What Is Chaitra Navratri? How It Is Celebrated in India?

Chaitra Navratri is celebrated with many rituals, Navratri puja being one of them. The devotees of Mata buy different puja items to perform the puja at home.

The term ‘Navratri’ is derived from the two separate words ‘Nav’ meaning nine and ‘ratri’ meaning night. This tells that the festival is celebrated for a period of nine days in which nine different forms of Goddess Durga is worshipped with different Indian spiritual accessories on each day beginning from the Pratipada, the first day.

The Nine Forms of the Goddess are Named as:- 

1. SailaPutri,
2. BrahmaCharini,
3. ChandraGhanta,
4. KushManda,
5. Skanda Mata,
6. Katyayani,
7. Kalaratri,
8. Maha Gauri and
9. Siddhidayini.

Chaitra Navratri is celebrated on the Chaitra month, which gave it the name ‘Chaitra Navratri’. This year, the celebration will begin on 6th of April and will continue till nine days from the date. People will be found in new clothes enjoying and rejoicing these nine days with lots of cheerfulness, happiness, enthusiasm, and faith in their hearts.

Chaitra Navratri is one of the most auspicious festivals that is solely dedicated to worshipping Maa Durga. This festival holds a significant place in different communities and religions of India. Navratri symbolizes the victory over every odd and evil. The festival begins with the Ghatasthapana, which is the traditional ritual of this festival. Some of the devotees also perform a puja at home and some even keep fasting on these days. They buy different puja items for performing the puja with devotion.

It is believed that Goddess Durga comes to meet her parents for these nine days with the permission of Lord Shiva. This is the reason for the celebration. During these nine days, Durga also demolished Mahisasur, the demon which stands for the victory of good over the evil. This showed the eternal spiritual power of the Goddess, that can never be destroyed or reduced.

What One Should Do During these Festive Days?

• Those who perform the pujas must take their bath early morning of each of these days. They should also keep the puja samagris ready from beforehand. They need to look for the Premium Puja Samagri for this puja.
• It is believed that red is the favorite color of the Goddess. So, it is always suggested to use red-colored cloth in the puja. Keep this in mind while choosing to buy puja samagri online.
• Those who keep fasting on these days can starve on fruits and sweets during these nine days.

Which Is the Most Interesting Auspicious Puja of this Festival?

On the Eighth day that is the Maha Asthmi, Kanya puja is performed in which girls are worshipped as it is believed that women and girls are the different forms of Goddess Durga. In some of the regions, this puja is also performed on the Ninth day that is the Maha Navami.

These pujas need different types of samagris that can e bought separately from the online stores today or can be bought in the form of a kits. The online navratri puja kits has everything inside it to perform the puja with ease and perfection.

Why Is Chaitra Navratri Celebrated? Know the Significance

Every festival has a reason behind celebrating it. So is the Chaitra Navratri festival. People do pooja samagri online shopping to perform this puja at home. 

Chaitra Navratri is also celebrated for continuous nine days. This festival takes place in the Chaitra month that is in the March or April. The devotees are found to worship Goddess Durga and perform puja at home to seek blessings from the Goddess of power and strength. People do pooja samagri online shopping to make the puja arrangement perfect. This puja is performed to fight the wrongs of life. This is the first grand festival in the Hindu calendar. It is also known by the names Gudi Padwa, and Ugadi. Chaitra Navratri is also popular by the name Vasant Navratri. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm, vigor, and pomp in Northern India.

One may get confused as Navratri is celebrated twice a year. This is the first one. With the arrival of the summer days, the festival also begins. The rituals and customs observed on this festival is nothing less than the enthusiasm seen in the hearts and faces of the people during the second Navratri days that is celebrated with the onset of the winter days. The devotees perform the puja on both the Navratris with each and every Premium Puja Samagri.

The devotees worship the Goddess on all the nine days of Chaitra Navratri. It is believed that the devotee who will worship her during these nine days without any wish or desire, will attain salvation.

