Vasant Navratr

This illustration is for the Hindu festival of Chaitra Navratr. It also marks the beginning of Hindu new year.

"Chaitra" means the beginning of a New Year. So the New Year begins with nine days of turning inwards; prayer, meditation, and chanting. Recognizing the Divinity in the whole creation, and enlivening that aspect.

We observe nine days of fasting on pure vegetarian sattvic diet and pray before the almighty goddess of creation, sustenance and destruction.

This time of the year is usually warm and colourful. Nature blooms and it marks the beginning of summer.