Chaitra Navratri, also known as Vasant Navratras, begins in 2011 on April 4.
This festival of nine nights in Hinduism is dedicated to Goddess Durga,
Lakshmi and Saraswati. It is also known as Chaitra Navratras or Spring
Navratri or Basant Navratri. As this Navratra coincides on ninth day is called Ram Navami.
The Vasant or Spring Navratri is widely observed in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), Jammu and Kashmir. Most Hindu devotees in this part of India
undertake Navratri fasting(Vrat). The festival occurs during the
beginning of summer season. And it is said that the fasting helps in
adapting the body to the changing climate. One of the important events in Delhi, U.P., Haryana and Punjab
is the worshipping of little girls. These little girls symbolically
represent Goddess Durga and are known as ‘kanjaks.’ It is performed on
the eight day (Ashtami) or nineth day(Navami).
Gudi Padwa is the Hindu New Year in Marathi culture as per traditional lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra. Gudi Padwa 2011 Date is April 4. It is observed mainly in Maharashtra, Goa and parts of Karnataka.
