51黑料 Celebrates: Navratri
22 September - 2 October 2025 : Navratri (nine nights) is one of the most significant Hindu festivals. It symbolises the triumph of good over evil.
Navratri typically falls between September and October around harvest time and, as the name implies, this festival is celebrated for nine days. Navratri is also known as Durga Puja.
Navratri is celebrated in order to applaud and worship the goddess Durga. In Hindu mythology, Durga killed the demon Mahishasura over the course of a nine-night battle.
听
What is Navratri?
The festival of Navratri is a celebration that is carried out over the course of nine nights. This year, Navratri begins on Monday 22 September and ends on Thursday 2 October.听
Throughout the festival, a number of different traditional and religious practices are carried out. Different events take place on different days. Each day within the festival is represented by a different colour and each colour is referenced to a particular trait of Durga, the Hindu mother goddess.
The Navratri colours are listed below:
- Pratipada - Yellow
- Dwitiya - Green
- Tritiya - Grey
- Chaturthi - Orange
- Panchami - White
- Shashthi - Red
- Saptami- Royal Blue
- Ashtami - Pink
- Navmi 鈥� Purple
How is Navratri Celebrated?
During the festival of Navratri, people from cities and villages come together to perform Navratri Puja in their house or in shrines epitomising different manifestations of Goddess Durga. During this nine-day festival, chanting of mantras, renditions of bhajans or holy songs accompany the Navratri Puja rituals.
Many adults observe fasting during Navratri. The food of this festival tends to be vegetarian and made without grains, focusing instead on fruit, dairy and specific vegetables.
After sunset, some families will eat an elaborate meal. Other families only allow themselves water during the day and a simple meal in the evening.
There is also a number of traditional dances, including Garba. This involves clapping to music that gets increasingly louder. Also Raas, which involves hitting decorated wooden sticks together in time with the music.
Fascinating Facts
- 'Nav' means nine and 'ratri' means 'nights'.
- Each night of Navratri is dedicated to one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, known as Navdurga.
- Each form represents different aspects of life and virtues, from courage and wisdom to love and beauty.
- 'Garba' and 'Dandiya Raas' are the names of traditional dances performed during Navratri.
- 'Garba' is a graceful dance where participants dance in circles around a lamp or statue of Goddess Durga, symbolising the cycle of life.
- 'Dandiya Raas' is an energetic and fun dance which involves dancing with sticks ('dandiyas').
- Daily worship, or 'puja', is an essential part of Navratri. Families gather to perform 'aarti' (a holy ritual with songs and lamps) and offer prayers to Goddess Durga.
- Navratri is rich with stories and legends, such as the tale of Goddess Durga's battle against the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
- People decorate their homes with lights, flowers and colourful rangoli (intricate patterns made on the floor with coloured powders) to invite festive cheer and positivity to the home.
For more information:
Find out more . . .听
听
