What Navratri celebrates
Navratri (“nine nights”) is devoted to the Goddess in her many forms, most widely as the nine forms of Durga (Navadurga), one honoured on each night. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil, in tradition the Goddess’s victory over the demon Mahishasura, and, in the Ramayana tradition, Rama’s preparation for victory over Ravana.
It is celebrated twice a year:
- Chaitra Navratri, in spring, beginning on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the Hindu New Year in much of North India, and ending with Ram Navami.
- Sharad Navratri, in autumn, beginning on Ashvina Shukla Pratipada, the most widely celebrated, ending with Dussehra (Vijayadashami) on the tenth day.
Many ways to celebrate
- Gujarat: nights of garba and dandiya raas, danced in circles around an image or lamp of the Goddess, now loved across India and abroad.
- West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura: Durga Puja, with grand pandals and the immersion of the image on Vijayadashami.
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh: Golu (Bommai Kolu), displays of dolls on steps, and visits between homes; in Karnataka, Mysuru Dasara.
- North India: Ram Lila performances, culminating in the burning of Ravana’s effigy on Dussehra.
- Across India: fasting, the sowing of barley in Ghatasthapana, and on Ashtami or Navami, Kanya Puja, honouring young girls.
How the dates are set
Sharad Navratri begins on Ashvina Shukla Pratipada, the day after the new moon of Ashvina, usually in September or October, and continues through the nine tithis of the bright fortnight. Because tithis vary in length, Navratri can occasionally be eight or ten days long when a tithi is lost or repeated. Ghatasthapana (the installation of the sacred pot) is performed in a preferred window on the first day, often in the morning or during Abhijit muhurat.
How OIOA helps
- The panchang shows each day’s tithi, so you know which night of Navratri it is.
- Muhurat windows help with Ghatasthapana timings.
- Reminders for fasting days and Kanya Puja.
- Groups for planning your society’s garba or puja.
Wishing someone
“Happy Navratri”, “Shubh Navratri”, and on the tenth day, “Happy Dussehra” or “Shubho Bijoya” in Bengal.