| Home | Legend |

The mood of Navratri is very colourful & unique.

In West Bengal,Navratri is celebrated as 'Durga-pooja'which is the most important festival in that part of India.

Celebrations of Durga-pooja in Bengal are similar to celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra. Idols of Goddess Durga are worshipped for nine days in beautifully decorated 'pandaals'.It is a public festival.

On the tenth day,the 'Visarjan' or immersion of idols in sea waters is performed.

In Punjab, Navratri is a period of fasting for seven days, and the people are said to keep their "Navratras" or fasts. On the eighth day or Ashtami, devotees break their fasts by calling young girls home and these girls are treated as the goddess herself. People ceremonially wash their feet, worship them and then offer food to the "girl-goddesses" giving them the traditional 'puri', ' halwa' and chana' to eat along with bangles and the red 'chunnis' to wear. The ninth day is known as Ram Navami.

In traditional North Indian households, a pot of wheat, known as 'khetri' is kept and home and worshipped during these eight days. It is significant of prosperity and abundance.

On the first day of the Navaratras, grains of barley are planted in the puja room of the house. Every day some water is sprinkled on it. On the tenth day, the shoots are about 3 - 5 inches in length. After the puja, these seedlings are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from god.

The seedlings are placed on their caps, behind their ears, and inside books to bring good luck. This custom suggests a link to harvesting. The sowing and reaping of barley is symbolic of the "first fruit".

In various parts of India,the 'Ram-Leela' is performed during Navratri. Ram-Leela is a stage enaction of Ramayana,the story of Lord Rama.

The day after Navratri,i.e.,tenth day, is observed as 'Dassera' or 'Vijayadashmi'.It marks the victory of good over evil.

It is believed that on this day, Lord Rama had killed the demon Ravana.So,on Vijayadashmi,effigies of Ravana are burnt all over India.  

The Garba & dandiya Raas of Gujarat is performed in Navratris. Beautifully decorated 'mandaps'are set up for playing garba & dandiya by various cultural socities,housing commitees & youth social groups.Young men-women wear colourful traditional dresses and play Garba with great enthusiasm.

During Navratri, a pot is ceremoniously placed attractive designs are made on the pot and a light is placed inside.

The women-folk dance in a circle, singing 'Garbas' or traditional songs.'Dandiya-Raas' is played with wooden sticks or 'dandiyas'.

The origin of the Rasa is traced back to the legends connected with the life of Lord Krishna. It is essentially associated with the agricultural rites.

The Rasa is performed in Gujarat India on Navaratra; and other important festivals associated with harvest and crops. They are performed only by men and are often complex circular formations to represent designs of lotus and other designs considered magical religious and auspicious.