navratri & month of chaitra

Chaitra Navratri begins with the Hindu New Year, i.e the 1st day of Chaitra month and ends with Ram Navami. The festival is devoted to Goddess Shakti and three of her most popular forms– Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

The festival of Navratri is one of the most auspicious occasions for Hindus. Navaratri is celebrated twice a year – once in the month of Chaitra (March- April) and the second time during the month of Ashwani (September – October). During the nine days of Navaratri people worship goddess Maa Durga and her many other forms known as Gauri, Uma, Jagatmata, Bhairavi, Parvati, Kali, Chandi, Ambika etc. They keep fasts, visit temples and sing devotional songs.

On the eighth and the ninth day of Navaratri, it is common to end Navratri by doing Kanya Pujan which is a custom of inviting small girls home, offering arti to them and giving them cholle, halwa, puri and sweets to eat.

According to legends, Navratri and Ram Navami are celebrated for the birth of Lord Rama and his victory over Ravana. As per the Hindu calendar, the 9th tithi in Chaitra Sukla is observed as Ram Navami to commemorate the birth of Lord Rama.

The worship of Lord Rama dates back to the Pre-Christian era. About keeping strict fast on Ram Navmi is mentioned in the Kalika Purana. The Vrata of Ram Navami is considered as one of the five most sacred vratas among Hindus. The Ramachandrika and Vratarka also states that each and everyone should observe this vrata as it is the only means of worldly happiness and salvation.

Procedure and vidhi vidhan of Navaratri Puja.
Laghu Anushthana sadhana of Gayatri is recommended as most suitable for the Navaratri period. It consists of twenty-four thousand japa (repeated rhythmic chanting) of the Gayatri Mantra with meditation on the rising sun and adoption of certain self-control disciplines. Mental or upanshu japa of twenty-seven rosaries (malas) needs to be completed every day for this purpose. This can be done in about three hours' duration by the people who are used to daily practice of the japa of this mantra. Completion in one sitting in the early morning (by commencing the japa two hours before dawn) is the best. However, depending upon one's constraints, it could be completed in two to three sittings at convenient times. But the regularity of timings and place where the japa is carried out should be maintained. Ideal sitting posture is sukhasana with erect spinal column. One should not sit directly on the earth. Sitting on kusha mat or cotton cloth is most suitable.
Its really very good even for health.