Navratri
Also called Navaratri, Sharad Navratri
Nine nights of dancing for the goddess Durga
What it is
September or October
Navratri means 'nine nights,' and it honors the goddess Durga in nine forms. Hindus believe Durga fought the buffalo demon Mahishasura for nine nights and won on the tenth day, called Dussehra or Vijayadashami. Every part of India does it a little differently.
How people celebrate
In Gujarat, people dance garba and dandiya raas in big circles late into the night.
Each day has its own color, and a lot of people match their outfits to it.
Many people fast or only eat certain foods for the nine days.
In North India, Ramlila plays act out the Ramayana, and big Ravana effigies get burned on Dussehra.
In South India, families set up golu, steps covered in dolls and little figures.
What people eat
- Sabudana khichdi
- Tapioca pearls cooked with peanuts and potato, a go-to fasting food.
- Kuttu ki puri
- Puffy fried bread made from buckwheat flour.
- Fafda and jalebi
- A crunchy gram flour snack with a syrupy sweet, eaten in Gujarat on Dussehra morning.
- Sundal
- A South Indian chickpea snack with coconut and curry leaves.
Did you know?
UNESCO added Gujarat's garba to its list of the world's cultural heritage in 2023.