AllMandir

Chaitra Navratri 2012 Date — Friday, March 23, 2012

When is Chaitra Navratri in 2012? Chaitra Navratri 2012 falls on Friday, March 23, 2012.

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

Chaitra Navratri 2012 calendar — nine days, Devi forms & colours

Chaitra Navratri 2012: date, day, Devi worshipped, and traditional colour
NightDate & dayDeviColour
Day 1Fri, 23 March 2012ShailputriGreen
Day 2Sat, 24 March 2012BrahmachariniGrey
Day 3Sun, 25 March 2012ChandraghantaOrange
Day 4Mon, 26 March 2012KushmandaWhite
Day 5Tue, 27 March 2012SkandamataRed
Day 6Thu, 29 March 2012KatyayaniYellow
Day 7Fri, 30 March 2012KaalratriGreen
Day 8Sat, 31 March 2012MahagauriGrey
Day 9Sun, 1 April 2012SiddhidatriOrange

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 2012 — full list of dates

Chaitra Navratri 2012 key dates and days
ObservanceDate & dayNotes
Ghatasthapana (Day 1)Fri, 23 March 2012
Durga Ashtami (Day 8)Sat, 31 March 2012
Ram Navami (Day 9)Sun, 1 April 2012Concludes 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 — 2011 to 2015
YearDate & day
2011Mon, 4 April 2011
2012Fri, 23 March 2012
2013Thu, 11 April 2013
2014Mon, 31 March 2014
2015Sat, 21 March 2015

Hindu festivals around Chaitra Navratri 2012