Navratri 2010 puja date

This year Navratri puja or Durga Puja will begins from Friday. Durga Navaratri begins on 8th October 2010 and ends on 17th October 2010, In this event people celebrates it by sending the messages of navratri wishes and sms to their relatives and friends.

Mother Durga is depicted as a beautiful Goddess with 10 arms. She rides on a lion or a tiger. She carries several weapons in her arms like sword, trident, chakram, bow, scimitar and thunderbolt. She also carries lotus flower and gesture of Abhaya. She looks very beautiful and strong.

On navratris, the nine forms of Durga are worshipped as Navdurga. The names of nine Durgas are: Ma Shailputri, Ma Brahmacharini, Ma Chandraghanta, Ma Kushmanda, Ma Skandamata, Ma Katyayani, Ma Kalratri, Ma MahaGauri and Ma Siddhidatri. These nine forms of Durga are worshipped with great reverence. The celebrations comprise of detailed deity worship of Mother Durga. Devotees follow strict vows and austerities on these nine days. They take to chanting mantras honoring Mother Goddess and recite several prayers, hymns and meditation. On the tenth day, the deity is immersed in water bodies with a procession. Many other celebrations also take place on the last day of navratri.

Navaratri is celebrated five times a year. They are Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri, and the Poushya/Magha Navaratri. Of these, the Sharada Navaratri of the month of Puratashi and the Vasanta Navaratri of the Vasanta kala are very important.

1. Vasanta Navaratri: Basanta Navrathri, also known as Vasant Navratras, is the festival of nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the spring season (March–April). It is also known as Chaitra Navratra. The nine days of festival is also known as Raama Navratri.

2. Gupta Navaratri: Gupta Navratri, also referred as Ashadha or Gayatri or Shakambhari Navratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Ashadha (June–July). Gupta Navaratri is observed during the Ashadha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).

3. Sharana Navaratri: This is the most important of the Navratris. It is simply called Maha Navratri (the Great Navratri) and is celebrated in the month of Ashvina. Also known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September–October).

4. Poushya Navaratri: Poushya Navratri is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Pousha (December–January). Poushya Navaratri is observed during the Pousha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).

5. Magha Navaratri: Magha Navratri, also referred as Gupta Navratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Magha (January–February). Magha Navaratri is observed during the Magha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).