First Day of Sharad Navratri in India

When did the First Day of Sharad Navratri in India start?

The first recorded date of First Day of Sharad Navratri in India being celebrated on September 22 was in the year 1947.

About First Day of Sharad Navratri in India Holiday

Welcome to the joyful and auspicious celebration of Sharad Navratri! Today marks the first day of this nine-day festival that marks the victory of the divine over the evil. A festival that is celebrated with grandeur and enthusiasm, Sharad Navratri is celebrated to commemorate the glory and beauty of our country, India.

The word Navratri meaning ‘nine nights’ is celebrated for the nine days in observance of the nine nights in which Goddess Durga battled and triumphed over a negative force. Prayers, hymns, and singing are offered to the goddess to honor this victory and to inspire people to stay strong and brave enough to fight against all odds in their lives.

The entire country comes alive with the vibrant colors and decorations of the occasion. People perform rituals such as home decorations, pujas in the temple for nine days while wearing colorful clothes. Prayers and fasting are done in reverence of the goddess and people enjoy traditional dances such as Garba and Dandiya. This is a festival of joy and love in which people can come together and show their faith and devotion.

Let’s come together and make this Sharad Navratri a memorable one!

First Day of Sharad Navratri in India

Established as the holiest of Hindu festivals, the nine-day Sharad Navratri is celebrated across India, to honour the goddess Durga and her nine avatars. Historically observed majorly in the northern and western parts of the country, this festival has grown considerably in popularity and is now embraced and celebrated in many parts of India, all with different customs and traditions. The story of the goddess Durga battling the demon Mahishasur for nine nights is commemorated during this time, with lavish puja ceremonies and many of exciting cultural activities.

History and Origin

It is believed that Sharad Navratri was established during the Gupta empire, around 2000 years ago. Historians say that it began as a celebration of the harvest season, although in subsequent years, it gained more significance and began to be seen as a festival to venerate and honor goddess Durga. Since then, many kingdoms such as the Rashtrakuta dynasty, later Cholas and Pratihara, have all claimed to have contributed to the development and evolution of the festival of Sharad Navratri. It is believed to have evolved into its present form during the period of the Gupta Emperor Chandra Gupta II’s reign in the 4th century AD. This tradition of the same has been carried on for hundreds of years now.

Before the era of Bramhophandi in India, the Sharad Navratri festival was known as the Sharadiya Navratri. It was during this period that this festival got remarkable popularity because of its importance. It is believed that almost all Hindu deities had an importance during the same period and people celebrated with great vigor. Another popular belief is that this festival was celebrated on such a grand scale as it was the day when the prince of Hastinapur, Pandavas, returned from exile after completing their 12 years of banishment.

Apart from this, other important superstitions associated with the celebration of the Sharad Navratri festival are related to nature worship. It is believed that since the summer season ends and the autumn season is about to start, the festival is the best time to celebrate nature and thank the supreme gods and goddesses.

Significance and Meaning

Sharad Navratri is a religious festival that is celebrated with much enthusiasm among the Hindus in India. It’s a festival dedicated to goddess Durga and her nine avatars. Sharad Navratri marks the beginning of the winter season and it is believed that during the nine days of this festival, the goddess Durga protects and sustains the universe. This festival is celebrated to get rid of all the negativity in life, be it physical or mental. It is seen as a time to worship the goddess and seek her protection and her blessings for success, health and wealth.

The nine auspicious days of Sharad Navratri signify the nine different forms of goddess Durga. It also symbolizes victory over darkness, and the victory of truth over false. The spirit of devotion and dedication to the goddess is also considered necessary during the nine days of the festival. It is believed that one should observe a fast and undertake puja services to ‘Durga Mata’ to please the goddess and receive her grace and blessings. It is believed that Goddess Durga eliminates all the evil qualities of human life and brings good fortune.

Traditions and Celebrations

The Sharad Navratri festival is celebrated for nine days of fasting, praying and festivities with great fervor and enthusiasm. On the first day of the festival, known as ‘Ghatsthapana’, devotees create a small mound of mud with cow dung and plant barley grains on it, with five seeds of mango leaves over it. This signifies the beginning of the festival and is known as ‘Kalashsthapana’. The idol of Goddess Durga is placed in this ‘Kalash’ and elaborate prayers are held. Some people observe a ‘Nirjala’ fast, while others opt for different types of fasts based on their individual choice.

