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Shakta Hindus outside of eastern and northeastern states of India, the term Navaratri
implies Durga Puja in the warrior goddess aspect of Devi. In other traditions of Hinduism,
the term Navaratri implies something else or the celebration of Hindu goddess but in her
more peaceful forms such as Saraswati – the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning, music
and other arts.[10][27] In Nepal, Navaratri is called Dasain, and is a major annual
homecoming and family event that celebrates the bonds between elders and youngsters
with Tika Puja, as well as across family and community members.[28]

Eastern India and West Bengal

The Navratri is celebrated as the Durga Puja
festival in West Bengal. It is the most important
annual festival to Bengali Hindus, and a major
social and public event in eastern and
northeastern states of India, where it dominates
the religious life.[29][30] The occasion is celebrated
with thousands[31] of temporary stages called
pandals are built in community squares, roadside
shrines and large Durga temples in West Bengal,
Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern Nepal, Assam,
Tripura and nearby regions. It is also observed by
some Shakta Hindus as a private, home-based
festival.[30][32][33] Durga Puja festival marks the
battle of goddess Durga with the shape-shifting,
deceptive and powerful buffalo demon Two Durga Puja pandals in
Mahishasura, and her emerging victorious.[34][35] Kolkata during Navratri

The last five days of Navratri mark the popular

practices during Durga Puja. The festival begins with Mahalaya, a day where Shakta
Hindus remember the loved ones who have died, as well the advent of warrior goddess
Durga.[36][37] The next most significant day of Durga Puja celebrations is the sixth day,
called Shashthi where the local community welcome the goddess Durga Devi and festive
celebrations are inaugurated. On the seventh day (Saptami), eighth (Ashtami) and ninth
(Navami), Durga along with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya are revered and
these days mark the main Puja (worship) with recitation of the scriptures, the legends of
Durga in Devi Mahatmya and social visits by families to elaborately decorated and lighted
up temples and pandals (theatre like stages).[38][39][40] After the nine nights, on the tenth
day called Vijayadashami, a great procession is held where the clay statues are
ceremoniously walked to a river or ocean coast for a solemn goodbye to Durga. Many mark
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their faces with vermilion (sindoor) or dress in something red. It is an emotional day for
some devotees, and the congregation sings emotional goodbye songs.[41][42] After the
procession, Hindus distribute sweets and gifts, visit their friends and family members.[43]

North India
In North India, Navaratri is marked by the
numerous Ramlila events, where episodes from
the story of Rama and Ravana are enacted by
teams of artists in rural and urban centers,
inside temples or in temporarily constructed
stages. This Hindu tradition of festive
performance arts was inscribed by UNESCO as
one of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity" in 2008.[44] The festivities, states An 1834 sketch by James Prinsep
UNESCO, include songs, narration, recital and showing Ram Leela Mela during
dialogue based on the Hindu text Navratri in Benares.

Ramacharitmanas by Tulsidas. It is
particularly notable in historically important
Hindu cities of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Almora, Satna and Madhubani – cities in
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.[44]

The festival and dramatic enactment of the virtues versus vices filled story is organized by
communities in hundreds of small villages and towns, attracting a mix of audience from
different social, gender and economic backgrounds. In many parts, the audience and
villagers join in and participate spontaneously, some helping the artists, others helping
with stage set up, create make-up, effigies and lights.[44]

Navaratri has historically been a prominent ritual festival for kings and military of a
kingdom.[1] At the end of the Navratri, comes Dussehra, where the effigies of Ravana,
Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil
forces on Vijayadashami.[45]

Elsewhere, during this religious observance, goddess Durga's war against deception and
evil is remembered. A pot is installed (ghatasthapana) at a sanctified place at home. A lamp
is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolises the universe. The uninterrupted lit
lamp symbolizes the Adishakti, i.e. Durga Devi.[46]

Bihar
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In parts of Bihar, goddess Durga is revered

during the autumn Navratri. In other parts,
such near Sitamarhi close to Nepal border, the
spring Navratri attracts a large Ramanavami
fair which marks the birth of Lord Rama as well
as a reverence for his wife Sita who legends
place was born at Sitamarhi. It is the largest
cattle trading fair, and attracts a large
Navratri is also a festival for feasting
handicrafts market in pottery, kitchen and
with friends and family.
house ware, as well as traditional clothing.
Festive performance arts and celebrations are
held at the local Hindu temple dedicated to Sita, Hanuman, Durga, and Ganesha.[47][48]

Gujarat
Navaratri festival in Gujarat is one of the main festivals. The traditional method includes
fasting for a day, or partially every of the nine days such as by not eating grains or just
taking liquid foods, in remembrance of one of nine aspects of Shakti goddess. The prayers
are dedicated to a symbolic clay pot called garbo, as a remembrance of womb of the family
and universe. The clay pot is lit, and this is believed to represent the one Atman (soul,
self).[49][50]

In Gujarat and nearby Hindu communities

such as in Malwa, the garbo significance is
celebrated through performance arts on all nine
days.[49][50] The most visible is group dances
from villages to towns called Garba
accompanied by live orchestra, seasonal raga,
or devotional songs. It is a folk dance, where
people of different background and skills join
Garba dancing is a Navaratri
and form concentric circles. The circles can
tradition in Gujarat.
grow or shrink, reaching sizes of 100s,
sometimes 1000s of people, dancing and
clapping in circular moves, in their traditional costumes, at the same time. The garba
dance sometimes deploys dandiyas (sticks), coordinated movements and striking of sticks
between the dancers, and teasing between the genders.[51] Post dancing, the group and the
audience socializes and feasts together.[49][50] Regionally, the same thematic celebration of
community songs, music and dances on Navaratri is called garbi or garabi.[50]

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Goa
In the temples of Goa, on the first day of the Hindu
month of Ashwin, in temples (and some households), a
copper pitcher is installed surrounded by clay in which
nine varieties of food grains are placed inside the
sanctum sanctorum of Devi and Krishna temples. The
nine nights are celebrated by presenting devotional
songs, and through religious discourses. Artists arrive to
perform folk musical instruments. Celebrations include
placing the goddess image in a specially-decorated
colourful silver swing, known as Makhar in Konkani
and for each of the nine nights, she is swung to the tune
of temple music (called as ranavadya) and devotees
singing kirtan and waving lamps. This is locally called
Some regions produce and
Makharotsav.[52][53]
sell special Navaratri
miniature golu dolls, such
The last night of the Goa Navaratri festival is a major
as of Krishna above.
celebration and attracts larger participation. It is locally
called the maha arati.[54]

Karnataka
In Karnataka, Navaratri is observed by lighting
up Hindu temples, cultural sites and my regal
processions. It is locally called Dasara, and it is
the state festival (Nadahabba) of Karnataka. Of
the many celebrations, the Mysuru Dasara is a
major one and is popular for its festivities.[55]

The contemporary Dasara festivities at Mysore

are credited to the efforts of King Raja Wodeyar Navaratri decorations at Kudroli
I in 1610. On the ninth day of Dasara, called Hindu temple, Karnataka
Mahanavami,[56] the royal sword is
worshipped and is taken on a procession of
decorated elephants and horses. The day after Navratri, on the Vijayadashami day, the
traditional Dasara procession is held on the streets of Mysore. An image of the Goddess

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