Gods such as Ganesha, Kartikeya, Shiva, and Parvati are regionally revered. The festivities extend beyond goddess Durga and various other goddesses such as Saraswati and Lakshmi. In many regions, the festival falls after the autumn harvest, and in others, during harvest. The exact dates of the festival are determined according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, and sometimes the festival may be held for a day more or a day less depending on the adjustments for sun and moon movements and the leap year. The festival is celebrated for nine nights once every year during this month, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October. It commences on the first day ( pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvini. Sharada Navaratri is the most celebrated of the four Navaratri, named after Sharada which means autumn. The celebrations vary by region, leaving much to the creativity and preferences of the Hindu. In all cases, Navaratri falls in the bright half of the Hindu lunisolar months. Of these, the Sharada Navaratri near autumn equinox (September–October) is the most celebrated and the Vasanta Navaratri near spring equinox (March–April) is the next most significant to the culture of the Indian subcontinent. Dates Īccording to some Hindu texts such as the Shakta and Vaishnava Puranas, Navaratri theoretically falls twice or four times in a year. During this time preparations also take place for Diwali (the festival of lights) which is celebrated twenty days after Vijayadashami. On the final day, called Vijayadashami, the statues are either immersed in a water body such as a river or ocean, or the statue symbolising the evil is burnt with fireworks, marking the destruction of evil. Hindu devotees often celebrate Navaratri by fasting. The nine days are also a major crop season cultural event, such as competitive design and staging of pandals, a family visit to these pandals, and the public celebration of classical and folk dances of Hindu culture. Celebrations Ĭelebrations include worshipping nine goddesses during nine days, stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, and chanting of the scriptures of Hinduism. In all cases, the common theme is the battle and victory of good over evil based on a regionally famous epic or legend such as the Devi Mahatmya. In southern states, the victory of Durga or Kali is celebrated. In the eastern and northeastern states of India, the Durga Puja is synonymous with Navaratri, wherein goddess Durga battles and emerges victorious over the buffalo demon Mahishasur to help restore dharma. The word Navaratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. 4.1 Eastern India, West Bengal and Nepal.