Navratri FAQ | About Navratri Fasting

Navratri FAQ

Navratri is one of the most popular festivals celebrated by Hindus. Navratri festival is celebrated four times every year. During Navratri, various types of questions arise in the minds of devotees. Like, how to do Ghatasthapana? How to perform Kanya Puja? On which day to worship? What to do if the Kalasha falls? What to do if the Akhand Diya goes off? etc etc. Here, answers to various types of questions asked during Navratri have been provided, through which you can satisfy various curiosities related to Navratri.

1. Scientific and spiritual reasons behind Navratri?

Navratri is basically a festival celebrated on the occasion of seasonal change. Nature remains in a state of change during Navratri. During this period, a lot of changes take place in the body due to which various diseases arise due to the imbalance of the Tridoshas. Navratri acts as a bridge between winter to summer and summer to winter. At such times, chanting, penance and fasting of Goddess Durga provides physical and mental strength. According to the scriptures, these nine days are especially meaningful for attaining Siddhis and worship. Night is related to sleep. In Vedic texts, night is also considered synonymous with the Goddess Aadi Shakti, the mother of the world. Which makes worldly creatures experience Mohanidra and Yogis experience Yoganidra. Navratri festival is dedicated to the same Mother Jagdamba where special worship is done even during Mahanishitha period. By worshiping the Goddess and performing rituals during the festival of Navratri, the seeker gets freedom from the Trividha Tapa and the Goddess removes the darkness of his sufferings and ignorance.

2. Difference between Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri?

Navratri starts from Pratipada of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month and Ashwin month. The Navratri that falls in the month of Chaitra is called Vasantika Navratri and the Navratri that falls in the month of Ashwin is called Shardiya Navratri. The special worship is done of Shakti in both Navratri, but in Chaitra Navratri, along with Shakti, special worship of Shaktidhar Lord Narayan is also done. Chaitra Navratri is also called Rama Navratri in many places because this Navratri ends with the festival of Rama Navami.

3. What should be done during the fast of Navratri?

During Navratri fast, you should fast, meditate and worship as much as possible. If you cannot fast, then consume only Satvika food and give up anger, attachment and greedy tendencies. Adherence to celibacy and physical purification is very important for everyone. Along with this, Goddess Bhagwati is also pleased by worshipping little girls and offering them feast.

4. What to do if the fast is accidentally broken during Navratri?

If you have taken Sankalpa to fast for any one day or all nine days during Navratri. And if your fast is broken by mistake or carelessness, then you should immediately go to the temple of the Goddess and ask for her forgiveness. After reciting Kshama Prarthana Stotra 11 times, give as much charity as possible to the Brahmins and resolve to fast again. If you make a mistake in fasting due to illness or physical disability, then you should sincerely apologize to Mother Goddess and take the resolution of the fast as per your capacity.

5. What kind of diet should be taken during Navratri?

Those who observe fast during Navratri, they should avoid consuming food. In special circumstances, the decision to observe Nakta or Ekabhukta fast is also found in the scriptures. People observing fast can consume sago, water chestnut flour, Mordhan flour and dry fruits along with seasonal fruits. Even for those who are not fasting, it is better if they adopt a pure vegetarian diet (which includes prohibition of garlic, onion and drumstick).

6. Dos and Don'ts during Navratri?

Navratri is the festival of accumulation of power. During this time everyone should avoid animalistic tendencies. People living a family life should also avoid physical companionship these days. People who fast for nine days should also avoid Kshaur Karma (cutting hair, cutting nails) etc. during this period.

7. What to do if menstruation starts during Navratri?

Even if a female native have menstruation during Navratri festival, she should not leave the fast. But according to classical beliefs, in such a situation they should avoid worshiping the deity and going near it. During this period, mental name chanting etc. can be done. But if you have done the Ghatasthapana and have taken the resolution to worship, then in such a situation you can get the Goddess worshiped by your son, husband, sibling or Brahmin as your representative.