The most widely observed activity in India during Sharad Navratri is the performance of a ritualistic dance called the Garba. It was traditionally an all-women event, though in recent years it has become open to both men and women. The weekly night performances, often under the stars in a village clearings, consist of simple steps and hand movements. Many people also take part in Ramleela, an enactment of the life of the Hindu god Lord Rama.

This festival is also a time when people worship and pray to different goddesses, such as the nine forms of Durga, and her mother, Annapurna. Other goddesses such as Siddhidatri, Ambika, Gayatri, Skandmata, Chandraghanta, Varahi, Mahagauri, Katyayani, and Kalaratri are also worshipped. In most parts of the country, the festival ends with the immersion of the idols of Durga into a river or a pond.

Geographical Spread

This grand festival begins with the worship of goddess Gauri and ends with the immersion of the idol of goddess Durga in the water. Although the main focus of Sharad Navratri is in the northern and western parts of India, the festival is gradually gaining immense popularity in the rest of the country as well.

In Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, Navratri is celebrated in a massive way. In Gujarat, people dress up in traditional attire and participate in the Garba dance, while in Maharashtra and Rajasthan, folk dances such as the Matki Kunbi, Bhawai, and Jhoom are performed. In Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, the nine days of the festival are celebrated mostly with poojas, religious and cultural activities. In Kerala, it is celebrated as the ‘Gagrai’ and in Bengal as the ‘Durga Puja’.

In the northern states of India, Navratri is celebrated on a larger scale. Most people observe the nine days of the festival by fasting and praying, performing spiritual rituals, and doing the Dandiya Raas dance. There are special meals prepared for the occasion and many other activities for entertainment. People in the northern parts of the country also perform the Kumari Puja or worship of a young girl as a representation of goddess Durga.

Modern Day Observations

In recent years, Sharad Navratri has taken on some modern aspects as well. With the advent of social media, there is more of a focus on online campaigns during the festival. Along with traditional fasting, dancing, and praying, there are a lot of digital initiatives that have emerged as well. Virtual pujas, modernized versions of the Garba, online donation drives, etc. are some of the popular activities that people indulge in during the Sharad Navratri festival.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• This festival is celebrated on the eighth day of the Lunar month according to the Hindu calendar.
• Sharad Navratri is celebrated twice a year; one in the month of Chaitra and another in the month of Ashwin.
• The festival is held in honor of the Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
• Each day of the Navratri is dedicated to a different form of the goddess.
• The Ayudha Puja is an important ritual that takes place on the ninth day of the festival.
• The festival culminates on the day of ‘Vijayadasami’ or ‘Vijaya Dashmi’.
• The festival marks the beginning of winter season in India.
• The Garba dance is the most popular form of celebration during Sharad Navratri.

Holiday Wishes

• May this Navratri bring lots of joy and happiness in your life.
• May the color, bliss and beauty of this Navratri fill your life with joy.
• Wish you and your family a beautiful and Happy Navratri.
• May goddess Durga bless you and your family with peace and prosperity.
• A warm Navratri wish to you and your family.

Holiday Messages

• Wish you a colorful and vibrant Sharad Navratri.
• Hope this Navratri is a memorable one for you and your family.
• Come together and celebrate this blessed festival of Navratri.
• Let the joy and energy of Navratri enrich your life.
• Let the piousness of this Navratri fill your life with lots of prosperity.

Holiday Quotes

• Let this Navratri be your affirmation to become powerful and warm.
• The Goddess of fortune resides within us. Let’s bring her out this Navratri.
• Whenever we come together, miracles happen. – Unknown
• Dance like no one is watching. – Unknown
• Navratri, for me, is the time to celebrate womanhood. – Mahi Vij

Other Popular Holiday Info

In addition to the rituals, fasting and festivities, many devotees also participate in charity during the festival of Sharad Navratri. This includes gifting clothes, food and other necessities to those in need or contributing to various NGO’s. While the majority of people observe this festival in the traditional way, others choose to participate in more modern initiatives such as organizing picnics, trips to amusement parks, musical evenings, and similar activities.

Though the goal of the Sharad Navratri festival is to bring peace and joy, it is also a reminder of the importance of women in society and of being aware of their rights and well-being. This festival has also become a year marker for many other important events in Hindu culture; it is the start of Diwali or Dussehra, a time for shopping for new clothes and decorations, and the harbinger of the winter season in India.

Today, the festival of Sharad Navratri remains one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals, and brings together people from all parts of the country. With its mix of age-old rituals and modern activities, Sharad Navratri is a truly unique and vibrant experience.