Celebrating Navaratri in India

It’s not uncommon for the changing of the seasons to be a time of celebration in many parts of the world, and India is no exception. Of the many festivals on the Indian calendar, one of the most important heralds the transition from summer to autumn – it’s called Sharad Navaratri.

There are actually more Navaratri celebrations at different times of the year, but the biggest is Sharad Navaratri (also called Sharana or Sharada Navaratri) held in what is usually late September and early October. The date varies from year to year because it’s on the Hindu calendar – it’s always good to check what the dates are for the current year’s Navaratri festivities, but as an advance planning rule you can count on it being a fall festival.

>> In 2011, Sharad Navaratri is from September 28 through October 6.

>> Learn more about cheap flights to India and domestic flights in India if you want to check out multiple celebrations in different parts of the country.

Sharad Navaratri lasts for nine nights, finishing with what’s known as a Dussehra on the tenth and final day of the festival. Throughout the Navaratri festival the focus is on dancing – every night there are traditional dances performed, and in some larger cities there are more modern displays of dancing. Night clubs in big cities become places of Navaratri celebrations during the festival, as club-goers interpret the traditional festival with a new flair – it’s disco, but it’s a little different.

Navaratri is celebrated in different ways depending on where you are in India. Some places set up intricate displays of idols (called Golu), some places decorate their temples and bring the idols outside to be worshipped, and in the state of Kerala it’s books that get worshipped.

The final day of Sharad Navaratri is the Dussehra, symbolizing the triumph of Lord Rama over the evil king Ravana, and although there are diffrences in how the Dussehra is celebrated throughout India one element that’s common to many places is the burning of Ravana effigies. Some places also include huge parades and dance performances before the effigy of king Ravana is burned.

While Navaratri is celebrated in cities and towns throughout India, the largest and most spectacular celebrations typically take place in Western India.

photo by wildxplorer