Navaratri
navaratri annual hindu festival observed honor goddess durga aspect adi parashakti supreme goddess shaivites shaktas durga form actually goddess parvati span nine night first month chaitra marchapril gregorian calendar month ashvin september–october observed different reason celebrated differently various part hindu indian cultural sphere theoretically four seasonal navaratris however practice postmonsoon autumn festival called sharada navaratri gupta navaratris secret navaratris well one starting shukla paksha pratipada magha month magha gupta navaratri another starting shukla paksha pratipada ashadha month word navaratri mean nine night sanskrit nava meaning nine ratri meaning night eastern northeastern state india durga puja synonymous navaratri wherein goddess durga battle emerges victorious buffalo demon mahishasura help restore dharma southern state victory durga kali celebrated western state gujarat navaratri celebration constituted arti followed garba case common theme battle victory good evil based regionally famous epic legend devi mahatmya celebration include worshipping nine goddess nine day stage decoration recital legend enacting story chanting scripture hinduism nine day also major crop season cultural event competitive design staging pandals family visit pandals public celebration classical folk dance hindu culture hindu devotee often celebrate navaratri fasting final day called vijayadashami statue either immersed water body river ocean statue symbolising evil burnt firework marking destruction evil time preparation also take place deepavali festival light celebrated twenty day vijayadashami according hindu text shakta vaishnava purana navaratri theoretically fall two four time year sharada navaratri near september equinox autumn equinox september–october celebrated vasanta navaratri near march equinox spring equinox march–april next significant culture indian subcontinent case navaratri fall bright half waxing phase hindu lunisolar month celebration vary region leaving much creativity preference hindu sharada navaratri sharada navaratri celebrated four navaratri named sharada mean autumn commences first day pratipada bright fortnight lunar month ashvini festival celebrated nine night every year month typically fall gregorian month september october exact date festival determined according hindu lunisolar calendar sometimes festival may held day day less depending adjustment sun moon movement leap year many region festival fall autumn harvest others harvest festivity extend beyond goddess durga various goddess saraswati lakshmi deity ganesha kartikeya shiva parvati regionally revered example notable panhindu tradition navaratri adoration saraswati hindu goddess knowledge learning music art ayudha puja day typically fall ninth day navaratri peace knowledge celebrated warrior thank decorate worship weapon offering prayer saraswati musician upkeep play pray musical instrument farmer carpenter smith pottery maker shopkeeper sort tradespeople similarly decorate worship equipment machinery tool trade student visit teacher express respect seek blessing tradition particularly strong south india observed elsewhere chaitra navaratri chaitra navaratri also called vasantha navaratri second celebrated navaratri named vasanta mean spring observed lunar month chaitra march–april festival devoted goddess durga whose nine form worshipped nine day last day also rama navami birthday rama reason also called rama navaratri people many region festival fall spring harvest others harvest also mark first day hindu lunisolar calendar also known hindu lunar new year according vikram samvat calendar chaitra navaratri called navreh kashmiri pandits gudi padwa maharashtra ugadi andhra pradesh telangana karnataka magha navaratri magha navaratri observed lunar month magha january–february navaratri also known gupt secret navaratri fifth day festival often independently observed vasant panchami basant panchami official start spring hindu tradition goddess saraswati revered art music writing kite flying region hindu god love kama revered magha navaratri observed regionally individual ashada navaratri ashada navaratri also known gupta navaratri observed lunar month ashadha june–july start monsoon season ashada navaratri observed regionally individual festival associated prominent battle took place durga demon mahishasura celebrate victory good evil isn’t simple tale good versus evil one filled layer symbolism moral lesson nine day solely dedicated durga nine avatar – navadurgathe specific form navadurga extracted devikavaca subsection devipurana text representative major aspect life goddess parvati day associated incarnation goddess pratipada also known first day associated form shailaputri daughter mountain incarnation parvati form durga worshipped daughter himavan guardian god himalaya depicted riding bull nandi trishula right hand lotus flower left shailaputri considered direct incarnation mahakali colour day yellow depicts action vigor also considered reincarnation sati shiva first wife reincarnates parvati also known hemavati dwitiya second day goddess brahmacharini unmarried one another incarnation parvati worshipped form parvati became yogini unmarried self brahmacharini worshipped emancipation moksha endowment peace prosperity depicted walking bare foot holding rudrakshmala japmala kamandala water pot hand symbolizes bliss calm white colour code day orange colour depicts tranquility sometimes used strong energy flow everywhere tritiya third day commemorates worship chandraghanta – name derived fact marrying shiva parvati adorned forehead