure the leprosy of my husband.”

Maa Bhagwati immediately fulfilled her wishes and made her husband disease free.

Discription of Navratri in Ramayan

According to a context of Ramayan, Lord Shri Ram, Lakshman, Hanuman and all the Vanar Sena worshipped Mata Bhagwati for nine days from Pratipada of Ashwin Shukla Paksha to Navami and then attacked Lanka on Dashami date. From that time onwards the tradition of worshipping Durga during Navratri started.