Navratri Festival in India: Traditions and Celebrations

Navaratri, literally the Nine Nights, is a festival dedicated to the worship of the deity or šakti, the divine Mother, the feminine expression of God. This celebration occurs twice a year: the first is in spring, in the months of March/April and the second in autumn, in the month of September/October based on the lunar cycle.

In the sacred texts of the Puranas and Dharma-shastra, reference is made to two (or four) Navaratris: a spring one called Chaitra Navaratri, which is less common, and an autumn one, Sharada Navaratri, which is much more deeply felt. At a regional or individual level, the Magha Navaratri between January and February and the Ashada Navaratri, between June and July, at the beginning of the monsoon season, are also celebrated.

How is Navratri celebrated?

Different types of pujas and ceremonies are performed by different communities. On each of the nine days, many people observe fasting. They eat only fruits, vegetables and dairy products. They perform specific sadhanas, prayers, practice celibacy and visit temples.

Many temples, as well as people in their homes, offer special prayer programs with singing and music throughout the night, called "Jagran". On the last day, young girls up to the age of nine are worshipped as female deities and given gifts as an offering of thanks to the mother goddess for her blessings.

It is believed that at that age, girls have the pure energy of a mother goddess. In some parts of India, the idol of Goddess Durga is immersed in sacred rivers on the 10th day (Dussehra).

What is the meaning of Navratri (Nav Durga)

The festival signifies the nine glorious aspects of the Divine Mother and is celebrated for nine days, not only in India but in many parts of the world. Mother Goddess is also called Shakti, the energy of God. She is the energy of the Trinity, as the creative aspect of Lord Brahma, the supporting aspect of Vishnu and the destructive aspect of Shiva are all encompassed within her.

The Divine Trinity of Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati together represent the feminine energy that provides protection, love, prosperity and knowledge to all their devotees. Goddess Durga is known to remove Evil, misery, and pain from our lives. Goddess Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, and Goddess Saraswati is also known as the Goddess of Knowledge.

Nav Durga is therefore a special time to worship and sing the glories of the Goddesses, and pray for good health, prosperity, purity of soul, love, peace, and Anandam/bliss. As a large number of people pray during this period, the collective energy becomes very powerful, and it is said that the prayers offered are often heard by the Goddesses.

The Mahabhrata Connection

The Mahabhrata recounts that the Pandava brothers, in their 14th year of exile, decided to hide their divine weapons under a shami tree (Mimosa suma) for the duration of Navaratri. The brothers prayed to Durga Devi to protect their weapons until their return, which occurred a year later. Having found the weapons intact, the Pandavas headed towards their enemies and defeated them with the help of the Devi. Even today, exchanging a sprig of shami is a wish for victory over evil.

Who is Durga Maa?

Maa Durga, the supreme goddess, is a symbol of pure love, courage (Shakti), Light within, and Bliss. She represents the power of the Supreme Being who preserves moral order and justice over creation. The Sanskrit word Durga means fortress or a place that is protected and therefore difficult to reach.

Durga, also called Divine Shakti, protects humanity from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, and ego. She is referred to as the Universal Mother and the mother of Ganesh. She is sometimes also referred to as Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati because she is also the incarnation of Saraswati or Lakshmi.

She is also known as Maha-Mayi (Great, Terrific) because she is a goddess composed of different elements of many gods and goddesses. Durga Maa is depicted as a warrior woman with eight hands carrying the weapons of almost all the Devas, assuming mudras, or symbolic hand gestures, and riding a lion or tiger.

A tiger symbolizes unlimited power. Durga riding a tiger indicates that she possesses unlimited power and uses it to protect virtue and destroy evil. She is usually depicted wearing a red sari. The color red symbolizes action, and the red clothes mean that she is always busy destroying evil and protecting humanity from the pain and suffering caused by the forces of evil.

Thus, goddess Durga symbolizes the divine forces (positive energy) that are used against the negative forces of evil and wickedness. She represents pure (positive) energy, known as divine light or "Jyoti."

She is the embodiment of feminine and creative energy. (Divine Shakti) Each day honors a particular aspect of the Divine Mother and gives direction to the day's energy. These aspects are known as the "Nava Durga" (the nine names of Durga).

Day 1: Shailaputri - Daughter of the Himalayas, wife of Lord Shiva.

Day 2: Brahmacharini - She who practices chastity and performs penance. She personifies love and honesty.