ardhachandra lit halfmoon embodiment beauty also symbolic bravery grey colour third day vivacious colour cheer everyones mood goddess kushmanda worshipped chaturthi fourth day believed creative power universe kushmanda associated endowment vegetation earth hence colour day green depicted eight arm sits tiger skandamata goddess worshipped panchami fifth day mother skanda kartikeya green colour symbolic transforming strength mother child confronted danger depicted riding ferocious lion four arm holding baby born sage katyayana incarnation durga killed buffalodemon mahisa shown exhibit courage symbolized colour red known warrior goddess considered one violent form devi avatar katyayani ride lion four hand celebrated shashti sixth day eastern india maha shashti observed day starting shardiya durga puja considered ferocious form durga kalaratri revered saptami believed parvati removed pale skin kill asura shumbha nishumbha colour day royal blue goddess depicted redcoloured attire tiger skin enraged fiery eye dark skin red colour believed represent prayer assurance goddess protection devotee harm mahagauri symbolizes intelligence peace believed kaalaratri took bath ganga river gained warmer complexion colour associated day pink depicts optimism celebrated ashtami eighth day eastern india maha astami observed day starting pushpanjali kumari puja etc important tithi considered birthday mahishasura mardini rupa chandi last day festival also known navami ninth day people pray siddhidhatri giver perfection sitting lotus believed possess bestows type siddhis mainly bestows nine type siddhis–anima ability reduce one body size atom mahima ability expand one body infinitely large size garima ability become heavy dense laghima ability become weightless lighter air prapti ability realize whatever one desire prakamya ability access place world isitva ability control material element natural force vasitva ability force influence upon anyone four hand also known mahalakshmi purple colour day portrays admiration towards nature beauty siddhidatri parvati wife shiva siddhidhatri also seen ardhanarishvara form shiva shakti believed one side shiva body siddhidatri therefore also known name ardhanarishwara according vedic scripture shiva attained siddhis worshipping goddess part india tool weapon worshipped ritual called ayudha puja many business also grant holiday employee day vijayadashami observed different reason celebrated differently various part indian subcontinent southern eastern northeastern northern state india vijayadashami mark end durga puja commemorating goddess durga victory buffalodemon mahishasura restore protect dharma dussehra hinduism holiday marking triumph rama avatar lord vishnu headed demon king ravana abducted rama’s wife sita festival’s name derived sanskrit word dasha “ten” hara “defeat” symbolizing victory good evil dussehra celebrated th day month ashvina september–october seventh month hindu calendar appearance full moon event called “bright fortnight” shukla paksha dussehra coincides culmination nineday navratri festival tenth day durga puja festival many mark beginning preparation diwali occurs day dussehra navaratri celebrated different way throughout india certain people revere different aspect durga people fast others feast chaitra navaratri culminates ram navami sharada navaratri culminates durga puja vijayadashami past shakta hindu used recite durga legend chaitra navaratri around spring equinox contemporary hindu navaratri around autumn equinox major festival one observed bengali hindu shakta hindu outside eastern northeastern state india term navaratri implies durga puja warrior goddess aspect devi tradition hinduism term navaratri implies celebration durga peaceful form saraswati – hindu goddess knowledge learning music art nepal navaratri called dashain major annual homecoming family event celebrates bond elder youngster tika puja well across family community member navaratri celebrated durga puja festival bengali hindu assamese people bihari people tripuri people maithils nepalese people bhutanese people burmese people odia people well minor tribal ethnicity bangladesh india santal people chakma people manipuri people others important annual festival bengali hindu major social public event eastern northeastern state india dominates religious life occasion celebrated thousand pandals temporary stage built community square roadside shrine large durga temple west bengal odisha jharkhand bihar eastern nepal assam tripura nearby region also observed shakta hindu private homebased festival durga puja festival mark victory goddess durga battle shapeshifting deceptive powerful buffalo demon mahishasura festival begin mahalaya day shakta hindu remember loved one died well advent warrior goddess durga next significant day durga puja called shashthi local community welcome goddess durga festive celebration inaugurated seventh saptami eighth ashtami ninth navami day durga along lakshmi saraswati ganesha kartikeya revered day mark main puja worship performed recitation scripture legend durga devi mahatmya social visit family temple pandals tenth day also known vijayadashami great procession held clay statue durga ceremoniously walked river ocean coast solemn goodbye many mark face vermilion sindooram dress red clothes emotional day devotee congregation sings emotional goodbye song procession hindu distribute sweet gift visit friend family member durga puja celebrated commonly bangladesh bengali nonbengali hindu community many bengali muslim also take part festivity dhaka dhakeshwari temple puja attracts visitor devotee nepal festivity