In India, you will find diversity in everything: food, culture, clothing, and language. You can witness diversity even in festivals regarding their ways of celebrations and rituals. One such festival is Navratri, which is celebrated in every state of India but in its own unique way.
Navratri is a Sanskrit term that means nine nights and is celebrated for nine consecutive days. In Navratri, we worship nine different forms of Mother Goddess Durga; each day is dedicated to a particular form of Durga. Navratri also offers a great opportunity for us to rejuvenate and detoxify ourselves with intermittent fasting, chantings, pujas, and meditation.
In this article, we will discuss how Navratri is celebrated in different states of India. If you are looking for an online booking for Navratri Puja, allow Online Temple to help you get in touch with expert pandits. You can enjoy blessings and protection from the almighty with soulful puja and mesmerizing chants.
Gujarat
Gujaratis love the occasion of Navratri. In Gujarat, the devotees fast for nine days and dedicate their prayers and worship to the Divine Mother Durga. Each evening, they light diyas inside an earthen pot known as ‘Garbi,’ and women perform aarti with it. Garbi with diyas symbolizes a womb with a precious life in it. They also perform Dandiya and Garba dances with their loved ones wearing traditional attires.
Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, devotees worship Goddess Durga, Saraswati, and Lakshmi for three days each on the occasion of Navratri. They also decorate ‘Kolu,’ a little staircase with nine steps. Each step of Kolu is decorated in respect of a particular day of Navratri. Kolu is decorated with miniature idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, and these idols are passed down in the family from their forefathers.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh also has something similar to Kolu, which is named ‘Batukamma Panduga.’ They design flower stacks known as ‘Batukamma’ using beautiful seasonal flowers. Women wear new sarees, jewellery and perform puja to honour the Devi Shakti for these nine days. On the last day of Navratri, they set the Batukkamas afloat in a river.
Himachal Pradesh
Unlike other states, Devotees in Himachal Pradesh start their celebration of Navratri on the tenth day. The tenth day is known as Kullu Dussehra. Kullu Dussehra was the day when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravan and completing his fourteen years of exile. Mother Durga is also worshipped on this day. You can witness heavy crowds in the famous Devi temples of Kangra, Una, and Bilaspur.
Kerala
In Kerela, the last three days are wholeheartedly dedicated to Mother Goddess Saraswati. The people of India’s most literate state offer gratitude to Goddess Saraswati for their ability to learn, their knowledge, and wisdom. Devotees place books and musical instruments in front of Goddess Saraswati’s idol and perform puja. They take the books back on the last day and indulge in reading.
Karnataka
Karnataka still follows its history of celebrating Navratri, known as “Nadda Habba.” They have been following the same tradition since 1610, when the Great Vijayanagara Dynasty was active. They carry out elephant processions on streets and organize fairs and exhibitions in several places.
Punjab
The devotees in Punjab keep fast for the first seven days of Navratri, and break their fast during the last two days. On the last day, they invite nine little girls and a boy from their locality to their home to worship them and feed them with homemade food and sweets. They also celebrate ‘Jagratas’, in which they sing bhajans and dance throughout the night to praise Devi Shakti.
The diversity of India can also be seen in such an auspicious festival. Every ritual and tradition from each state has its own meaning, beauty, and charm. Navratri is a wonderful time of the year and brings a lot of positive values to the life of the devotees. Online Temple makes it easy for you to book hawan & yagna service online from expert pandits who hold a high level of vedic knowledge.
Also Read: Fasting on Navratri: Major Spiritual and Physical Benefits