Basanti Puja or Basant Navratri Durga Pooja is observed during Basant Navratri mainly in Bengal. Basant Navratri is the nine-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and in Bengal it is observed for last 3 days of Navratri. Basanti Puja 2010 date is March 22, 2010. In some areas, this festival is celebrated for 3-4 days, starting on Chaitra Shukla Saptami and ends on Chaitra Shukla Navami i.e. Ram Navami.
During Basanti Puja, some rituals are performed same as that of Durga Puja. Kalash Sthapana, Kumari Puja, Suhasini Pooja, etc are also observed during the festival. But it is not much significant as Durga Puja.
Vasant Navratri or Basant Navratri, also popular as Chaitra Navratras, is the nine-day festival observed in Chaitra month. Vasant Navratri 2010 dates are – from March 16 to March 24. Vasant Navratras starts on the first day in Chaitra month and ends on Sri Rama Navami, the ninth day of the month. The first day of Shukla Paksha in Chaitra month is celebrated as Ugadi or Yugadi. This is the Hindu New Year day as per the calendars of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra (Gudi Padwa). Basant Navratri is very popular festive season in North Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, etc.
As per the legends mentioned in the Puranas and other Hindu scriptures, Vasant Navratri is the actual Navratri during which Goddess Durga was worshipped. But during the time of Ramayan war, Lord Sri Ram worshipped Durga at the time of Ashwayuja month. Since then, Ashwin Navratri or Saran Navratri has become the main festive season to worship the Goddess.
Vasant Navratri marks the beginning of Vasant rithu (spring season) hence it is also known Spring Navratri. It is also referred to as Sri Rama Navratras. Sri Ram Navratri ends on Ram Navami festival.
Annapurna Puja is observed during Chaitra Navratri or Basant Navratri especially in West Bengal. Goddess Annapurna is known as the deity of food and nutrition in Hinduism. In 2010, Annapurna Puja date is March 23rd, 2010. The pooja date falls during Chait Navaratri as per traditional Bengali calendar.
Annapurna Puja festival is mainly observed by women. The important rituals and customs during Annapoorna Pooja day include – recitation of Annapurna Devi Stotram and observance of fast. In some places people worship Annapoorna Mata by installing idols and by setting up pooja mandap. All other rituals and customs are performed as per traditions.
Devotees who worship of Goddess Annapurneshwari will be blessed with prosperity and health. Women worship Annapurneshwari Devi for their better married life. They also perform Annapurneswari Pooja for their children’s health and better growth. Annapurna Ashtakam is the important prayer to chant during Annapurna Puja.
It is to note that in North India, Annapurna Puja is observed on Annapurna Jayanti which falls on Margasirsh Purnima, the Full Moon day in Margashira month. It is one of the major festivals in Kasi Annapurna Temple.
Ashokastami or Ashok Ashtami festival is observed on Chaitra Shukla Ashtami day on which Durgashtami is also observed during Basant Navratri. This festival is mainly celebrated in Orissa, Bengal, Tripura and some other parts of Eastern India. In 2010, Ashokashtami date is March 23. As the festival falls during Basant Navratri or Chaitra Navratri, it is also celebrated as Chaitra Durgashtami.
Ashokastami festival is celebrated with utmost gaiety and much pomp in Tripura and Orissa. In Bhubaneswar Lingaraj Temple and Puri Loknath Temple, the festival marks the grand celebrations. On this day, Lingaraj Rathyatra is held in Bhubaneswar. Lord Bhandar Loknath is taken in a procession to Isaneswar Mahadev to perform ritual ceremonies. In Tripura, at Unakoti Theertha near Kailashahar Ashokastami Jatra or a fair is organized.
Ashokashtami is one of the major festivals celebrated in Orissa during Chaitra month. Ashok ashtami is observed on Chaitra Shukla Ashtami, the eighth day in shukla paksha of Chaitra month. In 2010, Ashokashtami date is March 23, 2010. This festival is celebrated with utmost gaiety in Bhubaneswar Lingaraj Temple. On this day, Rathotsavam (procession on chariot) or car festival of Lord Shiva is celebrated which attracts tens of thousands of devotees across the state and from Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh as well.
The legend or the origin of the festival Ashokashtami is associated with Ramayana. When the Ramayana war between Ravana and Ram was going on in a great manner, Lord Ram came to know that Goddess Kali was at Ravana’s side and acting like a protective armor to Ravana. Lord Ram prayed to Goddess Kali and demolished Ravana and captured Lanka and brought his spouse Sita back. As part of celebrations, he has taken out Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali to a procession.
Ashokashtami is also known as Chaitra Durgashtami as it falls during Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri.
