Navratri 2024 Live Updates: Maa Shailputri worshipped on Chaitra Navratri Day 1; know how to do puja, Kalash Sthapana

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The 5 healthy alternatives to sabudana suggested by a nutritionist are amaranth, buckwheat, water chestnut flour, sweet potatoes, and fruits. These items can help keep you full and also boost your overall well-being. Learn more about their benefits here.

From the first day of Chaitra Navratri, April 9 till Ram Navami, April 17, Ram Lalla's idol will wear clothes or vastras made of special hand-woven and hand-spun khadi cotton, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust said. These vastras will be decorated with real silver and gold khaddi hand block prints. The block prints used in printing the vastra are inspired by Vaishnav Chinha.

Hindu devotees thronged Baba Baidyanath Dham Temple in Deoghar, on the occasion of the first day of Chaitra Navaratri. They can be seen offering prayers and seeking blessings.

In a post written in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said, “New year, new enthusiasm, new joy. Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the countrymen on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri, Ugadi, Cheiraoba, Cheti Chand and Sajibu festivals. May the New Year bring happiness, peace and prosperity in the life of all of you.” See here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted people on the auspicious occasion of the beginning of Chaitra Navratri. In a post in Hindi on X, Modi said, "Today on the first day of Navratri, I bow down and pay my respects to Maa Shailputri! May Devi Maa infuse new power and energy in the lives of all my family members in the country. This prayer to Maa Shailputri is for all of you…"

Day 1: Red

Red is considered an auspicious colour on day 1 of Chaitra Navratri. Person who wears red is considered to be more energetic and vibrant.

Day 2: Royal Blue

This colour represents contentment and prosperity.

Day 3: Yellow

The person who wears yellow on Day 3 feels happy all day with an incomparable sense of optimism and excitement.

Day 4: Green

Green symbolises nature and evokes a sense of growth, fertility, peace and serenity.

Day 5: Green

Day 6: Orange

Day 7: White

Day 8: Pink

Day 9: Sky Blue

Know significance of the other colour here.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended greetings on the occasion of the traditional New Year to people living in different states of the country, wishing them happiness and good health.

"Jai Mata Di! Happy Chaitra Navratri. I pray to Shakti Swaroopa Maa Bhagwati for the health, wealth, prosperity and advancement of all," he wrote on X.

Here are some dos and don'ts one needs to follow during the nine-day-long fasting of Chaitra Navratri

1) Take a bath every morning before puja, clean the puja area, recite Maa Durga mantras, perform aarti and offer the goddess bhog made of sweets and other satvik foods.

2) One should consume vrat-friendly and satvik ahaar, including Kuttu, sabudana or sago, rajgira, makhana, arbi, pumpkin, aloo, singhare ka atta, samak ke chawal, nuts and dry fruits, rock salt, cumin, buckwheat, ginger, green chillies are some of the food people consume during their Navratri fast.

During Navratri, grains like wheat and rice, non-vegetarian foods, eggs, onion, garlic and other tamasic foods are prohibited. Check out what you should eat and avoid during these nine days --

1. Increase intake of hydrating fruits and vegetables during this time.

2. Having foods high in protein during your fast will not only help provide sustained energy throughout the day, but also keep you full for longer.

3. Onion and garlic are not only prohibited for people who are fasting but even those who are not.

4. Being tamasic foods, non-veg foods like chicken and mutton are strictly prohibited during Navratri fasting and even by those Hindus who aren't observing fast.

Learn more about what you should and should not eat here.

For Ghatasthapana, devotees should install a pot (kalash) at a sanctified place at home, light a diya (lamp) for nine days near the pot, place a pan with mud and navadhanya seeds, and fill it with water. Then, the kalash is filled with Ganga Jal. Some coins, supari, and akshat (raw rice and turmeric powder) is placed in the water. Five mango leaves are placed around the Kalash and covered with coconut. Then, devotees place an oil lamp, incense sticks, flowers, fruits, and sweets near Maa Shailputri. A special bhog of Desi Ghee is also offered to the Goddess.

