Navratri means "nine nights" in Sanskrit. It is a festival that celebrates the divine feminine in Hinduism. Across nine nights and ten days, devotees worship the goddess Durga in her many forms.
Navratri happens four times a year, but the most widely celebrated is Sharad Navratri, which falls in September or October. It culminates on the tenth day with Dussehra (also called Vijayadashami), which marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana, and of Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
The Story of Durga
The central mythology of Navratri involves the goddess Durga, a warrior goddess created from the combined energies of all the gods. The demon Mahishasura had received a boon that no man or god could kill him. He terrorized the universe. The gods combined their powers and created Durga to fight him.
She battled Mahishasura for nine nights. On the tenth day, she killed him. Navratri celebrates those nine nights of battle, and Dussehra celebrates the victory.
Each night of Navratri is associated with one of the nine forms of the goddess, collectively called the Navadurga. Each form represents a different quality: wisdom, courage, compassion, power, and more.
How Navratri Is Celebrated
Navratri celebrations vary significantly by region.
In Gujarat and across the diaspora, Navratri is celebrated with Garba and Dandiya Raas. Garba is a circular dance performed around a central lamp or image of the goddess. Dandiya Raas involves dancing in pairs with decorated sticks. These dances are performed every night for nine nights. Navratri garba events are some of the most attended Hindu celebrations in America, drawing thousands of people.
In Bengal and the eastern states, Navratri overlaps with Durga Puja, a massive five-day festival where large sculptural depictions of Durga are worshipped, displayed publicly, and then immersed in rivers at the end.
In South India, Navratri is celebrated with Golu, a tradition of displaying figurines and dolls on tiered steps in the home.
Navratri in America
Hindu American communities celebrate Navratri with garba nights that fill ballrooms and event centers. Many events require traditional dress: chaniya choli for women, kediyu or kurta for men. The celebrations run late into the night. They are joyful, social, and deeply rooted in tradition.
Cities with large Gujarati populations, like Edison in New Jersey, Fremont in California, and Sugar Land in Texas, host some of the largest Navratri celebrations in the country.
Navratri is also a time of fasting and prayer for many devotees. The garba is not separate from the worship. It is the worship: a moving meditation that celebrates the goddess through community and joy.