Sharadiya Navratri starts from the Pratipada date of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashwin. Navratri has great importance in Hinduism. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival of Sharadiya Navratri will start from Sunday, 3 October 2024. The festival of Sharadiya Navratri will end on 12 October 2024. In the 9 days of Navratri, 9 forms of the mother are worshiped. Devotees also keep fasts to please the mother. According to religious beliefs, all wishes are fulfilled by worshiping Maa Durga with rituals during Navratri.
When is Ashtami and Navami?
Quoting various almanacs, astrologer Pt. Mohan Kumar Dutt Mishra and priest of Sohsarai Shri Durga Temple Pt. Surendra Kumar Dutt Mishra say that this time, despite the increase in Chaturthi Tithi and decrease in Navami Tithi, the entire Paksha will be of 15 days and Navratri will be of nine days. Devotees will recite for nine days. But, there is a difference on 10th October. Maha Ashtami and Navami will be worshipped on 11th October. According to the scriptures, if Saptami and Ashtami coincide, the fast of Maha Ashtami is considered prohibited. Both Saptami and Ashtami are on the 10th. Therefore, devotees will not worship Ashtami and will only have the darshan of Maha Gauri.
Ashtami and Navami have special importance
On the day of Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami of Navratri, the great festival of worship of Goddess Bhagwati, Kanya Pujan is also done along with worship, recitation and havan. It is believed that worshipping girls during Navratri pleases Goddess Durga. Although Kanya Pujan can be done on any of the nine days of Navratri, it has special significance on Ashtami and Navami.