celebrated dashain north india navaratri marked numerous ramlila event episode story rama ravana enacted team artist rural urban center inside temple temporarily constructed stage hindu tradition festive performance art inscribed unesco one intangible cultural heritage humanity festivity state unesco include song narration recital dialogue based hindu text ramcharitmanas tulsidas particularly notable historically important hindu city ayodhya varanasi vrindavan almora satna madhubani – city uttar pradesh uttarakhand bihar madhya pradesh festival dramatic enactment story organized community hundred small village town attracting mix audience different social gender economic background many part audience villager join participate spontaneously helping artist others helping stage set create makeup effigy light navaratri historically prominent ritual festival king military kingdom end navaratri come dussehra effigy ravana kumbhakarna indrajit burnt celebrate victory good rama evil force elsewhere religious observance goddess durga war deception evil remembered pot installed ghatasthapana sanctified place home lamp kept lit pot nine day pot symbolizes universe uninterrupted lit lamp symbolizes durga part bihar jharkhand durga revered autumn navaratri huge number pandals made bihar durga worshipped alongside lakshmi saraswati kartikey ganesha part like sitamarhi close nepal border spring navaratri attracts large rama navami fair mark birth lord rama largest cattle trading fair attracts large handicraft market pottery kitchen housewares well traditional clothing festive performance art celebration held local hindu temple dedicated sita hanuman durga ganesha navaratri gujarat one state main festival traditional celebration include fasting day partially fasting nine day eating grain taking liquid food remembrance one nine aspect shakti goddess prayer dedicated symbolic clay pot called garbo remembrance womb family universe clay pot lit believed represent one atman soul self gujarat nearby hindu community malwa garbo significance celebrated performance art nine day visible group dance called garba accompanied live orchestra seasonal raga devotional song folk dance people different background skill join form concentric circle circle grow shrink reaching size hundred thousand people dancing clapping circular move traditional attire garba dance sometimes deploys dandiyas stick coordinated movement striking stick dancer teasing gender post dancing group audience socializes feast together regionally thematic celebration community song music dance navaratri called garba temple goa first day hindu month ashwin copper pitcher surrounded clay installed inside sanctum sanctorum devi krishna temple nine variety food grain placed nine night celebrated devotional song religious discourse artist arrive perform folk musical instrument celebration include placing durga image speciallydecorated colourful silver swing known makhar nine night swinging tune temple music called ranavadya locally called makharotsav last night goa navaratri festival major celebration called makhar arti karnataka navaratri observed home lighting hindu temple cultural site many regal procession locally called dasara state festival naadahabba karnataka many celebration mysuru dasara major one popular festivity contemporary dasara festivity mysore credited effort king raja wodeyar ninth day dasara called mahanavami royal sword worshipped taken procession decorated elephant horse also ayudha puja dedicated saraswati military personnel upkeep weapon family upkeep tool livelihood offering prayer saraswati well parvati lakshmi day navaratri vijayadashami traditional dasara procession held street mysore image goddess chamundeshwari placed golden saddle hauda back decorated elephant taken procession accompanied tableau dance group music band decorated elephant horse camel another navaratri tradition karnataka decorating part one home art doll called gombe bombe similar golu doll tamil nadu artthemed gaarudi gombe featuring folk dance incorporate doll also part celebration kerala three day ashtami navami vijayadashami sharada navaratri celebrated sarasvati puja book worshipped book placed puja ashtami house traditional nursery school temple vijayadashami book ceremoniously taken reading writing worshipping sarasvati vijayadashami considered auspicious initiating child writing reading called vidyarambham vidyarambham day tradition start baby child sitting lap elderly person grandfather near image saraswati ganesha elder writes letter child writes index finger navaratri celebration vary across maharashtra specific rite differ region even called dedicated deity common celebration begin first day navaratri ghatasthapana literally mean mounting jar day rural household mount copper brass jar filled water upon small heap rice kept wooden stool pat jar typically placed agriculture symbol turmeric root leaf mango tree coconut major staple grain usually eight variety lamp lighted symbolising knowledge household prosperity kept alight nine night navaratri family worship pot nine day offering ritual garland flower leaf fruit dry fruit etc naivedya water offered order get seed sprouted family also celebrate kali puja day lakshmi puja day saraswati puja day along ghatasthapana eighth day yajna hom performed name goddess durga ninth day ghat puja performed ghat dismantled taking sprouted leaf grain goddess lalita worshiped fifth day festival ninth day festival men participate worshiping kind tool weapon vehicle productive instrument navaratri historic tradition within tamil nadu lakshmi saraswati durga goddess focus