Tell your children the story behind Chaitra Navratri/ Hindu New Year

Chaitra Navratri also known as the Vasanta Navratri is a pious festival that is celebrated by Hindus across the world. It is celebrated during the shukla paksha of Chaitra masa in the month of 'Chaitra', the first month in the Hindu calendar which generally falls between March-April in the English calendar, hence the name 'Chaitra'.?

It is a grand nine days festival celebrated with great enthusiasm in Northern India. Devotees of Goddess Durga and Lord Rama observe fasts and pray to the gods for nine days to bless them with prosperity and happiness. During the nine-day celebrations, people pray to the nine avatars of Goddess Shakti, and on the last day, observe Ram Navami - celebrating Lord Rama's birth. This Navratri is exuberantly celebrated in Northern and Western India and makes the colorful spring season all the more fascinating and divine.?

Maharashtrians celebrate the first day of this Navratri as Gudi Padwa and in Kashmir, it is called Navreh, whereas in Andhra Pradesh and other south Indian states, it is celebrated as Ugadi.

The festival Navratri in Sanskrit literally means nine nights. So, as the name suggests, the Chaitra Navratri is celebrated for nine days and each of the nine days is dedicated to the nine different avatars of Goddess Durga. It is believed that Goddess Durga arrives from heaven to stay with her devotees during this time, and so it is considered to be an auspicious time.

The festivities start from the pratipada on the first day and they go on till the Navami or ninth day of the Shukla Paksha in the Chaitra month. Rama Navratri as the ninth day marks the birth of Lord Rama.

Chaitra Navratri holds immense significance in Hindu mythology and is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm across the country. The main significance of Chaitra Navratri is:

1. Celebration of Spring: Chaitra Navratri is celebrated during the onset of spring, which marks the beginning of a new season. The festival signifies the renewal of life, the end of winter, and the start of a new harvest season.
2. Worship of the Goddess Durga: During Chaitra Navratri, the nine forms of the goddess Durga are worshipped. Each day is dedicated to a specific form of the goddess, and devotees offer prayers, perform rituals, and observe fasts to seek the blessings of the goddess.
3. Spiritual Significance: Chaitra Navratri is a time for spiritual renewal, and many devotees observe fasts and engage in prayer and meditation to purify their minds and bodies. The festival is believed to be a time when the goddess's divine energy is at its peak, and people seek her blessings to overcome obstacles and achieve success in their lives.
4. Social Significance: Chaitra Navratri is a time for social gatherings and festivities. People come together to celebrate the festival by organizing cultural events and exchanging sweets and gifts. The festival strengthens the bond between family and friends and brings people closer to their cultural roots.

"Chaitra" means the beginning of the New Year. So the New Year begins with nine days of turning inwards; prayer, meditation, and chanting. Recognizing the Divinity in the whole creation, and enlivening that aspect.