Chaitra Month Festivals (Gangaur, Shitala Satam, Navratri)
🕒 Throughout the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April).
What is this about? (History)
A collection of major traditional festivals falling in the month of Chaitra, including Gangaur, Shitala Satam, and Navratri, celebrating deities, women, and the onset of spring.
Things to Buy / Requirements
- Jaggery rice, Badi-Chanwaledi greens (for Sinara)
- Sarees, blouses, henna (for gifting daughters)
- Cold food like Rabri, Millet Roti (for Shitala Satam)
- Fruits and Churma (for Gangaur)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Sinara of Gangaur (Chaitra Sudi Dooj): Prepare jaggery rice and Badi-Chanwaledi. Invite sisters and daughters for a meal and gift them clothes and henna.
2
Gangaur Puja (Chaitra Sudi Teej): Worship Goddess Gaur on an empty stomach in the morning using fruit churma and buttermilk dipped grass.
3
Shitala Satam (Chaitra Krishna 7): Worship Shitala Mata to protect children from diseases. Only cold food (prepared the previous day) is eaten. Needlework is prohibited.
4
Chaitra Navratri: A 9-day fasting and worship period for Mataji. Daughters-in-law do not wash their heads, and men do not shave or cut nails.
5
Hanuman Jayanti (Chaitra Sudi Poonam): Offer coconuts in the east direction or at the temple.