8. What to do if the Akhand Diya gets extinguished?

If you are lighting the Akhand Deep to please Goddess Bhagwati, then before that worship a small lamp as Karma Deep, only after that light the Akhand Deep. If for some reason the Akhand Deep gets extinguished, then first light the Karma Deep and only then light the Akhand Deep. If the Akhand Deep has been extinguished due to your mistake, then seek forgiveness from the Goddess

In the celebration of Navratri, the Akhand Jyoti is lit for nine days. Akhand Jyoti is considered to be the actual personification of the Devi Maa. According to beliefs, Goddess is pleased by lighting the Akhand Jyoti continuously for nine days. In Hindu religion, it is generally considered inauspicious for the lamp to be extinguished, but if it happens by mistake, then you should not be afraid. First, apologize to Mother Goddess for any known or unknown mistakes committed during worship. After that, light another small Diya in front of Akhand Jyoti. Put a new wick in the Akhand lamp of Navratri and light it. When the small Diya goes off on its own, remove it from the place of worship.

Raksha Sutra, one and a quarter hand long, should also be kept in the middle of the Akhand Jyoti of Navratri. In case the lamp gets extinguished, it can be re-lighted with the help of Raksha Sutra. Otherwise, the best thing is to put a new wick in it as soon as it starts extinguishing. In this way, the Akhand Jyoti will not be considered broken.

9. Which color clothes are worn on which day during Navratri?

To know which color of clothes to wear on which day of Navratri, visit the page related to nine colors of Navratri.

10. When to do Kanya Puja during Navratri?

According to religious texts, if one is capable enough, one should do Kanya Puajan continuously till all the nine days of Navratri. If you are not able to do this then you can do Kanya Pujan on seven, five, three or even any single day of Navratri. Generally, Kanya Puja is performed by the devotees on the Ashtami and Navami Tithi of Navratri. Devotees who observe a nine-day fast during Navratri should perform Havan on the day of Ashtami or Navami and offer after doing Kanya Pujan offer feast and gifts as per the capacity.

11. Girls of which age should be worshiped during Navratri?

In Hindu scriptures, a two year old girl is considered Kumari, a three year old girl is considered Trimurti (Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati), a four year old girl is Kalyani, a five year old girl is Rohini, a six year old girl is Maa Kalika, a seven year old girl is Goddess Chandika, A eight year old girl is described as Shambhavi, a nine year old girl is described as Goddess Durga and a ten year old girl is described as Goddess Subhadra.

Therefore, girls of two to nine years of age should be included in Kanya Puja. Along with these girls, boys of the same age group must also be worshipped and fed. These children are recognized as the members of the Goddess, and they are also known as Languriya in many places.

12. What to do if a girl is not found for Kanya Pujan during Navratri?

First, every effort should be made to find suitable girls for Kanya Pujan. If nine girls are not found, then only those girls who are found should be worshipped and fed as per the tradition by offering Prasad to Mother Goddess. You can also worship your family's daughter, niece etc. In case, due to any special circumstances, not even a single girl is available or there are fewer girls, keep aside dry fruits, gifts, Dakshina etc. in their name and whenever you find such a girl, seek blessings by giving it to her.

13. Why is barley grown during Navratri?

According to religious beliefs, barley was the first plant to be created in the universe created by Lord Brahma. Therefore, it is also known as a primary food. That is why barley is grown in the Navratri rituals of Maa Bhagwati as a symbol of the growth of life. It is believed that the results of the sadhana and puja done during Navratri are predicted based on barley yield.

14. Method of growing barley during Navratri?

To plant barley during Navratri festival, first take a wide earthen pot. After that, spread a layer of soil in it and scatter barley grains. Put some soil again on the barley grains, so that it gets covered. Those who place the Kalasha in the barley vessel can also plant grains on the sides. Finally, spread one last layer of soil and keep watering it with water as needed. To grow barley, keep adding water according to the environment and use only clean soil.

15. What to do with the barley grown during Navratri?

First, before taking barley or sorghum, worship the vessel it was grown in. After that, keep some barley in the worship place of the house and keep the rest in the place where money is kept. All the family members can keep it with them as an offering to the Goddess. Immerse the remaining barley in a nearby holy water source, river etc. Barley grown during Navratri is a symbol of happiness, prosperity and the blessings of Mother Goddess. They should not be left in any deserted place or under a tree etc or at an inappropriate place.

16. How to perform Navratri Havan?

On the occasion of Navratri, use the simple Durga Homa Vidhi to perform Homa for seeking blessings and happiness of Goddess Durga.

