Navratri : The Festival of Nine Nights

Every year, as the days shorten and autumn approaches, Hindu households across the world come alive with lights, music, devotion, and joy. This is Navratri, one of the most vibrant celebrations in the Hindu calendar.

What is Navratri?

The word Navratri comes from Sanskrit — nava meaning nine, and ratri meaning night. It spans nine nights (and ten days), dedicated to worshipping the Divine Feminine.

Does Navratri come only once each year?

Many are surprised to learn that there are twelve Navaratris each year, observed on the first nine tithis or days (Pratipada through Navami) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of every lunar month. Of these, four are more significant:

• Sharada / Ashvina Navaratri (Sep/Oct) — the most popular; culminates in Dussehra.

• Vasanta / Chaitra Navaratri (Mar/Apr) — marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and concludes with Rama Navami; in parts of Himachal and Rajasthan, it is celebrated even more than Sharada Navratri.

Both Sharada and Chaitra Navaratris align with seasonal transitions. The Devi Bhagavata Purana notes that spring and autumn are periods when human bodies are vulnerable due to weather shifts. Hence, prayers, fasting, and discipline during these times help devotees realign with nature’s rhythms.

The other two important Navaratris are known as Gupta Navaratris (hidden). These are quietly observed by Shakta sadhakas (practitioners devoted to Devi/Shakti), focusing on tantric and spiritual disciplines rather than public festivities:

• Magha Navaratri (Jan/Feb)

• Ashādha Navaratri (Jun/Jul)

What does the festival symbolize?

Traditionally, the nine nights are seen as a seeker’s spiritual arc. In many traditions, each set of three days focuses on one aspect of the Goddess :

1. Durga – remover of negativity, fear, and evil.

2. Lakshmi – bestower of prosperity, abundance, and wellbeing.

3. Saraswati – embodiment of wisdom, learning, and fulfillment.

Together, they represent holistic growth — first cleansing the self, then cultivating strength and prosperity, and finally attaining wisdom and clarity.

At a cosmic level, the festival reenacts the cycle of Sṛṣṭi–Sthiti–Laya (creation–sustenance–dissolution). We create Devi’s presence (as murti, yantra, kalasha, or floral designs), worship her for nine nights, and then immerse her — returning forms to the five elements. It is a gentle reminder of impermanence and unity with nature.

Roots and Texts: An Ancient Devi Tradition

Devi worship long predates neat “linear” timelines. From Sindhu-Sarasvati finds (like the so-called “Mother Goddess” figurines) to Puranic literature, the feminine divine pervades Indian memory.

Key recitations during Navratri include:

• Devi Suktam, Ratri Suktam, and Sri Suktam (Rig Veda)

• Durga Suktam (Taittiriya Aranyaka)

• Devi Mahatmya or Durga Saptashati (Markandeya Purana)

• Devi Gita (Devi Bhagavata Purana)

• Lalita Sahasranama (Brahmanda Purana)

  
  

Legends Behind Navratri

Navratri is rooted in rich lore. The most popular legend tells of Durga’s battle with Mahishasura. For nine days and nights, she fought the demon king, who symbolized arrogance and ignorance. On the tenth day, Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra), she triumphed, restoring cosmic order.

Regional Festivities and Traditions

Navratri unfolds differently across India, but the essence is the same — Shakti, the power that sustains, protects, and liberates.

• Gujarat & Maharashtra: Lively nights of Garba and Dandiya Raas.

• Bengal: Grand Durga Puja pandals, processions, and immersion rituals.

• Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh: Golu displays of dolls and figurines narrating myths and social stories.

• Kerala: Vidyarambham, where children are initiated into learning during Saraswati Puja.

• Telangana: Bathukamma, daily floral creations of the Goddess, celebrated with singing and dancing, then immersed — a ritual that also helps cleanse local water bodies.

• Punjab & Delhi region: Sanjhi Puja, where young girls craft Sanjhi Mata with clay and flowers, worshipping her as a divine guest.

• Jammu: Kaan Sakhiyan, where women gather as companions of the Goddess, singing devotional songs and sharing stories.

Women remain at the heart of Navratri. Kanya Puja (North India) and Suvasini Puja (Konkan) honor young girls and married women as living embodiments of the Goddess.

Living the Message

Beyond its rituals and festivities, Navratri is an inward journey: conquering inner weaknesses like anger, greed, and fear; invoking divine strength through prayer, fasting, and meditation; nurturing positive qualities; and ultimately experiencing oneness with the higher Self.

Navratri is manifesting the mystical, unveiling the secret of the consciousness and reconnecting with the source from which everything has sprung

– Sri Sri Ravishankar