Shakambhari Navratri When & How To Celebrate

Shakambhari Navratri 2020 dates: January 3, 2020 to January 10, 2020 (Fridays)

Kindly check local times:

Pausha Shukla Ashtami Tithi Begins - 07:30 PM on Jan 02, 2020

Paush Pournima Tithi Ends - 09:56 PM on Jan 03, 2020

Shakambhari is the 'Goddess of Nourishment'. In the midst of winter, the goddess is a reminder of the spring and harvest to come.

Paush Shukla Ashtami is known as Banada Ashtami or Banadashtami in Karnataka. She is also called Shatakshi.

It is a celebration of all vegetation, all fruits, flowers and trees.

Tithi or Dates

Shakambhari Navratri begins on Paush Shukla Ashtami and ends on Pausha Pournima.

Most Navratri begins on Shukla Pratipada except Shakambhari Navratri which begins on Ashtami and ends on Pournima. Hence Shakambhari Navratri spans for total eight or nine days. However, some years due to skipped Tithi and leaped Tithi Shakambhari Navratri might span for seven and nine days respectively.

Shakambhari is considered as incarnation of Adimata or Goddess Parvati. Her legends are mentioned in Skanda Purana and Markandeya Purana. It is believed that the goddess incarnated as Shakambhari to mitigate severe famine on the Earth. She is also known as Goddess of vegetables, fruits and green leaves and depicted with green surroundings of fruits and vegetables.

Shakambhari Navratri culminates on Paush Purnima which is also known as Shakambhari Pournima. Shakambhari Purnima is also known as Shakambhari Jayanti as it is believed that Devi Shakambhari was incarnated on the very same day.

Shakambhari Navratri is a popular festival in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and some parts of Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka, Shakambhari Devi is known as Banashankari Devi and Banada Ashtami is an important day during Navratri.

What To Do On Shakambari Purnima?

Goddess Shakambari is regarded as the benign form of Goddess Durga who is extremely kind, compassionate and affectionate. On this day, people must worship and offer prayers to Shakambari Devi, make donations, perform charities, observe a fast, go on pilgrimage, undertake holy bath and must do good deeds to attain the divine blessings of the Goddess.

Shakambari Pournima Puja Vidhi

•  Our personal tradition is Nanda Deepa, meaning lighting a constant oil diya throughout the 8/9 days, meaning never having the altar without a diya including at night starting from Shakambhari ashtami to Shakambhari Purnima.
• Devotees must wake up early and perform a holy bath and then offer homage to the idol of Goddess Shakambhari
• Devotees must chant some of Shakambhari mantra such as Shakambhari Ashtakam or Banashankari Pratah Smaran Mantra
• The idol or the statue of Goddess Shakambhari must be adorned with fruits and seasonal vegetables
• Devotees must visit the temple of Goddess Shakambhari
• Prasad (Food Offering) must be offered to the deity which must include at least 5 vegetables, kheer and rice, other food could be anything of choice.
• Aarti should be performed with all the family members
• Sacred food must be distributed to all the devotees