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Chaitra Navratri 2014 Date — Monday, March 31, 2014

When is Chaitra Navratri in 2014? Chaitra Navratri 2014 falls on Monday, March 31, 2014.

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

Chaitra Navratri 2014 calendar — nine days, Devi forms & colours

Chaitra Navratri 2014: date, day, Devi worshipped, and traditional colour
NightDate & dayDeviColour
Day 1Mon, 31 March 2014ShailputriWhite
Day 2Tue, 1 April 2014BrahmachariniRed
Day 3Wed, 2 April 2014ChandraghantaRoyal Blue
Day 4Thu, 3 April 2014KushmandaYellow
Day 5Fri, 4 April 2014SkandamataGreen
Day 6Sat, 5 April 2014KatyayaniGrey
Day 7Sun, 6 April 2014KaalratriOrange
Day 8Mon, 7 April 2014MahagauriWhite
Day 9Tue, 8 April 2014SiddhidatriRed

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 2014 — full list of dates

Chaitra Navratri 2014 key dates and days
ObservanceDate & dayNotes
Ghatasthapana (Day 1)Mon, 31 March 2014
Durga Ashtami (Day 8)Mon, 7 April 2014
Ram Navami (Day 9)Tue, 8 April 2014Concludes 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 — 2013 to 2017
YearDate & day
2013Thu, 11 April 2013
2014Mon, 31 March 2014
2015Sat, 21 March 2015
2016Fri, 8 April 2016
2017Tue, 28 March 2017

Hindu festivals around Chaitra Navratri 2014