Navaratri

The word ‘Navratri’ literally means ‘nine nights’. Navratri is a highly revered Hindu festival celebrated for a duration spanning nine days and nights. Each day of Navaratri is dedicated to a specific incarnation of Goddess Shakti (Maa Durga) and carries its own significance. Navratri is considered the most auspicious time to worship Maa Durga since it is when she spreads all her positive energy for the well-being of the people and to destroy the evil forces and vibes existing in this world.

Navratri is actually celebrated four times a year. They are the Magh Navratri(gupt navratri), the Vasantha/chaitra navratri, Ashad Navratri(gupt navratri) and Ashwin Navaratri. The Ashwin Navratri and the Vasantha Navratri are very important and well known to everyone. On the other hand, the gupta navratras are not so popularly known to the people but are equally important.

Magha Gupta Navratri (28-01-2017 to 06-02-2017)

Magha Gupta Navratri spans for a period of 9-day that is considered most auspicious for the worship of the forms of Devi Shakthi. This is observed from the ‘Pratipada’ (1st day) to the ‘Navami’ (9th day) during the Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of moon) in the ‘Magha’ month of the traditional Hindu calendar. Magha Gupta Navratri is also called the ‘Shishir Navratri’ since it falls in the winter months of January-February.

The Magha Gupta Navratri is of utmost importance to Sadhaks, tantriks and any person desiring to resolve materialistic problems. ‘Gupt’ is a Hindi word which literally means ‘secret’. Thus Magha Gupta Navratri is not so popular and is known only to very few people unlike the other two prominent Navratris, which are observed during the Hindu month of ‘Vasant’ and ‘Chaitra’. Magha Gupta Navratri is mostly celebrated in the north India states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Rituals and Benefits in the next post.