Chaitra Navratri is a time for praying, meditating, fasting and enjoying with loved ones during the nine days. During this time, Maa Durga's devotees give up consuming non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and tobacco. They also consume food prepared without garlic and onion. Devotees also pray to Maa Durga and her nine incarnations, read mantras, and decorate their homes. Hindus believe that by practising these rituals they will be blessed by Maa Durga.

The nine-day festival of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to Maa Durga worship and her nine incarnations. It observes Goddess Durga's universe birth and all living things inside it. Devotees believe that Maa Durga shows up during Navratri and visits her devotees. Learn more here.

Ingredients:

For Soaking

Sabudana (sago) – 1 cup

Water – 1 cup

Salt – a generous pinch

For Khichdi

Peanuts (skinless) – ½ cup

Ghee – 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp

Green Chilli chopped – 1no

Ginger chopped – 2tsp

Tomato chopped – ½ cup

Potatoes boiled, diced – 1cup

Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Salt – to taste

Black Pepper powder – to taste

Lemon – ½ no

Coriander chopped – Handful

Method:

Wash the sabudana and soak in water with salt for about four to five hours. Then dry roast the peanuts and coarsely crush them in a blender. In a pan, heat ghee, add jeera, green chillies, ginger, tomatoes and diced potatoes and saute everything. Add curry leaves and the roasted crushed peanuts. Add soaked sabudana, pepper and salt and squeeze lemon juice and cook until the sabudana turns transparent. Add freshly chopped coriander leaves on top and serve hot.

(Recipe: Kunal Kapur, Chef)

Make your Chaitra Navartri celebrations special by sharing wishes, images, messages, greetings, WhatsApp status, Facebook status, and SMS to your loved ones. We have curated some for you. See below.

1) The nine forms of Goddess Durga bring nine different strengths to the world. May you be blessed with all.

2) I hope this Chaitra Navratri brings lots of joy, prosperity, and success to you and your family. May Maa Durga fill your life with divine blessings and your home with love, luck and happiness.

3) On this pious occasion of Chaitra Navratri, may Goddess Durga guide you towards the path of righteousness and bring peace and calm in your life.

Find images and more wishes here.

Prathama Durga Tvamhi Bhavasagarah Taranim

Dhana Aishwarya Dayini Shailaputri Pranamamyaham

Trilojanani Tvamhi Paramananda Pradiyaman

Saubhagyarogya Dayini Shailaputri Pranamamyaham

Charachareshwari Tvamhi Mahamoha Vinashinim

Mukti Bhukti Dayinim Shailaputri Pranamamyaham

Puja Mantra - Om Devi Shailputryai Namah

Prayer - Vande Vanchitlabhay Chandrardhakrit Shekharam

Stuti - Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Shailaputri Rupena Samsthita Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah

April 9 - Day 1, Red

April 10 - Day 2, Dark Blue

April 11 - Day 3, Yellow

April 12 - Day 4, Green

April 13 - Day 5, Grey

April 14 - Day 6, Orange

April 15 - Day 7, White

April 16 - Day 8, Pink

April 17 - Day 9, Sky Blue

Maa Shailputri is one of the nine avatars of Maa Durga. Devotees worship her on the first day of Chaitra Navratri. She is believed to be the provider of prosperity and all fortunes. Hindus hail Maa Shailputri as mother nature and pray to her for their spiritual awakening. The Goddess governs the Moon. According to Drik Panchang, Maa Parvati was born as Lord Himalaya's daughter and was known as Shailputri after her self-immolation. In Sanskrit, Shail means the mountain, Putri means daughter, and Shailputri is the daughter of the mountain.

Ghatasthapana Muhurat: 6:02 am to 10:16 am on April 9

Ghatasthapana Abhijeet Muhurat: 11:57 am to 12:48 pm on April 9

Pratipada Tithi begins on April 8 at 11:50 pm

Pratipada Tithi ends on April 9 at 8:30 pm

Vaidhrti Yog begins on April 8 at 6:14 pm

Vaidhrti Yog ends on April 9 at 2:18 pm

April 9 - Ghatasthapana Puja, Maa Shailputri

April 10 - Maa Brahmacharini

April 11 - Maa Chandraghanta

April 12 - Maa Kushmanda

April 13 - Skanda Mata

April 14 - Maa Katyayani