17. Method of reciting Ramayana during Navratri?

Along with Shakti, Shaktidhar Narayan is also worshiped during Navratri festival. Sadhaks perform rituals like Durga Saptashati, Devi Bhagwat and Devi Mantras along with Shrimad Bhagwat, Valmiki Ramayana etc. during Navratri. Chaitra Navratri is also called Ram Navratri. If you want to recite Shri Ramcharita Manas for nine days, then definitely do it on this auspicious occasion.

On the first day of Navratri, start with Mangalacharan of Balkanda and recite up to 120 Doha.

On the second day, Balakanda from 120 to 239 Doha, on the third day from 239 to the completion of Balakanda, on the fourth day from the invocation of Ayodhyakanda to 116 couplets, on the fifth day from 116 to 236 Doha,

On the sixth day, from Ayodhya Kanda Doha 236 to Aranya Kanda Doha 29 (a), on the seventh day from Aranya Kand Doha 29 (b) to Lanka Kand Doha 12 (a), on the eighth day from Lanka Kand Doha 12 (b) to Uttarkanda Doha 10 (b) and On the ninth day, from Uttara Kanda Doha 11 till the completion of Uttara Kanda. In this sequence, Navahna Parayan of Shri Ramcharita Manas is recited.

18. How to immerse the Kalasha during Navratri?

At the end of Navratri festival, after ritually worshiping Maa Durga and Kalasha, the idol and Kalash are immersed. Seek forgiveness from the Goddess for the mistakes committed during the nine-day worship by singing the Kshama Prarthana Stotram. After that, remembering Goddess Durga, pick up the coconut kept on the Kalasha. Sprinkle the water from the Kalasha with the mango and Ashoka leaves in the entire house. Pour the remaining water on the roots of sacred trees like Tulsi, Peepal etc. Keep the coin that you had put in the Kalasha Sthapana in place of your money. In many places the coconut and the urn are immersed in the river.

19. What to do with the Kalash after Navratri Puja?

After completion of the puja, lift the Kalasha with devotion and sprinkle its water at every place in the house and finally let it immerse in a holy river.

20. What to do with the coconut in the Kalash during Navratri?

After completion of Navratri puja, the coconut placed on the Kalasha should be wrapped in a red cloth and kept at the place of worship. Some scholars also suggest wrapping the coconut in red cloth and tying it at the main door of the house. On the upcoming Navratri, this coconut is floated in the river and another coconut is tied at the same place. Businessmen can keep the coconut of Gana Puja at a sacred place in their office etc. At some places, the coconut from the Kalash is distributed as Prasad during the Kanya Puja itself. Coconut can also be given to the women of the house (mother, daughter, sister) or can be immersed in the river.

21. What to do if the Kalasha falls?

According to beliefs, the falling or breaking of the Kalash during worship is an indication of an upcoming calamity. But there is no need to be afraid because Goddess Durga always protects her devotees. If the Kalasha falls, seek forgiveness from Mata Rani and restore it to its original place and pray to the Goddess to avert all kinds of troubles.

22. What precautions should be followed during Navratri fast?

Precautions during Navratri fast -

1. If Sutak is applied after Ghatasthapana during Navratri, then there is no problem. But if there is Sutak in the house even before Ghatasthapana, then do not do the puja etc. yourself, but get the puja done by (husband, wife, eldest son, sibling or Brahmin).
2. Before worshipping Navratri, take an oil bath with fragrant oil.
3. The fasting person should organize a feast for nine girls, but if not able to do so, offer it to seven, five, three or one girl as per capacity for the nine days of Navratri.
4. During the entire fast, the devotee should follow rules like sleeping on the ground, eating fruits and celibacy etc.
5. One should maintain good conduct during Navratri fast.
6. Male natives should have virtuous behavior towards women.
7. One should not insult a weak or sick person.
8. Special attention should be paid to purity and nutrition in the diet.
9. Special priority should be given to hyzine and cleanliness in homes and temples.
10. One should behave with forgiveness, mercy and generosity towards all living beings.
11. Bad qualities like excessive enthusiasm, anger, greed, attachment, pride, false speech, deceit etc. should be abandoned.
12. As much as possible, one should remain engrossed in worship, penance and meditation of Goddess Durga.