All You need to know about Basanti Puja 2023: Dates, Rituals
Basanti Puja, also known as Chaitra Durga Puja, is observed during the Chaitra Navratri.
The dates for Basanti Puja 2023 are April 7 to March 30.
This puja is based on the concept that Durga Puja was originally performed during the Spring season, or Basant, to commemorate the Spring equinox. Lord Ram was the one who altered the devotion period of Goddess Durga from Chaitra to Ashwin (October – November).
In the Ramayana, he had worshipped Goddess Durga in Ashwin month to obtain her blessings before beginning his war against the demon King Ravana.
Basanti puja is well-known in eastern India, particularly in Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Mother Goddess is worshiped in North and Western parts of India during the same period for nine days starting from Chaitra Shukla Paksha Pratipada.
Basanti Puja 2023 Calendar
- Sri Basanti Devi Durga Puja Amantran Adhibas – March 27 2023
- Saptami Puja, Nabapatrika – March 28 2023
- Ashtami puja, Sandhi Puja – March 29 2023
- Navami puja – March 30 2023
- Sri Basanti Devi Durga Puja Dashami puja visarjan – March 31 2023
This puja is still popular among Goddess Durga devotees. The Ashwin month Durga Puja ceremonies are not done in the Chaitra month. In some areas, however, individuals fast on Ashtami and Navami. Chaitra is the Bengali calendar’s final month.
Some traditional sarvajanik puja mandals and traditional homes still conduct important pujas during the occasion.
The Durga Puja in Ashwin month (October – November) is also known as Akal Bodhon, or untimely invocation, as Lord Ram had invoked her during the Ashwin month. An important puja that is observed during the period is Annapurna Puja.
Basanti Puja in Hindu scriptures
Numerous Hindu scriptures mention Basanti Puja. It is stated that the ideal ruler, King Suratha, was the first to worship Mother Goddess Durga. During the spring season, he performed the pujas and rituals in the month of Chaitra (March). Basanti Puja was the name given to this puja. This was the pattern that everybody followed until Lord Ram changed it.
Today, some individuals perform the puja to atone for the faults and misdeeds made during the Ashwin month of Durga Puja.
Malini Mela in Arunachal Pradesh
During Basanti Puja, a large fair is conducted at the famed Malini temple in Arunachal Pradesh, which is devoted to Goddess Durga. During this time, devotees from both the plains and the hills pay their respects to the goddess. During this time, a large fair known as Malini Mela is held here.