Navratri 2024 is here, and it marks the beginning of one of the most revered festivals in Hinduism, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga in her nine divine forms. Navratri 2024 Live: Celebrating the Worship of Adishakti and the Significance of the Eternal Flame is a journey that resonates with devotion, spirituality, and cultural richness, as people across the world come together to honour the goddess. This year, Navratri began on the 3rd of October, with devotees eagerly welcoming the Goddess in a special ritual known as Kalash Sthapana.
The festival, which lasts for nine days, begins with the worship of Goddess Shailputri, the first form of Durga. She symbolises the power of nature and provides devotees with strength and balance. On the first day, the Kalash, symbolising the universe, is set up, and offerings are made to the goddess. In Navratri 2024 Live: Celebrating the Worship of Adishakti and the Significance of the Eternal Flame, this sacred act is a representation of invoking all the positive energies in the universe. The Kalash is considered the abode of deities like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, making it a central part of the festival’s rituals.
One of the most important symbols during this festival is the Akhand Jyoti—the eternal flame that burns continuously for the nine days of Navratri. Navratri 2024 Live: Celebrating the Worship of Adishakti and the Significance of the Eternal Flame highlights the significance of this flame, which symbolises devotion, unwavering faith, and the divine blessings of Durga. Lighting the Akhand Jyoti is believed to invoke the goddess’s grace and provide protection from negative energies, ensuring the home and family are blessed with peace, prosperity, and happiness.
In 2024, Navratri falls in the auspicious Panch Mahayog, a rare alignment of planetary energies that further amplifies the blessings of the festival. According to Vastu Shastra, the Kalash Sthapana should be performed in the north-east direction, as this direction symbolises purity and spiritual progress. The importance of conducting these rituals at the correct time is emphasised, and Navratri 2024 Live: Celebrating the Worship of Adishakti and the Significance of the Eternal Flame serves as a reminder of how precision in rituals enhances the positive energy flow.
Each day of Navratri celebrates a different form of Durga, with the first day dedicated to Shailputri, followed by Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. The significance of each form is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and represents the victory of good over evil. Navratri 2024 Live: Celebrating the Worship of Adishakti and the Significance of the Eternal Flame explores how each of these forms bestows specific blessings, from courage to wisdom, ensuring that devotees are guided on their spiritual journey.
The festival of Navratri culminates with Durga Visarjan on Vijayadashami, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. During these nine days, rituals such as the recitation of Durga Saptashati and Durga Aarti are performed to please the goddess. Special offerings or bhog are made to each form of Durga, with each day’s offering aligning with the goddess’s preferences, such as white offerings for Shailputri or bananas for Skandamata.
Navratri 2024 Live: Celebrating the Worship of Adishakti and the Significance of the Eternal Flame is not just about the rituals but about the spiritual renewal it brings to the lives of devotees. As the Akhand Jyoti burns brightly, symbolising the continuous flow of divine energy, the festival reinforces the power of faith and the eternal connection between the divine and the human spirit.