Its Mythological Significance:-
Navratri is a Sanskrit term meaning ‘nine nights’. This festival also calls for nine nights of celebration along with worshipping the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Chaitra Navratri represents the victory of good over evil. As per the Hindu beliefs, Lord Shiva gave the permission to Goddess Durga, his wife to go and meet her mother only for these nine days. The tale of Navratri also says that When she was coming to her mother’s house, she had a fight with Mahisasura, the demon, and killed him. This is the reason why she is considered as the Goddess or power and strength. She symbolizes shakti. It is said in the Shastras that Maa Durga can never be destroyed.

What are the Rituals Performed During this Festival?
During this festival, people clean their home, buy new clothes, and buy pooja products online to perform the puja at home. Along with this, the devotees keep fasting on these days. Some people also feed on vegetarian meals on all these nine days. The ninth day is marked as the Ram Navami according to the Hindu calendar.

Chaitra Navratri is the period of purification and introspection of oneself. Celebrate this festival and begin your new ventures this year.

                      

Here are Some Mythical Stories About Maha ShivRatri

There are so many stories related to Maha Shivratri that everyone must know. Some of the stories are depicted here. Let’s explore the devotiona ltales.

According to the Vedas and Puranas, at the time of the great mythical ocean churning known as the Samudra Manthan, a vessel of poison came out from the ocean. The demons and the Gods were terrified as the poison had the powers to destroy the whole world. They all ran to Mahadev that is Shiva and asked for help. In order to save the world and the life of all, he drank the whole poison and held that in his throat. He did not swallow it, which made his throat turned blue. This is the reason why he is also give the name ‘Neelkantha’.

It is said that Maha Shivaratri is performed and celebrated as the auspicious day when Vishnu and Brahma got into the majot tiff of supremacy over one another. The angry Shiva gave them punishment by taking the form of massive fire, which spread all over the universe. Brahma and Vishnu then bagan the race for finding the solution to stop the fire. Lord Shiva is the one for who people from all over the world perform the puja of Maha Shivaratri. The story of this day also speaks about the marriage of Shankar Mahadev with Maa Parvati.

On this auspicious day, a hunter who used to kill birds, was once chased by a lion who was very hungry. On seeing the lion, the hunter climbed up a tree in order to save his life. The ferocious lion awaited throughout the day and the whole night for its prey. The hunter kept on plucking the leaves of the tree in order to keep him awake so that he won’t fall from the tree. These leaves fell on the Shiva Lingam, which was at the bottom of that Bilva tree. Lord Shiva was very pleased with that offering and saved his life. This story emphasized the power and auspiciousness of performing a puja or woshipping Mahadev with Bilva leaves especially on the day of Maha Shivaratri. 

Shiva Lingam is also related to Shivaratri. According to another story, Vishnu and Brahma searched everywhere for the Aadi and Antha that is the beginning and the end of the Lord. It is still believed that on the fourteenth day of the Phalguna month, Lord Shiva manifested himself in Lingam form. Since then, this particular day is believed to be extremely auspicious. In order to celebrate this day, the devotees of Shiva keep fasting and perform the puja with complete devotion and perfection. Worshipping him can make life happy and prosperous. 

What is A Fullmoon? When is the Next One? Know here

Most of the people have heard about a fullmoon. Many people also buy different puja samagris for performing a puja on this day. Here’s everything about it.

A full moon is seen when the moon follows the earth and the elliptic orbit. Sometimes it also gets nearer to the earth as compared to the other times. Even when it is full moon, it comes close to the earth but when it is fullmoon, the mon reaches to the nearest point of earth. This is the reason why on a fullmoon day, the moon appears much brighter and larger as compared to the other normal days in the sky. A full moon appears to be twelve to fourteen percent larger in diameter than a normal moon. Full moon can take place at any point along the elliptical orbit of the moon. When the full moon takes place near the perigee, it appears to be a little bigger than the usual full moon. This is what the name ‘fullmoon’ is referred to. Many astrologers have already explained the phenomenon of a fullmoon. They have said that a full or a new moon that is ninety percent close to the earth’s nearest orbit is the fullmoon. Because of the relatively closer proximity of moon to the earth, the celestial surface of the body look quite larger when the fullmoon occurs.

