Navratri: The festival of nine nights (Nav=Nine; Ratri=Nights)

According to Hindu calendar, the festival of nine nights-Navratri starts from Ashvin sud 1 and goes until Ashvin sud 9 with the 10th day known as Vijayadashmi or Dusshera. Each night is dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga and is celebrated with great faith and devotion. There are three different historical beliefs that lead the different types of celebration today in different parts of India.

Historical Significance of Navratri

One of the historical beliefs is related to the mighty demon, Mahishasur. Mahishasur worshipped Lord Shiv to gain the power of eternity. He then started harassing and killing innocent people with a goal to win all three lokas. Gods in those lokas appealed to Lord Shiv to find a way to get rid of such demon. To protect the world from Mahishasur’s violence, the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiv) united their powers and created a divine female warrior who is known as Goddess Durga. Mahishasur was mesmerized by her beauty and approached her with an intention of marrying Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga then put forth a condition that Mahishasur would have to win over her in a battle to marry her. Mahishasur agreed and the battle continued for nine nights and at the end of the ninth night, Goddess Durga beheaded Mahishasur. These nine nights are known as Navratri while the tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashmi (the tenth day of the victory of good over evil) in northern parts of India.

In Eastern part of India, the belief is associated to the King of the Himalayas, Daksha who had a beautiful daughter, Uma. Since her childhood, she wanted to marry Lord Shiv and in order to win over him, she worshipped him and was able to please Lord Shiv. King Daksha was not happy with the tiger-skin clad groom, Lord Shiv when he finally came to marry Uma. King Daksha broke off all the relationships with his daughter and son-in-law. A day came when King Daksha organized a yagna but did not invite Lord Shiv. Uma got angry and decided to end her life by jumping into the agnikund (Fire Pit). Since then she was known as Sati. However, Uma took re-birth and again won Lord Shiv as her groom and the peace was restored. Since then it is believed that every year Uma comes with Lord Ganesh, Kartik, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Laxmi and two of her best friends, Jaya and Bijaya to visit her parents’ home during Navratri.


Another legend of Navratri is in regards to the Hindu epic, Ramayan. It is said that Lord Ram worshipped Goddess Durga in nine phases for nine days to gain strength and power to kill the almighty demon, Ravan. Lord Ram wanted to release his wife, Sita from Ravan’s control who had abducted her. Those nine nights are known as Navratri and the tenth day when Lord Ram killed Ravan came to be known as Vijayadashami or Dusshera signifying Lord Ram’s victory over Ravan (Victory of good over evil).

Celebration of Navratri in different parts of India

Gujarat: The most famous celebration of navratri is held in the western part of India especially in Gujarat. For nine nights, traditional dances in the form of Garba and Dandiya take place. Men and women wearing colorful traditional dresses, dance in circle around the lamp which signifies the eternal light of Goddess Durga. This dance is either performed by dancing around in circle by clapping the hands which is known as Garba or by decorated sticks which is called Dandiya. These dances are performed to the rhythm of the devotional songs.

Maharashtra: The celebrations in Maharashtra is little different. Navratri here is dedicated to Goddess Durga, while Vijayadashmi is devoted to Goddess Saraswati who is the Goddess of Knowledge. This day is considered to be the most auspicious to start education, buy new homes and start new ventures.

Tamil Nadu: The first three days here are dedicated to the worship of Goddess Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Next three days are devoted to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and arts and the last three days are committed to Goddess Durga, the Goddess of power.

Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh: In these two states of south India, women arrange “Bommai Kolu” which is a special placing of dolls in various costumes decorated with flowers and ornaments on specially prepared steps.

West-Bengal: Navratri here is celebrated in the form of Durga Puja. It is celebrated with true dedication, huge idols of Goddess Durga posed as killing the demon, Mahishasur are worshipped. Huge ‘pandals’ (traditional tents) are set up and devotees in large numbers visit to worship Goddess Durga.

Punjab: The state in northern part of India. Here Navratri is celebrated by fasting for seven days and on the eighth day or on Ashtami the fast is broken.

Even though, Navratri is one festival, it has many different colors in terms of how it is celebrated; Yet it is celebrated with true devotion and dedication everywhere India.