INVC NEWS
New Delhi — : Hindu devotees across India will observe the sacred Gupt Navratri festival starting June 26, 2025. The nine-day spiritual event, held during the waxing phase of the Ashadha month, is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga in her ten Mahavidya forms. The observance will continue until July 4, concluding on the ninth day with final prayers and offerings.
Navratri is celebrated four times a year, but only two are publicly observed — Chaitra and Sharadiya. The other two, called Gupt Navratris, are considered highly esoteric and are observed by advanced practitioners and tantric followers. The upcoming Ashadha Gupt Navratri is regarded as a period of deep spiritual energy and personal transformation.
Strict Rules for Gupt Navratri Observers
Devotees are advised to follow a strict satvik (pure) lifestyle throughout these nine days. Consumption of garlic, onions, meat, alcohol, and any form of intoxicants is strictly forbidden. Observing these guidelines is believed to bring spiritual purity and divine blessings from Goddess Durga.
Unlike the regular Navratri celebrations, where barley (jawar) seeds are planted in a ritual known as Ghatasthapana, this practice is not permitted during Gupt Navratri. Performing this ritual during this period is considered inauspicious and may invite negative karmic effects instead of merit.
Worship Guidelines During Ashadha Gupt Navratri
Devotees typically install an image or idol of Goddess Durga at home and light an Akhanda Jyoti (eternal flame) throughout the festival. Special attention is advised when selecting the deity’s image — placing a fierce or wrathful form of the goddess is discouraged during this time, as it may attract disturbances or obstacles in life.
Gupt Navratri is traditionally focused on inward practices like mantra chanting, meditation, and prayer. The energy of these nine days is believed to be especially potent for spiritual progress and divine revelations, particularly when rituals are done with devotion and discipline.
Travel Restrictions and Auspicious Practices
Traveling toward the south direction during Gupt Navratri is considered inauspicious. If unavoidable, it is recommended that devotees offer a prayer before beginning the journey. One traditional remedy includes walking a few steps outside the home, returning briefly, and then commencing the travel.
The final day of Ashadha Gupt Navratri on July 4, 2025, will mark the culmination of this sacred festival, closing a powerful spiritual window that many believe strengthens inner resolve, spiritual focus, and divine connection.