There are many who consider this day to be an auspicious day and perform puja at home with different puja samagris. They buy these from the online puja shop and also from the market for perfectly completing the puja at home. Some even go to the temples for worshipping the Lord on this day. Many people do fasting and some live on veggies and fruits only. 

When is the Next Fullmoon this Year?

21st January was the most recent fullmoon day and the next day when one can view the fullmoon is 19th February 2019. And in the month of March as well, one can view a fullmoon on 21st March. On this day, it is expected that in the chronical order the moon is going to make up the three in a row at 224,173 miles, 221,734 miles, and 222,274 miles away from earth. In order to get the best view of the moon on the day, one must stay as far as possible from the light pollution. This would give the clear picture of the fullmoon. This is because most of the times NASA runs the live-streams of lunar events. So, just keep your eyes out to get that amazing view.

How Often the fullmoon Can be Seen?

Fullmoon is seen very rarely. It has been found by the researchers that the most impressive fullmoon was seen on 14th November 2016 after 26th January 1948.

Besides these scientific facts, Hindus put more stress on arranging for the puja on this day. As a fullmoon is rarely seen, so it is believed to be auspicious for the Hindus. They buy puja items, make the arrangements and perform the puja with full faith and devotion. 

   

Ideas of Buying Pure Puja Items & Their Importance

The eternal joy and peace of worshipping the deity are more experiences and very hard to define in words. Those who can experience and go deep into the world of Spiritual conscience, they really know how it feels like. One may even try online puja items, But before that one needs to liberate one self, In order to attain that stage, one should have Tusli Mala, which is extremely Important. Apart from that one can also have Sphatika, Malas and of course, Rudraksha Mala tops that list. These are those things specifically in the category of Malas which one can wear while offering and worshipping their deities.

There’s no doubt that In Hindu rituals, cultures and in customs, pooja plays a vital role. In this effort, one tends to offer Pujas to different Gods and Goddesses. This is also the only and sole way to connect oneself with their inherent soul and at the same time find a connection between the mind, body and the soul. This also necessitates the use of several numbers of materials. The wide assortment of varied spiritual and associates are the reason to embellish and prepare one’s mind with clarity and transperent thoughts. In this processing of offer, poojas which include god and their idols along with that Mukut, Sculpture, Puja Thali, Chandan, Kumkum, Bell, Haldi, and many other items.

Besides these, there are other religious and puja items which play a significant role and this includes Pancpatra, Saligrama, Rudaraks, dry Fruits and most importantly flowers are the key elements to someone feels the spiritually in a true sense. In some pujas, it is believed that the unbroken rice popularly known as “Akshat” will give drastic upliftment so that one can achieve prosperity and wealth. During the chanting, the mantras these pooja kits are offered to the deities. If anyone is facing health issues on a regular interval, Vibhuti and Bhasma is a way to create a shield form these problems. In order to feel the aroma spiritual forces in the air and to create an environing full of positivity, the important source for all pujas is nothing but the incense sticks. Since the time immemorial these incense sticks are accustomed and use for kindling the moods. This also the way one can have the essence of spirituality all around and thus it makes everyone in and around the puja place, calm, serene and silent. This Samagris, particularly the incense sticks are considered as the main product. 

These days everything can be delivered right at the doorstep. With the click in the website, one can possibly order everything and anything. But the main concern is, whether one can really get the original item online? The answer is yes but not always, it really becomes huge for all of us. Puja Samagris For instance, there are online shops who are only selling degraded and substandard Puja items. Please be aware and always double check. “PujaShoppe”, this online store is a one-stop destination for legitimate Puja Samgris and other Puja related items.

Things to Consider when Worshipping A Shiva Lingam for Home

Shiva lingam is one of the most common divine products found in almost every Hindu household. But there are a few things to remember before buying a lingam. 

