Chaitra Navratri the festival is set to start tomorrow March 22 (Wednesday) and will continue for the next 9 days, ending with Ram Navami, the day Lord Rama was born. Chaitra Navratri begins on the first day of the Hindu calendar and according to the Gregorian calendar falls in March or April. The nine-day festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm and fervor across the country and fast Maa Durga devotees nine days to seek the blessing of the goddess. Some people can also make quick observations in jodas – on the first or last two days of Navratri, the first or last day of Navratri or any of the two days of Navratri. (Also read: Chaitra Navratri 2023: Spices to eat and avoid when fasting)
Navratri is celebrated four times a year, of which two are more commonly observed. Chaitra Navratri falls in March or April, while Sharadiya Navratri is observed in October-November and ends with Dussehra. Also known as Vasant Navratri, each day of the Hindu festival is dedicated to an avatar of Maa Durga namely – Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandmata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.
Navratri rules common to all Hindus
During Navratri, regardless of whether you fast or not, people should abstain from certain foods that are considered tamsik such as onions and garlic and follow certain rules.
– Do not consume tamasic foods such as onions, garlic, non-vegetarian foods and alcohol.
– While cooking vegetable curry, you can use tomatoes, coriander seeds and avoid some vegetables like eggplant, okra and mushrooms.
– Do not shave or avoid cutting hair in Navratri
– More than just food, the satvik lifestyle must be followed during the nine days of the auspicious festival, including performing your morning and evening aarti, not criticizing or gossiping about others and aiming for helping the poor.
Navratri rules for people who are vegetarian
– On the first day of Navratri, Kalash Sthapana or Ghatasthapana is performed, which is one of the important rituals of the festival and should be performed while Pratipada is in vogue.
– Fasting people also light akhanda deepak on all days of Navratri up to Dashmi. However, as an alternative, one can also perform aarti in the morning and evening daily until the end of the festival.
– In Navratri, different avatars of Maa Durga are worshiped on each day of the festival. It is recommended to wear red clothes and give red flowers to all incarnations of Devi Maa during Puja.
– Provide bhog for Maa Durga and all goddess avatars along with singar items.
Foods to eat and avoid during Navratri
There are a variety of foods that one can choose from while observing fasting. This includes:
– Samvat ke chawal or banyard millet, kuttu ka aata or buckwheat flour, sabudana or sorghum, Rajgira, singhare ka aata or water chestnut flour.
– Potato, sweet potato, gourd (lauki), arbi, pumpkin, spinach, gourd, cucumber and carrot.
There are foods, spices, herbs and grains that people should avoid
– Onions, garlic, okra, eggplant, shiitake mushrooms.
– Wheat, rice, semolina, maida, cornmeal, legumes and beans are some of the foods people are not allowed to eat while fasting.
