Calendar

Shradh or Pitru Paksha is a period when Hindus remember their ancestors by offering prayers. ‘Shradh’ is a way of expressing heartfelt gratitude towards parents who are no more, for having helped them be what they are today. According to scriptures, rituals performed during ‘shradh’ bring peace to the departed.

‘Pitru Paksha’ is the period from ‘Bhadrapada Purnima’ to ‘Sarvapitri Amavasya’. ‘Pitru Paksha’ is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious as the death rites are performed during ‘Shradh’ or ‘Tarpan’. The last day of ‘Pitru Paksha’ is known as ‘Sarvapitri Amavasya’. It is also known as ‘Pitru Amavasya’ or simply ‘Mahalaya’. It is the most significant day of ‘Pitru Paksha’.

The last day of ‘Pitru Paksha’ is known as ‘Sarvapitri Amavasya’. It is also known as ‘Pitru Amavasya’ or simply ‘Mahalaya’. It is the most significant day of ‘Pitru Paksha’.

Navratri is a nine days festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is worshipped in 9 different forms, known as Navdurga. The tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashami when idols of Goddess Durga are immersed into the water body.

Navratri is celebrated in most Indian states. However, Navratri is very popular festival in the western states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and the southern state of Karnataka. On the very first day of Navratri, Goddess Durga is invoked into a Kalash with full Vedic rituals along with chanting of Mantras. The invocation and dwelling of Goddess Durga into the Kalash is known as Ghatasthapana or Kalashsthapana and is done at an appropriate time of the day.

In West Bengal Navratri is celebrated as Durga Puja. In West Bengal, Goddess Durga is worshipped on the last three days of Navratri and these three days are famously known as Durga Saptami, Durga Ashtami and Durga Navami. It would be correct to say that Durga Puja in West Bengal is a smaller version of 9 days Navratri. Kalparambha and Bilva Nimantran during Durga Puja, which is done on the sixth day of Navratri, is symbolically same as Ghatasthapana or Kalashsthapana in other states.