The Navratri of the month of Chet begins on the first day of the bright fortnight, when the Bikrami lunar year also turns. Punjabi Hindu homes sow khetri, a dish of barley, light a lamp and fast for some or all of the nine days. The roads to the goddess shrines of the Shivalik hills fill with pilgrims carrying red flags, and jagratas, all-night singing of the Mother's praises, are held in every town.
The story
The Punjabi devotion to Mata, the Mother, is to the hill goddesses just across the state line: Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Kangra and, farthest, Vaishno Devi. Within Punjab the old seat is Devi Talab at Jalandhar.
The jagrata is a Punjabi institution: a night of bhents sung to dholak and chimta, ending at dawn with the story of Tara Rani.
How the nine days go
- KhetriBarley sown on the first day; its growth is read as the year's fortune.
- VratFasting on kuttu, sabudana, fruit and milk.
- JagrataThe night vigil of song.
- KanjakOn Ashtami or Naumi, small girls are fed puri, halwa and chane and given a red scarf and a coin.
- YatraPilgrimage to the hill shrines, much of it on foot.
Why this date
Chet Navratri begins on the Pratipada of the bright fortnight of Chet, on the day it is present at sunrise.
Chet Navratri in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday | |
| 2026 | Thursday | |
| 2027 | Wednesday | |
| 2028 | Monday | |
| 2029 | Saturday | |
| 2030 | Wednesday |
More Punjabi festivals
26 MarchRam Naumiਰਾਮ ਨੌਮੀ
4 MarchHoli and Hola Mohallaਹੋਲੀ · ਹੋਲਾ ਮਹੱਲਾ
14 AprilVaisakhiਵਿਸਾਖੀ
15 FebruaryMaha Shivaratriਮਹਾਂ ਸ਼ਿਵਰਾਤਰੀ
2 AprilHanuman Jayantiਹਨੂੰਮਾਨ ਜਯੰਤੀ
14 JanuaryMaghiਮਾਘੀ
Where to see Chet Navratri
In Punjab
- Devi Talab Mandir, JalandharPunjabA Shakti Peeth beside an old tank in the middle of the city.
- Mata Mansa Devi, PanchkulaHaryana, beside ChandigarhThe Navratri fair draws lakhs from Punjab.
- Durgiana Temple, AmritsarPunjabA lake temple to Durga, built on the plan of the Golden Temple.
Across India
- Naina DeviHimachal PradeshThe hill shrine above Anandpur Sahib.
- ChintpurniHimachal PradeshA Shakti Peeth much visited from the Doaba.
- Vaishno Devi, KatraJammu and KashmirThe cave shrine in the Trikuta hills.