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Chaitra Navratri 2013 Date — Thursday, April 11, 2013

When is Chaitra Navratri in 2013? Chaitra Navratri 2013 falls on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

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

Chaitra Navratri 2013 calendar — nine days, Devi forms & colours

Chaitra Navratri 2013: date, day, Devi worshipped, and traditional colour
NightDate & dayDeviColour
Day 1Thu, 11 April 2013ShailputriYellow
Day 2Fri, 12 April 2013BrahmachariniGreen
Day 3Sat, 13 April 2013ChandraghantaGrey
Day 4Sun, 14 April 2013KushmandaOrange
Day 5Mon, 15 April 2013SkandamataWhite
Day 6Tue, 16 April 2013KatyayaniRed
Day 7Wed, 17 April 2013KaalratriRoyal Blue
Day 8Thu, 18 April 2013MahagauriYellow
Day 9Sat, 20 April 2013SiddhidatriGrey

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 2013 — full list of dates

Chaitra Navratri 2013 key dates and days
ObservanceDate & dayNotes
Ghatasthapana (Day 1)Thu, 11 April 2013
Durga Ashtami (Day 8)Thu, 18 April 2013
Ram Navami (Day 9)Sat, 20 April 2013Concludes 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 — 2012 to 2016
YearDate & day
2012Fri, 23 March 2012
2013Thu, 11 April 2013
2014Mon, 31 March 2014
2015Sat, 21 March 2015
2016Fri, 8 April 2016

Hindu festivals around Chaitra Navratri 2013