How many Gupta Navratris happen in a year? When is Gupta Navratri in 2025?
, 10 min reading time
We know about Sharadiya Navratri or Sharad Navratri. We also kknow about Chaitra Navratri. But do we know enough about Gupta Navratri like Magha Navratri and Ashadha Navratri?
How many Gupta Navratris happen in a year? When is Gupta Navratri in 2025?
When most people hear the word Navratri, their minds instantly drift to dazzling garba nights, bright traditional attire, and the festive beats of dhol echoing through the streets.
But what if I told you that beyond the colorful celebrations and crowded pandals lies a quieter, more mystical side of Navratri that many have never even heard of?
Welcome to the world of Gupta Navratri, a sacred, secretive observance practiced not with pomp and show, but with silence, devotion, and inner stillness.
Unlike the two well-known Navratris celebrated across India, Gupta Navratri happens almost quietly, like a whisper between the seeker and the goddess. It’s less about ritual display and more about personal transformation.
In this article, we’ll unravel the lesser-known truth about how many Gupta Navratris occur in a year, their deeper purpose, and exactly when they fall in 2025.
What is Gupta Navratri?
In the vast landscape of Hindu festivals, Gupta Navratri remains one of the most mystical and lesser-known observances. Unlike the widely celebrated Sharad or Chaitra Navratris, Gupta Navratri quietly passes by in sacred corners as unseen by the crowds, untouched by public celebrations.
The word "Gupta" means "secret" or "hidden," and that’s exactly the spirit of this observance. It is a spiritually potent period of nine nights, meant not for grand festivities but for deep inner transformation, meditative practices, and invoking the fierce yet nurturing energies of the Divine Mother.
Gupta Navratri is especially observed by tantric practitioners, yogis, and spiritual seekers who wish to go beyond the surface level of devotion and explore the more intense and esoteric forms of Shakti worship.
During this time, devotees focus on the worship of the Dasa Mahavidyas, ten powerful goddesses who each represent a unique cosmic energy.
These forms of the goddess, like Kali, Baglamukhi, and Chinnamasta, are not worshipped with rituals meant to please others as they are approached with humility, discipline, and often in solitude.
This Navratri is not just about asking for blessings; it's about facing one's own inner darkness and turning it into light through dedicated spiritual effort.
For everyday individuals, even if you're not following a rigorous path of sadhana or tantra, Gupta Navratri offers a beautiful opportunity to turn inward and pause from the noise of daily life.
You don’t need elaborate rituals as just a quiet mind, a little time for self-reflection, and a desire to connect with the deeper, silent strength that resides within you.
Lighting a simple lamp, chanting a small prayer, or meditating for a few minutes each night during these nine days can unlock a calmness and clarity that no external celebration can match.
How many Gupta Navratris occur in a year?
Believe it or not, the grand festival of Navratri isn't just a twice-a-year affair. These two lesser-known Navratris occur during the Magha (January-February) and Ashadha (June-July) months.
While the more famous Chaitra and Sharad Navratris are celebrated with public rituals, dancing, and fanfare, the Gupta Navratris are observed quietly, mostly by spiritual seekers, tantriks, or those walking a more inward spiritual path.
They’re not about celebration in the traditional sense, but about deep, silent worship of the divine feminine in her fierce and transformative forms.
Each year, the Magha Gupta Navratri is observed in winter, and the Ashadha Gupta Navratri falls during the onset of monsoon.
Both are based on the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the moon) of their respective months and last for nine days, just like other Navratris.
These sacred periods are considered highly potent for tapasya (austerity), mantra chanting, and spiritual elevation. Unlike public Navratris, which invite community participation, Gupta Navratris invite the devotee to go inward as into silence, discipline, and subtle energies.
Though they may not be as visible, their spiritual intensity is often said to surpass that of the mainstream Navratris, especially for those who understand their deeper purpose.
Why are there two Gupta Navratris?
The presence of two Gupta Navratris in a year isn’t a coincidence as it is deeply rooted in the cosmic rhythm of Hindu timekeeping and the symbolic energy cycles of the lunar calendar.
Just like the Earth experiences different seasons, the spiritual calendar too has specific phases where divine energy is believed to be more accessible to those who seek it. The months of Magha (Jan–Feb) and Ashadha (June–July) are considered spiritually fertile periods, where the veil between the physical and the subtle realms is believed to be thinner.
These two times of the year allow practitioners to dive deep into spiritual disciplines, often focusing not on outer festivities but on internal transformation.
Hence, these two lesser-known Navratris were consciously set apart for sadhaks, yogis, and tantra practitioners to worship the Goddess in her more mystical, powerful, and fierce forms without distraction.
What makes these two Gupta Navratris truly unique is how they act as spiritual “reset buttons”, perfectly placed six months apart in the lunar cycle. One falls in the cold stillness of winter (Magha), and the other in the introspective mood of the monsoon (Ashadha).
