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Ram Navratri – Spring Navratri - Importance Puja and Rituals

Ram Navratri is observed during the Shukla Paksha (Waxing phase of moon) in the month of Chaitra (March – April) as per traditional Hindu calendar. In 2024, Ram Navratri begins on April 9 to April 17, 2024. This festival of nine nights in Hindu religion is dedicated to Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati and is takes place during the spring season it is also known as Spring Navratri. In some regions the nine days are dedicated to the worship of Lord Ram and includes the reading of Ramayana and observance of Ramayan week.

Legend has it that that Goddess Durga was originally worshipped in the Chaitra month. It was also referred as Basanti Puja as it took place during spring season. But the present day Durga Puja is held during the Ashwin month (September – October). It was Lord Ram who changed the period of Durga Puja from Chaitra to Ashwin as he needed to invoke the blessings of Goddess Durga before going to battle with Ravana. This is why the Durga Puja during (September – October) is also known as Akal Bodhon or untimely invocation.

The Navratri that is observed in Chaitra month is Ram Navratri because the nine-days of puja and worship end on the Ram Navami day.

Ram Navratri is widely observed in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and North Indian states. Most Hindu devotees in this part of India undertake Navratri Vrat or fasting. The festival occurs during the beginning of summer season. And it is said that the fasting helps in adapting the body to the changing climate.

Temples in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand organize festivals and fairs during this period.

Almost all the rituals observed during Navratri (held in October-November) are also observed during Ram Navratri.

One of the important events in Haryana and Punjab during Ram Navratri is the worshipping of little girls. These little girls symbolically represent Goddess Durga and are known as ‘kanjaks.’ It is performed on the eight day or the Ashtami day.