Navratri in September – October 2011, much popular as Durga Navaratri, is a 10-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga or Shakti. Saran Durga Navaratri 2011 starts on September 28 and ends on 6 October 2011. Kalasha Sthapana or Ghata Sthapana date is September 28 and Vijayadasami or Dasara is on October 6. Final five days of Navratri is observed as Durga Puja in Bengal, Orissa, and Assam. Navratri begins on the first day in Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month and ends on tenth day.
Kalasha Sthapana marks the beginning of Navratri puja and during nine days of Navratri each Goddess of Navadurga is worshipped.
In Bengal, Durga Puja starts on Maha Sashti, sixth day of Navaratri, and ends on Dussehra. On Mahalaya Amavasya, Mahalaya Torpon is observed to mark the starting of arrangements of Durga Puja. Navratri is the best and auspicious time to start any new venture or business.
Lalitha Panchami, Durga Saptami, Durgashtami, Maha Navami, and Vijaya Dashami are the major festivals in Navratri. Traditionally and spiritually, Navratri puja is divided into 3 sets of three days to worship three different forms of Goddess Shakti.
Goddess Durga is worshipped in first three days – Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, Ashwin Shukla Dwitiya, and Tritiya. Goddess Lakshmi is the Goddess of next three days – Ashwin Chaturthi, Lalitha Panchami, and Maha Sashti or Durga Shashti. Last three days are the period to worship Goddess Saraswati. On Vijayadasami, the last day of Navratri, Durga immersion is observed in Durga Puja pandals. Devotees observe Udwasana or Udhyapana of Navratri Vrat on this day.
In Andhra Pradesh, during Navratri Brahmotsavam is held in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. On Durgashtami, Bathukamma Festival is also celebrated in Telangana region of AP. In Kerala, Vidhyarambham ritual (initiation of children into education) is celebrated on Vijayadashami.
Navratri September October 2011 calendar – Navratri 2011 Schedule – Navratri 2011 dates
- 28 September 2011 – Ghatasthapana / Kalashsthapana
- 29 September 2011 – Dwitiya Navratri Puja
- 30 September 2011 – Navratri Tritiya Puja
- 1 October 2011 – Chaturthi Navratri Puja
- 2 October 2011 – Lalita Panchami
- 2 October 2011 – Maha Sashti – Durga Puja begins in Bengal – Saraswati Puja Avahan
- 3 October 2011 – Maha Saptami – Saraswati puja (Main Puja)
- 4 October 2011 – Durgashtami – Bathukamma Festival in Andhra Pradesh – Saraswati Uttara Pooja
- 5 October 2011 – Maha Navami – Saraswati Visarjan or Saraswati Udwasan or Udyapana
- 6 October 2011 – Dasara or Vijayadasam – Vidhyarambham in Kerala and Karnataka
In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, during Navaratri Saptamatrika Puja or Ashtamatrika Puja is observed. Vijayawada Kanakadurga Temple, Srisailam Bramaramba Temple, Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Temple, Gujarat Ambaji Temple, Srungeri Sarada Matha Temple, Kollu Mookambika Temple, Madurai Meenakshi Temple, Kanchi Kamakshi Temple, Mahur Ekaveera Devi Temple, and many other Shakti Peetha temples become much crowded with devotees during Navratri.