Both seasons naturally lend themselves to silence, reflection, and inward practices. These Navratris are not about public celebration but about sacred secrecy, where devotion is quiet, personal, and often intense.
When is Gupta Navratri in 2025?
In the year 2025, devotees and spiritual seekers will witness two sacred windows of time when the Gupta Navratri unfolds its quiet, mystical energy.
The first Gupta Navratri of the year, also known as Magha Gupta Navratri, will begin on Tuesday, 28th January 2025, and conclude on Wednesday, 5th February 2025. This period falls in the heart of winter, during the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Magha month in the Hindu lunar calendar.
It’s an ideal time for inner reflection and spiritual practices, as the stillness of the season supports deeper meditative states. While not celebrated with the fanfare of traditional Navratris, this hidden Navratri is deeply revered by those walking the path of spiritual sadhana.
The second Gupta Navratri, known as Ashadha Gupta Navratri, will take place during the monsoon season, starting from Wednesday, 25th June 2025, and ending on Thursday, 3rd July 2025.
Set in the month of Ashadha, again during the waxing moon phase, this Navratri carries an intense spiritual charge.
Many tantrik and yogic practitioners consider this time potent for mantra siddhi (attaining mastery over mantras) and invoking the fierce forms of the Goddess for protection and inner strength.
Even for those not initiated in any specific spiritual path, simply offering a diya, chanting a Devi mantra, or sitting quietly in prayer during these days can bring about a deep sense of clarity and emotional balance.
These dates aren’t just marked on a calendar as they open a door to the unseen, powerful realm of the divine feminine.
How to observe Gupta Navratri?
Observing Gupta Navratri doesn’t demand grandeur; instead, it invites quiet intention and inward devotion. Begin by setting up a small, clean altar at home as nothing fancy, just a space where you can place an image or idol of Maa Durga or any form of the goddess you feel drawn to.
Each morning, light a diya (oil lamp) and offer fresh flowers, fruits, or even just a heartfelt prayer. Chanting a simple mantra like “Om Dum Durgayei Namaha” daily can align your energy with the divine feminine.
For those inclined toward deeper spiritual practice, reading one chapter from the Durga Saptashati or reciting the Devi Kavach is a beautiful way to engage with the goddess’s strength.
You don’t need to fast unless it resonates with you; instead, focus on sattvic food (pure and light) to keep your body and mind in balance.
What truly makes Gupta Navratri powerful is the intention of silence and self-reflection. Try to minimize social distractions, stay off social media, avoid unnecessary talking, and if possible, observe maun vrat (vow of silence) for even an hour each day.
This inward quiet opens up space for intuitive insights and emotional cleansing. Spiritual seekers can use this time for japa (repetition of sacred mantras), meditation, or journaling dreams and inner shifts.
Some also perform special sadhanas dedicated to Mahavidyas, but even simple practices done with honesty carry immense power.
Remember, Gupta Navratri is less about ritual perfection and more about creating a sacred space within, where the goddess isn’t just worshipped but experienced.
Why is Gupta Navratri so special?
While mainstream Navratris like Chaitra and Sharad Navratri are all about vibrant community celebrations as filled with energetic Garba dances, colorful Dandiya nights, and grand public pujas, Gupta Navratri takes a more introspective and mystical path.
This hidden observance is deeply rooted in personal transformation, focusing on awakening inner power (like Kundalini Shakti) and breaking through deep-seated fears and obstacles.
Unlike its festive counterparts, Gupta Navratri is a time for silent meditation, secret mantras, and intense spiritual practices.
Devotees believe that sincere worship during this period can help remove negative influences like black magic and the evil eye, unlock hidden wisdom (such as sharp intuition and foresight), and even pave the way for success in seemingly impossible challenges.
It’s less about outward celebration and more about unlocking the unseen forces within.
Therefore, Gupta Navratri may not be as flashy as its more popular counterparts, but its spiritual significance is profound.
Whether you’re a serious seeker or just curious about Hindu traditions, knowing about these hidden festivals adds a deeper layer to our understanding of Sanatana Dharma. In 2025, if you wish to explore the mystical side of Navratri, mark your calendar for:
Written by: Nikita, Content Writer and Strategist, Rudraksha Hub
If there is anything you want to add or edit in this, connect with us at wa.me/918542929702 or info@rudrakshahub.com and we shall be happy to help you..!!
Tags
More Blogs
-
Kamakhya Shaktipeeth, Guwahati, Assam: History, Reason, Significance
-
Why is the first Monday of Sawan so auspicious?
-
Kaal Madhav Shaktipeeth, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh: History, Reason, Significance
-
Why only Lord Shiva is worshipped in Shrawan?
-
Dakshin kali, Kalighat, West Bengal: History, Reason, Significance