like rest india festival occasion performance art particularly hindu temple dance bharatanatyam mohiniyattam major palace community center historic temple embedded dance hall example padmanabhapuram palace built ce large dance hall intricately carved pillar structure entirely made stone dance hall traditionally known navaratri mantapa festivity begin vedic chant inaugurating dance ceremony tamil hindu temple associated sri vaishnavism also celebrate navaratri festivity another notable tamil tradition celebration festival golu doll also spelled gollu include god goddess animal bird rural life miniature design people set creative theme home called kolu friend family invite visit home view kolu display exchange gift sweet tradition also found part south india andhra pradesh called bommala koluvu karnataka called gombe habba gombe totti evidence gombe totti tradition hindu celebration artisan art go back least thcentury vijayanagara empire evening vijayadashami one doll kolu symbolically put sleep kalasa moved bit towards north mark end year navaratri kolu family offer prayer thanks wrap display temple tamil nadu navaratri celebrated durga dwelling temple temple decorated ceremonial lamp lit vedic chanting performed priest visitor temple wear special yellow coloured promise protection thread wrist called kappu tamil raksha bandhana sanskrit believed symbolize vow goddess protection goddess evil telangana navaratri celebrated rest india end dasara navaratri night notable telangana tradition involves telugu hindu woman produce bathukamma navaratri goddess artistic flower decoration driven event particularly using marigold revere three different aspect devi called tridevi woman simultaneously participated create foot high flower arrangement one world largest festive flower arrangement bathukamma celebration started mahalaya amavasya pitru amavasya day navaratri start main deity worship goddess gowri form goddess durga symbolized idol made turmeric powder placed floral arrangement called bathukamma festival go nine night woman whirling around bathukamma clapping hand stick along recitation ramayana story shiva gowri ganga common daytoday life woman form rhythmic song every night bathukamma immersed nearby water resource new bathukamma made next day nine night festival end durgashtami durga believed worshiped form maha gowri like elsewhere india ayudha puja observed telangana hindu weapon maintained decorated worshiped tradesman farmer similarly clean decorate worship equipment trade th day dussehra vijayadashami grand feast arranged family member friend early mention navaratri ritual found vernacular text ramayana bengali krittivasi ramayana whereby rama described offering durga puja epic mahabharata durga praised twice chapter virata parva bhishma parva ritual also found puranic text markandeya purana devi purana kalika purana devi bhagavata purana although rare animal sacrifice part durga puja celebration navaratri eastern state india goddess offered sacrificial animal ritual belief stimulates violent vengeance buffalo demon according christopher fuller animal sacrifice practice rare among hindu navaratri time outside shaktism tradition found eastern indian state west bengal odisha assam even state festival season one significant animal sacrifice observed shakta hindu community slaying buffalo demon victory durga observed symbolic sacrifice instead animal sacrifice rajput rajasthan worship weapon horse navaratri formerly offered sacrificial goat goddess revered kuldevi – practice continues place ritual requires slaying animal single stroke past ritual considered rite passage manhood readiness warrior tradition animal sacrifice substituted vegetarian offering goddess temple household around banaras northern india hindu diaspora migrated indentured servant colonial era various plantation mine around world well migrated continued mark navaratri tradition hindu malaysia singapore thailand sri lanka example built hindu temple southeast asia th century navaratri one major traditional festival trinidad tobago guyana suriname fiji mauritius canada south africa united state united kingdom navaratri diwali one visible celebration local hindu community mid thcentury beyond south asia durga puja organized bengali odia assamese nepali community united state america durga puja celebration also started hong kong hindu indian bengali diaspora canada bengali hindu community bangladesh west bengal india organise several durga pujas greater toronto area number durga puja celebration venue organized different bengali cultural group bangladesh canada hindu cultural society bchcs bongo poribar sociocultural association etc city toronto dedicated durga temple named toronto durgabari durga puja organized along hindu celebration puja venue toronto area try arrange puja best possible way follow lunar calendar timing navaratri goddess worship mentioned historic sikhism literature particularly dasam granth traditionally attributed guru gobind singh according louis fenech sikh historically mirrored reverence devi shakti worship weapon manner similar shakta hindu second guru sikhism guru angad ardent devotee goddess durga jains observed social cultural celebration navaratri hindu folk dance stavan poetry jainism state whitney kelting draw much imagery garba poem hinduism take place time nine emperor god festival navratra akhand jyoti durga puja garba jhandewalan temple jwala devi temple uttar pradesh jyoti kalash mysore dasara bathukamma nine emperor god festival vijayadashami dashain medium related navaratri wikimedia common navratri festival archived october wayback machine