Navratri is celebrated for nine nights in honor of the Goddess Parvati. People observe fasts and prayers throughout these nine days in memory of the nine different forms of Maa Parvati. Every year, there are two Navratris – One in March-April known as Chaitra Navratri and the other one in September-October known as Sharad Navratri.
Chaitra Navratri starts on the first day of the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar. Since Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar, it is called Chaitra Navratri. Ram Navami, the birth anniversary of Lord Rama is also celebrated during Chaitra Navratri. It happens on the ninth day of Navratri that is on the Navami tithi.
In 2025, Chaitra Navratri will start on Sunday March 30 and last until Sunday April 6. This year, the festival will be for eight days, not nine. This will happen because the second and third tithis fall on the same day. Therefore, March 31, 2025, will be celebrated as the second and third. There are several different rituals observed during the Navratri celebration.
The rituals include ghatasthapana, performing daily puja offering, kanya pujan and sandhi puja and many more. Like Navratri is celebrated twice every year, the same goes for Durga Puja as well. Durga Puja takes place in two variations—one during the Chaitra month and another during Sharad.
The Chaitra celebration is called Basanti Puja. While the one on Sharad Month is known as Sharadiya Durga Puja and Akal Bodhon. While Akal Bodhon, or Durga Ceremony is more widely commemorated today, but Basanti Puja was the one that was initiated prior to Sharidiya Durga Puja.
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