Navratri 2023 Calendar: When Does Durga Puja Start? Date, Significance, Colours For 9 Days

The celebration of Navratri and Durga Puja, which culminates in Dusshera, is approaching. Many Hindu festivals will be celebrated with excitement by devotees around the country in October in diverse ways. While Navratri is a nine-day festival that concludes with Dusshera on the tenth day, the latter four days are known as Durga Puja in many places, particularly in West Bengal. This auspicious festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil. According to Drik Panchang, Navratri will begin on October 15 and will go until October 24.

Navratri 2023 Calendar: Day-wise celebrations

• Day 1: October 15 - Pratipada (Ghatasthapana, Shailputri Puja)
• Day 2: October 16 - Dwitiya (Chandra Darshana, Brahmacharini Puja)
• Day 3: October 17 - Tritiya (Sindoor Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja)
• Day 4: October 18 - Chaturthi (Kushmanda Puja, Vinayaka Chaturthi)
• Day 5: October 19 - Panchami (Upang Lalita Vrat, Skandamata Puja)
• Day 6: October 20 - Shashthi (Saraswati Avahan, Katyayani Puja)
• Day 7: October 21 - Saptami (Saraswati Puja, Kalaratri Puja)
• Day 8: October 22 - Ashtami (Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja, Sandhi Puja)
• Day 9: October 23 - Navami (Maha Navami, Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa)
• Day 10: October 24 - Dashami/Dusshera (Navratri Parana, Durga Visarjan, Vijayadashami)

Navratri 2023: Significance

(Durga Puja is celebrated across India with much enthusiasm and zeal | Image: unsplash)

During Sharad Ritu, Shardiya Navratri falls in the lunar month Ashwin. Navratri is celebrated with great spectacle throughout the country. Devotees fast for nine days, particularly in North India. The last four days of Navratri are celebrated as Durga Puja in numerous regions of the country, particularly West Bengal and other eastern provinces of India. Dusshera is celebrated on the tenth day, whereas Vijaya Dashami is celebrated in West Bengal when devotees bid farewell to Ma Durga with Durga Visarjan. Nine incarnations of Devi Durga are worshipped throughout nine days, and each avatar of Navdurga represents a different aspect of the Goddess. To obtain Navdurga's blessings, a specific prasad or offering is served each day.

Navratri 2023: Colours for all nine days

Each day of Navratri is assigned a distinct colour. "The colour of the day is decided on the weekday," says Drik Panchang. Each weekday is dominated by one of the planets or Navgrahas, and colours are assigned to each day accordingly. Take a look at the colours for each day of Navratri 2023:

• Day 1: Orange (October 15)
• Day 2:  White (October 16)
• Day 3: Red (October 17)
• Day 4: Royal Blue (October 18)
• Day 5: Yellow (October 19)
• Day 6: Green (October 20)
• Day 7: Grey (October 21)
• Day 8: Purple (October 22)
• Day 9: Peacock Green (October 23)