Navratri 2024: Know the dates, timings & significance of the 9-day Hindu festival

Shardiya Navratri aka Sharad Navratri 2024, will be celebrated from 3^rd to 12^th October this year. This Hindu festival is observed for 9 days and it honors the supreme Goddess Durga Mata, highlighting the nine avatars of the Goddess. In this festival devotees celebrate Maa Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura symbolizing the win of good over evil. The battle between the Goddess and the demon lasted for nine days. Following these nine days, Dussehra festival is celebrated honouring Lord Rama’s victory over the demon Ravana. 

There is a total of four Navratris celebrated in the Hindu culture every year, including Magha (winter), Chaitra (spring), Ashadha (monsoon), and Sharad or Shardiya (autumn), out of which Sharadiya Navratri is considered as the most significant and for this reason it is also known as Maha Navratri. The festival is also considered as the harvest festival, worshipping the Goddess as power behind life and creation.

During these nine days, devotees often fast and avoid consuming grains, non-vegetarian food, and alcohol. Some of the devotees keep the fast for first two or last two days. This fast is done to purify the mind and body, expressing the devotion towards Goddess Durga. 

In these nine days, the devotees worship the nine avatars of the Goddess namely Goddess Shailaputri, Goddess Brahmacharini, Goddess Chandraghanta, Goddess Kushmanda, Goddess Skandamata, Goddess Katyayani, Goddess Kalaratri, Goddess Mahagauri and Goddess Siddhidatri. Navratri also has a special colour code for each nine days.

Here's the list of Shardiya Navratri 2024 dates and special colors:

• ·         3^rd October 2024 - Pratipada  (Yellow)
• ·         4^th October 2024 – Dwitiya (Green)
• ·         5^th October 2024 – Tritiya (Grey)        
• ·         6^th October 2024 – Chaturthi (Orange)
• ·         7^th October 2024 – Panchami (White)
• ·         8^th October 2024 – Shashti (Red)
• ·         9^th October 2024 - Saptami (Royal Blue)
• ·         10^th October 2024 – Ashtami (Pink)
• ·         11^th October 2024 – Navami (Purple)
• ·         12^thOctober 2024 - Vijaya Dashami / Dussehra

Here are the timings of Vijayadashmi 2024:

Dashami Tithi will begin at 10:58 am on Saturday, 12^th October 2024 and will end at 09:08 am on Sunday, 13^th October. The Vijay Muhurat will start at 02: 03 pm and end at 02:49 pm on Saturday, 12^th October 2024.