Navratri 2021: 9 Days & 9 Colours You Must Wear To Please Devi Durga

The land of vivid cultures has donned the festive season, and to start the festivities for us is the festival of Navratri 2021. Shardiya Navratri or Sharad Navratri is one of the most popular festivals in India. The nine-day long festival is celebrated in full bloom across India, especially in the states of Gujarat and West Bengal. The two states get drenched in the piousness of worshipping the Goddess and also the fun around Garba and traditional dressing.

In 2021, Shardiya Navratri will start from 7th October 2021 (Thursday) and continue till 15th October 2021 (Friday) with the celebration of Vijaydashmi. Here is an in-depth breakout of the whole festival.

Shardiya Navratri 2021 Dates and Time

Here are all the important dates about Shardiya Navratri 2021 that you need to know about. Note: The third and fourth days of Navratri will overlap this year.

7 October 2021- Ghatasthapana (Pratipada)

Ghatasthapana Auspicious Timing – The auspicious time for Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana shubh muhurat on October 7 is from 6.17 am to 7.07 am.

Ghatasthapana Abhijit Muhurat – 11:45 AM to 12:32 PM

Pratipada Tithi Begins – 04:34 PM, 6th October 2021

Pratipada Tithi Ends – 01:46 PM, 7th October 2021

8 October 2021 – Dwitiya
9 October 2021 – Tritiya and Chaturthi
10 October 2021 – Panchami
11 October 2021 – Shashti
12 October 2021 – Saptami
13 October 2021 – Ashtami
14 October 2021 – Navami
15 October 2021 – Vijayadashami

The nine avatars of Goddess Durga

The festival of Navratri is about decorating pandals to welcome and worship the nine avatars of Goddess Durga. Each of the nine days denotes one avatar. Each form of the Goddess signifies a unique virtue. Though worshipped differently, every manifestation of Goddess Durga teaches to do good and face enemies and any sort of wrongdoings with utmost bravery.

Here are the nine forms of Devi Durga that we worship on the occasion of Shardiya Navratri 2021:

Also Read: Goddess Durga and her Nine Manifestations

7th October 2021 (Pratipada) – Is for worshipping Goddess Shailputri
8th October 2021 (Dwitiya) – Is for Worshipping Goddess Brahmacharini
9th October 2021 (Tritiya and Chaturthi) – Is for worshipping Goddess Chandraghanta and Goddess Kushmanda
10th October 2021 (Panchami) – Is for worshipping Goddess Skandamata
11th October 2021 (Shashti) – Is for worshipping Goddess Katyayani
12th October 2021 (Saptami) – Is for worshipping Goddess Kalratri
13th October 2021 (Ashtami) – Is for worshipping Goddess Maha Gauri
14th October 2021 (Navami) – Is for worshipping Goddess Siddhidatri
Last Day – Vijayadashami

Shardiya Navratri 2021 rituals that you must follow

The festival of Shardiya Navratri is celebrated on Ashwini month as per the Hindu calendar. This month falls on either September or October of each year. And as the festival sees the worshipping of nine forms of Durga, there are multiple rituals one must follow when it comes to pleasing all these nine forms of the Devi.

Here are some Shardiya Navratri 2021 rituals that you must follow this year:

To begin, on the first day of Navratri, Ghatasthapana. On this day, we do the ritual of Kalash Sthapana. The ritual invokes the Goddess shakti. And is one of the must to-dos.
The first day of Shridya Navratri 2021 will also see the lighting of Akhand Jyoti. This shall burn throughout the nine days.
Some people also choose to observe fast on Navratri. If you do so, make sure you keep yourself hydrated. Fasts, as in the real sense, are to detox oneself and not make yourself struggle.
The ritual of Kanya Pujan is also famous. The devotee pays obeisance to the young girls and serves them food. If you can serve the same food to the needy, it would be much better.

Shardiya Navratri 2021 – 9 Days, 9 different colours

In some states such as Gujarat and Maharastra, the ritual of Garba is quite famous. And interestingly, what makes it more fun is people donning themselves in nine different colours across 9 days to please Devi Durga.

So if you too seek to follow the same ritual, here are the most auspicious colours for each of the nine days of Navratri 2021.

Day 1 – Yellow
Day 2 – Green
Day 3 – Grey
Day 4 – Orange
Day 5 – White
Day 6 – Red
Day 7 – Royal Blue
Day 8 – Pink
Day 9 – Purple

Fasting dishes for Shridya Navratri 2021

Fasting is one of the main rituals when celebrating the festival of Navratri. As per our astrologers, fasting in the real sense is done to detox oneself. So surely you may eat little as you fast for nine long days. As per our astrologers, you can eat these things as you fast:

Sweets- Aloo Halwa, Kaju Katli, and Peda.

Drinks- Lassi, Meethi Dahi, and Chaach.

Snacks- Aloo-Paneer Kofta and Kuttu Pakodi.

Meals- Sabudana Khichdi, Samvat Rice Khichdi, Kuttu Kachauri, Kuttu Khichdi, and Vrat Aloo.

The festival of Navratri is popular in the North, west and eastern parts of the country. In the east, namely in the state of West Bengal, the festival is called Durga puja, and it is one of the most popular festivals in West Bengal. During the festival, theme-based pandals are erected to invoke Durga and introduce her to modern problems and blessings.

Also Read: The unsung heroes of Ramayana.

People don new clothes and make prasad and indulge in cultural activities, forgetting all their woes. Especially in Gujarat, people wear traditional clothes and celebrate the festival by doing Garba and Dandiya Raas. Meanwhile, in Kerala, Ayudha Puja is celebrated on the ninth day of Navratri. This Puja is done to worship tools and instruments.

She’s the mother of Universe, she fights and protects. May the emblem of strength & love, Goddess Durga bestows her blessings on one and all.

To know more, you can talk to our astrologers.

5,702