Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri is celebrated with utmost pomp and gaiety in Kashmir by Kashmiri Pandits. In 2010, Chaitra Navratri begins on March 16 and ends on March 24^th. The first day of Navratri is called Navreh and it marks the beginning of the Kashmiri Hindu New Year and heralds the onset of the spring season.

The two prominent Shakti Peethas in Kashmir – Goddess Kheer Bhavani Temple and Vaishno Devi Temple – host Navratri celebration in a grand manner. Devottes observe fast for nine days and break their fast on the last day of Navratri after visiting the temples.

At various temples dedicated to Goddess Shakti, big havans are performed. At Durga Nag near Shankaracharya hill and Baramulla Shailputri Devi Mandir, Chaitra Navratri is celebrated with utmost gaiety. A large number of devotees throng the temples to participate and thus get the blessings of the Goddess.

Goddess Durga is worshipped in a great manner in Srinagar Hari Parbat fort and Jammu Bahu fort. In some places, Dash Mahavidya and Ashtamatrika Goddess are worshipped during Chaitra Navaratras.

This article is based on a comment posted by Hira K Baju

Vasant Navratras or Chaitra Navratri, also called as Sri Ram Navratri, is dedicated to Goddess Durga Devi, Maha Lakshmi Devi and Maa Saraswati Devi. The celebrations of nine nights in Hinduism are considered as very significant and spiritually important. Vasant Navratras or Ram Navratri is also referred as Chaitra Navratras ( occurs in Chaitra maas) or Spring Navratri (falls in Spring season) or Basant Navratri. Vasant Navratri got the name of Ram Navratri also because it coincides with Sri Rama Navami festival.

When is Vasant Navratri or Ram Navratri Observed?
Vasant Navratras is observed in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March – April). According to Puranas, Goddess Durga Devi was worshipped (Durga Puja) in the Chaitra month and was also called as Basanti Puja. The period of Durga Puja was changed by Lord Sri Ram.

At the beginning of the war with demon Ravana, Lord Sri Ram wanted to be blessed by Goddess Durga. Hence, he worshipped Goddess Durga during the Hindu month of Ashwin or Aswayuja (October – November). Therefore the Durga Puja during the period ( referred as Dura Puja in present days) is referred as Akal Bodhon or untimely invocation.

In 2010, Ram Navaratri (Vasant Navratri) begins on 16th March, 2010, and ends on March 24, 2010.

Vasant Navaratri Celebrations:
Vasanta Navratri is observed with utmost fervor in North India, significantly in Jammu Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and in Utter Pradesh. Temples of Durga Devi are decorated in almost all places in India. During Vasanta Navaratri the same rituals are performed as Durga Navaratri.

Kanya Puja – A Ritual During Vasant Navratri:
Kanya Puja, worshipping little and young girls, is a traditional ritual during Vasant Navratri. It is believed that the little girls represent the Mother Goddess, Durga Mata. Kanya Pooja, aslo known as Kanjak Pooja, usually observed on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the celebrations.