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Chaitra Navratri 2011 Date — Monday, April 4, 2011

When is Chaitra Navratri in 2011? Chaitra Navratri 2011 falls on Monday, April 4, 2011.

Observance: Chaitra Navratri Ghatasthapana. City calendars may vary slightly by sunrise and amanta or purnimanta tradition — confirm with your local mandir.

Chaitra Navratri 2011 calendar — nine days, Devi forms & colours

Chaitra Navratri 2011: date, day, Devi worshipped, and traditional colour
NightDate & dayDeviColour
Day 1Mon, 4 April 2011ShailputriWhite
Day 2Tue, 5 April 2011BrahmachariniRed
Day 3Wed, 6 April 2011ChandraghantaRoyal Blue
Day 4Thu, 7 April 2011KushmandaYellow
Day 5Fri, 8 April 2011SkandamataGreen
Day 6Sat, 9 April 2011KatyayaniGrey
Day 7Sun, 10 April 2011KaalratriOrange
Day 8Mon, 11 April 2011MahagauriWhite
Day 9Tue, 12 April 2011SiddhidatriRed

Navratri colours follow the weekday each night falls on, which is why the list changes every year. Some regional lists swap the last two colours for pink and purple — follow the one your community uses. When a tithi is doubled or dropped, two nights can share a date or a night can be skipped.

Chaitra Navratri 2011 — full list of dates

Chaitra Navratri 2011 key dates and days
ObservanceDate & dayNotes
Ghatasthapana (Day 1)Mon, 4 April 2011
Durga Ashtami (Day 8)Mon, 11 April 2011
Ram Navami (Day 9)Tue, 12 April 2011Concludes Chaitra Navratri

Why we celebrate

Beginning of nine nights of Devi — installation of sacred kalash invoking Durga.

How it is celebrated

Daily Devi puja, golu/kolu display in South India, garba/dandiya in Gujarat, Durga puja in Bengal. Fasting or sattvic diet through nine days.

Puja timing

Morning and evening puja; Ghatasthapana on Day 1 during Shubh muhurta. Sandhya arati each night.

Foods & offerings

Fasting foods: sabudana, kuttu, fruits, milk. South India: sundal prasadam daily. Bengal: bhog to Ma Durga.

Rituals

  1. Ghatasthapana (Day 1): establish kalash, invoke Durga, sow barley/jowar.
  2. Daily: lamp, Devi stotram, offer flowers and naivedyam.
  3. Color-coded dress optional per day; visit temples for alankaram darshan.
  4. Kanya puja (invite young girls as Devi) on Ashtami or Navami in many homes.
  5. Ayudha puja / Saraswati puja on Mahanavami in several regions.
  6. Vijayadashami: visarjan, sindoor khela, and new beginnings.

Chaitra Navratri dates by year

When is Chaitra Navratri — 2010 to 2014
YearDate & day
2010Tue, 16 March 2010
2011Mon, 4 April 2011
2012Fri, 23 March 2012
2013Thu, 11 April 2013
2014Mon, 31 March 2014

Hindu festivals around Chaitra Navratri 2011