Each year people celebrate Navratri twice -- Chaitra Navratri and Ashwin or Sharadiya Navratri. This is a festival of worshiping Shakti (power or strength) through spiritual practice or sadhana. The year 2020 has challenged each one of us in unique ways. The entire country celebrated Chaitra Navratri from March 25 to April 2. The lockdown to contain COVID-19 pandemic commenced in Chaitra Navratri. The same continues and now people are gearing to celebrate Ashwin Navratri from October 17 to 25.

 

 

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar appealed to each and every Indian and said, “It is now time to come together and resolve for victory. A victory of health, hope and happiness. A victory for humanity. “This Navratri, let us strengthen collective resolve for peace and health in world. These nine nights are like subtle energies in the creation and are enriched at this time of the year. They enhance the experience of going inward, praying, chanting, and make other spiritual practices more fruitful.”

 

 

A message from Brahmakumaris headquarters in Mount Abu says, “You can’t always change situations. You can never change other people. The only thing you can change is yourself. The eight powers of Raja Yoga are always available to help you in every situation that you will face in life. With self-transformation as your goal, your life will be a great journey of discovery. You will discover how to cope with every challenge and how to live well in every situation. You can think of yourself as a superhero, who has been given eight powers. As you learn how to use your powers, they become stronger in you. Just like any superhero, you learn the skill of applying the right power at the right time and in the right situation.”

 

 

Dr Pranav Pandya, Head of All World Gayatri Pariwar appeals, “During Navratri primordial power of Supreme Soul is worshiped in the form of nine Goddesses. These nine forms of the primordial power are also nine dimensions of consciousness, which a spiritual aspirant begins to access as he undergoes the cleansing process of the inner self. The focal points of these nine forms of power lie within the subtle body in the forms of chakras which get awakened during spiritual sadhana.”

‘Goddess Durga arriving on horse’ The nine nights in this sacred period bestow special energies and so are called as Navratri. Historic significance is attached with these nine days as scriptures have described divine events that unfolded during the period. But some astrologers feel, “As the Ashwin Navratri is starting from Saturday, Goddess Durga arrives on a horse. Goddess Durga coming on a horse is not considered very auspicious. It is believed that it is omen of likely-war between nations. Also Navratri Visarjan is on Sunday. If Goddess Durga returns on Sunday or Monday then it is believed that she goes mounting on a buffalo. Goddess Durga returning on a buffalo is considered inauspicious and believed as an omen of diseases, grief, sorrow and mourning in the coming year.”

 

Navratri Ghatasthapana on Saturday. Ghatasthapana Muhurat - 6.10 am to 10.02 am; duration: 03 hours 53 minutes. Ghatasthapana Abhijeet Muhurta - 11.36 am to 12.22 pm; duration: 47 minutes. Ghatasthapana Muhurta falls on Pratipada Tithi; Ghatasthapana Muhurta falls during prohibited Chitra Nakshatra. Pratipada Tithi degins at 1 am on October 17 and ends at 9.08 pm. Chitra Nakshatra begins at 2.58 pm on October 16 and ends at 11.52 am on October 17.