A Shiva lingam is the trinity of Vishnu – the protector, Brahma – the creator, and Shiva – the destructor. It is a common divine products found in the mandirs of almost every home. Most of the Hindus worship Shiva in the form of lingam. But, when worshipping a Shiva lingam at home, there are a few things that should be remembered.

 Let’s Check Out What are they:-

• According to the beliefs of Hinduism, Shiva can get angry on the devotees if they do not worship him on a regular basis. If there is a Shiva lingam at home, worship it regularly without failure.
• Do not offer turmeric powder to the Shiva lingam as turmeric is used by women mostly for beauty purpose and the lingam represents a male deity.
• Do not offer milk to the lingam directly from the packet. Pour the required amount in a clean pot used for puja purpose and then offer it to the lingam. Just make sure that the milk is cold.
• It is advisable to place the idols of Lord Ganesha and Maa Gauri beside the lingam. And the surrounding should always be kept clean when the idols and the lingam are placed.
• Only white flowers and sandalwood should be offered to the Shiva lingam as these things please the Lord.
• Do not offer tulsi leaves to the lingam. Instead of this, bael leaves can be offered to it to seek the blessing of Lord Shiva.
• Never touch or go close to the lingam or the puja mandir of your home when going through the menstruation cycle.

One can explore the brass pooja items online and go through the specifications of the idol of brass Shiva Lingam with snake and then buy it for keeping in the home. With this product, one can spread the positive aura in the home environment. This product is designed to capture the spiritual essence. Other than this one can also explore the store to check out the other brass options if the devotee believes in any other God or Goddess. Pujashoppe is the one-stop shop for every puja item and other decorative religious products. The store also offers these divine products to the franchisees to boost their business by selling these products. Today, this store offers its products to the franchisees all over India through its online portal and through its physical stores located in most of the Indian states. One can get the same brass Shiva lingam with snake idol from the franchisees as well as per the convenience.  

How to Arrange the Components of A Ritualistic Puja thali?

Here, one will come across the aspects of arranging a puja thali for a ritualistic worship. One can buy a puja thali online now along with the other samagri. 

The arrangement of divine elements on a puja thali is quite simple. Only the right samagris are needed to arrange the thali. One can now buy both the samagris and the puja thali online. Be it any puja or ritual, a puja thali has to be there in front of the deity while worshipping or chanting the prayers. The forefront of the thali refers to that part of the plate that is closer to the idol or the deity to be worshipped. The lower part of the thali refers to that part, which is closer to the devotee or the worshipper.
 

So, What are the Items that are must in A Puja thali? The Checklist is here. Have a Look:-

• Powders:- In every puja thali, vermillion that is the red powder and turmeric that is haldi should be kept at the right side of the worshipper or the embodied soul. The bukka or the black powder, the gulal, and shendur or the saffron-colored powder should be kept at the left side of the devotee.
• Fragrances:- The sandalwood paste, flowers, perfume bottle, incense sticks, the durva or the tender grass, patri or the leaves, and dhoop should all be placed to the front side that is at the forefront of the thali. This is because the spiritual and subtle frequencies of the idol to be worshipped gets activated by the fragrances emitted by these elements.
• Monetary and Betel Offerings:- The nuts and the leaves along with the dakshina are offered to the deity in every Hindu puja. All these elements must be placed at that end of the thali that is closer to the worshipper that is the lower end.  The reason is that these components are considered as the effective mediums to transmit the religious and subtle frequencies of the deity to the devotee or the worshipper.
•  The Unbroken Rice Grains:- On the central point of the thali, the unbroken rice grains should be placed. This is because it is believed that the spiritual frequencies of all the five deities ( Shiva, Durga, Ganpati, Krishna, and Ram) gets attracted towards the devotees. These frequencies are then transmitted to the other divine items in the thali like the turmeric, the fragrant items, vermillion, etc surrounding the rice grains.

A puja thali is a divine gift that can be bought for gifting the close ones as well on auspicious occasions like housewarming function, etc. Exploring Pujashoppe, the best online puja store will give different options in the same range. Have a look at the range, pay for one, and gift it to a dear one. But, don’t forget to tell him or her about the right way to arrange the puja thali with the right components.