Sanatana dharma always has a different perspective when it comes to the science of today's time. One such principle is celebrating the new year in March or early April.

Today's science is more focused on theoretical evidence and practical application of the concept in practice, whereas the science written in Vedas is more focused on human spiritual design and practices.

One such concept is celebrating New Year at the end of March or early April. April brings a multitude of changes, we have new crops which are harvested, and the season turns from cold and dreadful winters to fresh and eye-pleasing Autumn. 

If you consider the spiritual side of this concept, we can assume that as the earth starts a fresh cycle of seasons, with winters marking the end of a cycle and starting with autumn, celebrating new year around this time makes more sense than in the middle of winters. Also, the human cycle starts a fresh new cycle of creation, shedding old layers throughout the winters.  

With this new cyle of creation, we pray to mother goddess of creation, Adi Shakti.Goddess Adi Shakthi or Divine Mother is the origin of Creation and kinetic energy behind its functioning. The nine aspects of Goddess Adi Shakthi are worshipped for 9 nights (with the 10th day being dashami) as Navaratri. 

The word Chaitra means spring, and the month in which it is celebrated is also called Chaitra Navratri. This nine days long festival starts from the first day of the first month of the Hindu Lunar calendar “Chaitra”. ama Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama usually falls on the ninth day during Chaitra Navratri. 

This year we celebrate Chaitra Navarathri from March 22, 2023 till March 31, 2023. We invoke the following nine aspects or forms of Goddess Adi Shakthi for faster spiritual growth.

March 22, 2023 (Prathama tithi) Goddess Shailaputri (देवी शैलपुत्री) White form of Devi,

March 23, 2023 (Dwithiya tithi) Goddess Brahmacharini (देवी ब्रह्मचारिणी) Red form of Devi,

March 24, 2023 (Trithiya tithi) Goddess Chandraghanta (देवी चन्द्रघण्टा) Royal Blue form of Devi,

March 25, 2023 (Chaturthi tithi) Goddess Kushmanda (देवी कूष्माण्डा) Yellow form of Devi,

March 26, 2023 (Panchami tithi) Goddess Skandamata (देवी स्कन्दमाता) Green form of Devi,

March 27, 2023 (Shashti tithi) Goddess Kaatyayani (देवी कात्यायनी) Grey form of Devi,

March 28, 2023 (Sapthami tithi) Goddess Kaalratri (देवी कालरात्रि) Orange form of Devi,

March 29, 2023 (Ashtami tithi) Goddess MahaGauri (देवी महागौरी) Peacock Green form of Devi,

March 30, 2023 (Mahanavami tithi) Goddess Siddhidatri (देवी सिद्धिदात्री) Pink form of Devi.

This navratri is exuberantly celebrated in Northern and Western India and makes the colorful spring season all the more fascinating and divine. Poeple of south india celebrate it as Ugadi, people of central india as gudi padwa and people of kashmir as navreh, literally meaning 'New Year'.

These 9 days are filled with abundant cosmic vibrations, spiritual pratices like mantra chanting, breating practices and meditations have a deeper impact due to new energy being funnelled for the season. 

Let us experience dark red energies during the first 3 days, white energies during the next 3 days and golden energies during the last 3 days in our system for our spiritual upliftment.

Wishing everyone living the vedic way a very happy new year and gudi padwa, ugadi and navreh.