Navratri

About Navratri

Navratri means nine nights, and in autumn it honours the goddess in her many forms, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Many families fast, eating only fruit, milk, buckwheat or rock salt dishes. In Gujarat the evenings are given to Garba and Dandiya Raas, circle dances around a lamp or an image of the goddess, with dancers in embroidered, mirror-worked clothes. In south India households arrange tiers of dolls and invite neighbours to see them. Some regions assign a colour to each day. The tenth day is Dussehra, when the goddess's victory over the buffalo demon and Rama's victory over Ravana are both remembered.

Navratri dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

What is eaten

• sabudana khichdi
• kuttu puri
• singhare ke atte ki puri
• sundal

Traditions of Navratri

GarbaThe circle dance performed around a lamp in Gujarat.Dandiya RaasThe stick dance of Navratri evenings.

More marked on Navratri

🇮🇳 Mysuru, India and 2 moreVijayadashamiविजयदशमी (Vijayadaśamī) A Hindu festival marking the end of Navaratri, celebrating the victory of good over evil across India and Nepal.Festival 🇳🇵 Kathmandu, Nepal and 4 moreDashainबडादशैँ A fifteen-day festival of family gatherings, blessings, and feasts across NepalFestival 🇮🇳 Mysuru, IndiaMysore Dasara Karnataka's ten-day Dasara, with the lit Mysuru Palace and a Vijayadashami processionFestival 🇮🇳 Madurai, IndiaGoluபொம்மை கொலு An autumn festival display of stepped dolls and figurines in South Indian homesFestival · Sweets given and shared 🇮🇳 IndiaAyudha Pujaआयुध पूजा A Hindu festival blessing the tools, vehicles, books and instruments of daily workSpiritual 🇮🇳 IndiaSanjhi Autumn devotion honoring a mother goddess and sacred floor art of Radha and KrishnaSpiritual 🇮🇳 Varanasi, India and 5 moreRamlilaरामलीला Open-air community plays staged across autumn nights, recounting the journey of Rama.Performance 🇮🇳 IndiaVidyarambhamविद्यारम्भ A Hindu rite of passage introducing young children to reading, writing and the artsRite of passage