Navratri Puja 2020: Date, Time, Puja Samagri List, Puja Vidhi, Mantra and all you need to know

Navratri is an auspicious nine days festival which is celebrated by Hindus all over the world with great enthusiam and fervour. Celebrated in the honour of Maa Durga, the warrior form of the Goddess, the festival signifies the win of good over evil. Maa Durga is a warrior avatar of Parvati, and she signifies the advent of prosperity and peace.

As the name suggests, Navratri is a Sanskrit word which literally means nine nights. Each of these nine nights celebrates one of the nine forms of Maa Durga. Devotees believe that those who sincerely worship the Goddess during Navratri, their dreams and desires are fulfilled by her.

Navratri is observed four times in a year during the seasonal changes, however, two of them are celebrated with great enthusiam. During this auspicious time, devotees observe fasts, practise yoga, puja, niyam, abstinence, etc-- for those who are spiritually inclined, this holy period is considered as a time to detox and prepare your mind and body for the upcoming seasonal change.

Read on to know all about Navratri 2020:

Date & Time:

This year the Sharadiya Navratri, which occurs in the month of Ashwin according to the Hindu calendar, will be observed from October 17, 2020 (Saturday) till October 25, 2020 (Sunday). Navratri will end on October 26 with the Visarhan of Maa Durga's idol in a river.

Here are some important dates and time for Navratri 2020, according to Drik Panchang's official website:

Ashwina Ghatasthapana on Saturday, October 17, 2020
Ghatasthapana Muhurat - 06:23 AM to 10:12 AM

Duration - 03 Hours 49 Mins

Ghatasthapana Abhijit Muhurat - 11:43 AM to 12:29 PM
Duration - 00 Hours 46 Mins
Ghatasthapana Muhurta falls on Pratipada Tithi

Ghatasthapana Muhurta falls during prohibited Chitra Nakshatra
Pratipada Tithi Begins - 01:00 AM on Oct 17, 2020
Pratipada Tithi Ends - 09:08 PM on Oct 17, 2020
Chitra Nakshatra Begins - 02:58 PM on Oct 16, 2020
Chitra Nakshatra Ends - 11:52 AM on Oct 17, 2020

October 17 – Pratipada is for Ghatasthapana, Shailputri Puja
October 18 – Dwitiya is for Chandra Darshana, Brahmacharini Puja

October 19 – Tritiya is for Sindoor Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja
October 20 – Chaturthi is for Kushmanda Puja, Vinayaka Chaturthi.
October 21 – On Panchami, Skandamata Puja/ Saraswati Avahan is observed
October 22 – Shashthi marks Katyayani Puja
October 23 – Saptami is for Kalaratri Puja
October 24 – Ashtami/ Durga Ashtami is the day for Mahagauri Puja
October 25 – Navami marks Navami Homa, Navratri Parana.
October 26 – Dashami is when the Durga Visarjan is observed.

Puja Samagri List:

On the first day of Navratri, devotees decorate a Kalash with coconut and mango leaves at their home-- this is called Kalash Sthapana or Ghatasthapana and this signifies Maa Durga's arrival. Here are some Puja Samagri you would need for this:
Kalash- made up of silver, copper, bronze or brass.
One whole coconut
Mango or betel leaves
Akshat
Haldi, Kumkum, Chandan
Water
Notes or coins
Flowers
A plate
Brown soil/ clay
Nav Dhanya (nine different grains)
Red cloth

The Kalash sthapana is followed by Nav Durga puja for which you would need:

Maa Durga's photo or idol
A piece of red cloth
Shringar items as an offering to Maa Durga, which includes sindoor, bindi, bangles, jewellery, etc
Oil or ghee for lighting Akhand Jyot
A lamp made of brass or silver
Gangajal
Agarbatti
A chowki (raised wooden platform or a table for keeping the idol/photo frame of the Mother Goddess)
Agarbatti (incense sticks)
Raw brown coconut
Akshat
Kapur
Fruits, flowers and sweets as offerings to the Goddess
Notes or coins
Red or yellow sacred thread

betel nuts
clay or brown soil
barley seeds

Puja Vidhi & Mantra:
Put some soil in a utensil and add barley seeds in it. Sprinkle some water on it; then draw a swastika on the vessel using kumkum or haldi. Now tie a red or yellow sacred thread on the vessel and fill it with Gangajal. Now add betel nuts, flowers, perfume, and coins.

Also, here are some mantras which you can chant to please Maa Durga and hope to get her blessings in return:

Om jataa jut samaayuktamardhendu krit lakshnam
Lochanyatra sanyuktam padmendu sadya shan naam

Sarva Mangala Mangalye Sive Sarvatha Sadhike
Saranye Trayambike Gauri Narayani Namostute

Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, shanti rupen sangsthitha
Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, shakti rupen sangsthitha
Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, matri rupen sangsthitha
Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, buddhi rupen sangsthitha
Namastayai, Namastayai, Namastayai, namo namah!