Like two main Navratri of Sharad and Chaitra mas, two Gupt Navratri in months of Magh and Ashadh are also dedicated to Maa Durga and for accomplishing Tantra practice.
Rituals in Gupt Navratri differ from region to region. Ashadh Navratri is religiously celebrated in all parts of India, but great significance of this festival can be noted in South India. This time is considered very blessed and the time to please Goddess Shakti and get her immense grace in your life.
This year the festival of Gupt Navratri began on June 29 and will go up to July 6. Gupt Navratri of Ashadh mas is also dedicated to nine forms of Devi Shakti. It is also a nine-night festival for pleasing Goddess Durga. But you may not see the same custom, rituals, and grand celebration during Ashadh Navratri like Sharad Navratri, as in Sharad Navratri Dandiya, Garaba, nine-day fast, Vijya Dashmi and other big rituals are followed. In Gupt Navratri you can only join holy worship of Maa Durga.
The spiritual practices (Sadhnaye) of Gupt Navratri are performed in a secretive place like a crematorium. This is because only crematorium is such a place where the answers of all tantrik practices are received. These special crematoriums’ where Tantrik practices are performed include Tarapeeth Crematorium in West Bengal; Kamakhya Peeth in Assam; Triyambakeshwar Crematorium in Nasik and Chakrateerth in Ujjain.
Tarapeeth
This temple is a small town in the district of West Bengal. Here is the temple of Goddess Tara. According to mythology, Goddess Sati’s eye fell here. This place is therefore called as Nayan Tara.
Kamakhya Peeth
It is located in Guwahati in Assam. This temple is made on a mountain cliff. This temple has tantrik significance. This temple has Goddess’s yoni khand here. This place is like heaven for tantrik gurus.
Triyambakeshwar
Triyambakeshwar Jyotirling is located in Maharashtra’s Nasik. This place has significance of tantrik pujas.
Chakrateerth
Mahakaleshhwar temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh. The crematorium near this temple sees a great rush of tantrik gurus coming from far away.This crematorium is known as Chakrateerth.