Day 3: Chandraghanta – She who is as beautiful as the moon. She personifies supreme bliss and knowledge.

Day 4: Kushmanda – She who created the universe and brings goodness by suppressing evil and pain.

Day 5: Skandamata – Mother of Skanda, the leader of the armies that fight against evil. It is said that by Her Grace, even the foolish become an ocean of knowledge.

Day 6: Katyayani – Daughter of the sage Katyayana, the wish-granter.

Day 7: Kalaratri – She who is black as night. Destroyer of darkness, evil, and ignorance, she eliminates obstacles and fear.

Day 8: Mahagauri – The White Goddess, she who grants purification from sins.

Day 9: Siddhidatri – She who grants knowledge and great spiritual powers.

Navaratri In North India

In northern and western India, it is also linked to Rama's victory over the demon Ravana, thanks to the help of Devi Durga, and is also called Ramalila. During these days, some episodes from the Ramayana are recited, while on the tenth day, effigies of the demons Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burned.

Navaratri In East India

Navaratri celebrations take on regional characteristics. In the eastern Indian states, the festival is called Durga Puja and specifically celebrates the victory of the warrior goddess Durga over the demons, restoring Dharma.

Navaratri In West India

In western India, such as Gujarat, people fast and worship the nine avatars of Durga during the nine days leading up to Dussehra. You will often find women and children performing garba or dandiya dances across Gujarat and Maharashtra, usually around clay pots.

Navaratri In South India

The first three days are dedicated to Durga , who represents the divine force, capable of annihilating the demons of selfishness and adharma and are a moment of purification for the faithful, who free themselves from distractions and sins;

The three central days celebrate Lakshmi, an expression of generosity, physical and spiritual prosperity, a time to rediscover one's positive qualities and let them express themselves freely;

The last three are dedicated to the worship of Saraswati, who represents pure knowledge, wisdom, and art, and with her support one can receive divine guidance and benefit from it to the fullest. Therefore, Navaratri is a celebration, but it also has a strong and profound symbolic meaning, representing an opportunity for redemption and self-improvement.

Navaratri In Nepal

In Nepal, Dussehra is known as Dashain and is the longest Hindu festival in Nepal. It is celebrated over two weeks with prayers and offerings to Durga. Nepalese people use this occasion to gather with family and exchange gifts and blessings.

What is the story behind Dussehra?

At the end of the nine nights, on the tenth day, the festival of Dussehra begins. This tenth day is called Vijayadashami, the tenth day of victory, and refers to a myth present in the Puranas, which tells the birth of Durga and the origin of Navaratri: it is the myth of Mahisha Asura.

The myth narrates the arduous and prolonged ascent of the buffalo-headed demon (asura), Mahisha, who was then rewarded by the god Shiva with the privilege of not being slain by any man or god (Deva). Strengthened by this invincible status, the demon began to cause disorder and terror in the three worlds. This alarmed the gods, who consulted for a solution. Unable to be slain by any man or god, the gods turned to the supreme Shakti, because only a Devi could destroy the evil Mahisha.

Thus the three supreme Devis, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati, gave birth to a proud and powerful Shakti, fruit of the union of their energies: Durga.

All the Gods armed her, making her indestructible. The fight between Durga and Mahisha lasted nine nights and only on the tenth day, exhausted by the impetuous strength of the goddess Durga, Mahisha was defeated, pierced by the trishula of Shakti.

Bengalis commemorate Bijoya Dashami, which marks the 10th day of Durga Puja. Before Dussehra, artists create elaborate representations of Maa Durga or Maa Kali in everything from traditional crafts to modern interpretations. On the last day, those participating in the commemoration carry their idols of the goddess in processions and immerse them in the river. In these processions, women smear each other's faces with vermillion. The idol of Maa Durga is immersed in water, signifying her return to Mount Kailash with Shiva.

Effigies of Ravana, often accompanied by those of Meghnada (Ravana's son) and Kumbhkarana (Ravana's brother) are filled with firecrackers and set alight at night in open fields. These effigies are filled with firecrackers and fireworks, and when struck by Rama's arrow, they burn to ashes.

Mysore Dussehra

The celebration of Vijayadashami is particularly heartfelt in Karnataka, specifically in Mysore. The festivities here take place around and inside the Mysore Palace, and the colorful procession in which Chamundeshvari (one of the forms of Durga), the ruling family's tutelary goddess, is carried on a golden throne by a richly decorated elephant is particularly evocative.