Navratri Across India: How Each Region Celebrates the Festival Differently
Navratri, a festivity dedicated to the worship of the 9 forms of Goddess Durga, culminates with Dussehra, a day marking the victory of good over evil, and it is celebrated with great aplomb in most Indian states. For some, Navratri is the time to fast and chant mantras of Durga devi, while for others, it is the time to feast, sing and dance. In some parts of India, Navaratri celebrations are marked by big processions and gatherings, while in other parts, people silently worship and meditate to seek the blessings of the Goddess. Here is a look at the various ways in which Navaratri festival is celebrated across India.
In North India, locals organize Jagratras meaning night-long devotional singing, and on the days of ashtami and navami, Kanya puja or Kanjak is performed wherein 9 young girls, representing 9 forms of Goddess Durga are revered like a Goddess and given sweets and gifts.
Navaratri celebrations in Himachal Pradesh are marked by Kullu Dussehra, in which people celebrate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya and Lankadahan, symbolizing the burning of Lanka is set near the Beas river. Processions of idols of various gods and Goddesses are organized, and decorations are put up across cities, representing the state’s local culture.
In Bengal, Assam, Orissa, and Bihar, Navaratri is celebrated as Durga Puja. Pandals are built at Durga temples, near public places, shrines and community squares, where devotees gather to perform puja and worship Goddess Durga. The main puja takes place on the 7th, 8th and 9th day, and includes the recital of prayers, scriptures, and stories of Durga. People visit temples and pandals. On Vijayadashami, clay statues of Durga Devi are taken in a procession and walked to a river or sea for bidding farewell. Devotees wear red for the occasion, and after the procession, they distribute sweets and gifts.
In Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and some parts of Bihar, particularly, in major cities like Ayodhya, Vrindavan and Varanasi, Navaratri celebration includes Ramlila events. In Ramlila, events from Ramayana (stories of Rama and Ravana) are enacted on stage, with songs and narrations. On Dussehra, effigies of Ravana are burnt down as a symbol of the victory of Lord Rama (representing good) over Ravana (representing evil).
Navaratri celebrations in Punjab include the Dance of the Dhol, wherein, locals dance to the dhol beats, wearing colourful clothes and put up Bhangra performances on stage.
In Gujarat, Navaratri is marked by Garba and is celebrated with great fanfare. There’s a tradition to fast on the first day, or observe partial fasting on 9 days (which may include not eating grains or not consuming solids). A clay pot (symbolizing womb of the family and universe) called garbo is worshipped and it is lit to symbolize atman (soul). Garba is a unique feature of the Navaratri celebrations in Gujarat. People dance in circles, while clapping in circular moves, and wear colorful, traditional attire. Sometimes, garba includes the use of dandiya (sticks) and people dance while striking the sticks.
In Rajasthan, the Marwar festival is the key feature of Navaratri, which is marked by Ghoomer performances, religious rituals and feasts. Cultural events are organized in various cities and Navaratri celebrations continue for 20 days, upto Dhanteras that marks the start of Diwali.
In Indian states like Maharashtra, there is a Navaratri tradition to place a pot (ghata) filled with soil and plant grains in it on the first day of Navaratri (which is hence also called Ghatasthapana). In some households, there is a ritual to light a lamp and keep it lit uninterrupted throughout Navaratri. The lit lamp is in a pot with the pot representing the universe and the lamp symbolic of Durga.
In rural households of Maharashtra, there’s a tradition to mount a copper or brass jar filled with water on a heap of rice on a wooden stool. Turmeric root, coconut, mango tree leaves, staple grains are some other things placed along with the pot. A lamp is lit, as a symbol of knowledge and prosperity. The pot is worshipped with flowers and water is given for the sprouting of seeds. Bhondla, also called Hadga or Bhulabayi, is another important Navaratri tradition. For a bhondla, young girls in the locality or neighbourhood, gather and sing songs while going in circles and then feast together. Traditionally, every household organizes a bhondla for which girls and women in the neighbourhood are invited, and such gatherings are organized every evening starting from the first day of Navaratri upto Kojagiri Pornima.
In the households of some Hindus, Kali puja is performed on days 1 and 2, Lakshmi puja is performed on days 3, 4 and 5, and Saraswati is worshipped on days 6, 7, 8, and 9. A yajna is performed on the 8th day and a Ghat puja is performed on the 9th day after which the ghat is dismantled and the leaves of sprouted grains are taken off. Goddess Lalita is worshipped on the fifth day (also known as Lalita Panchami).
People of Karnataka have their own way of celebrating Navaratri. Dussehra celebration in this state includes Yakshagana, a dance-drama based on epic tales which continues through the night. In Mysuru, the royal sword is worshipped on the day of Mahanavami, and is taken on a procession with elephants and horses. Ayudh puja is also performed on this day, wherein military people worship their weapons and others worship their tools, and also pray to Goddesses Saraswati, Parvati and Lakshmi. On Dussehra, an image of Goddess Chamundeshwari is placed on a golden saddle on the back of an elephant and taken on a procession which also includes, camels, horses and dance groups. During Navaratri, homes are decorated with art dolls called Gombe and a folk dance called Gaarudi Gombe featuring these dolls, is performed, mainly in the procession of Mysore Dasara.
In Kerala, the days of ashtami, navami and Vijayadashami are considered as the most important part of Navaratri. During this time, books are worshipped and people perform puja of Goddess Saraswati. Vijayadashami is believed to be the best day to initiate children into writing and reading, and the ritual is called Vidyarambham, in which the baby in the family sits with an elderly person who writes a letter and the child repeats with his/her index finger.
Navaratri celebrations in Tamil Nadu include dances in temples and palaces and the worship of Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga. People set up Kolu displays which include Golu dolls. They visit each other’s houses to see the displays and exchange gifts and sweets. On the evening of Vijayadashami, one of the dolls is bid farewell and the kalasa is moved northward to mark the conclusion of Navaratri Kolu. Temples in the state are decorated and priests and some visitors are seen wearing a yellow coloured promise of protection thread that represents protection against evil from the Goddess.
The striking feature of Navaratri celebrations in Tamil Nadu, is Bathukamma, in which women prepare flower decorations with marigolds and worship Goddess Gowri (a form of Durga devi). Her idol is prepared out of turmeric and kept on the flower arrangement. The flower arrangement is immersed in water each night and a new one is prepared on the next day. Women gather, sing and dance around the Bathukamma. The preparations begin on the Mahalaya amavasya and the festivity concludes on Durgashtami. Ayudh puja is performed on the 9th day and feasts are held on Dussehra.
In Goa, a copper pitcher is placed surrounded by clay, in Devi and Krishna temples. 9 different grains are placed and the nine nights are celebrated with songs and religious rituals. An image of Durga devi is placed on a swing and devotees swing her every night. This is called Makharotsav, and Navaratri concludes with a grand celebration of Makhar Arti.
This was a glimpse of Navaratri celebrations across India. You must have seen that North Indian states celebrate the festival with Ramlila and burning of Ravana statues on the 10th day, while in Southern India, Navratri is about Kolu displays. In the east-Indian states, the festival is linked with Durga Puja, while in western India, it is majorly celebrated with Garba and Bhondla. Although diverse in nature, the common thread that binds Navratri celebrations across the country, is the worship of Shakti (Goddess Durga) and cherishing the triumph of the truth.