Top Places to Visit During Navratri in India; Here's How Different States Celebrate It

सर्व स्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते। भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवी, दुर्गे देवी नमोस्तुते
O Devi, you exist in every form and are the embodiment of all powers. Please protect us from all fears. We bow down to you, O divine Goddess Durga. 

Navratri literally translates to ‘nine nights’, and is a period exuding auspiciousness and positive energies in the cosmos. During the Navratri celebration in India, people worship Durga, Kali, Saraswati, and Mahalakshmi, who grant fulfilment, abundance, happiness, and protection from obstacles and enemies. Navratri, which marks the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura, heralds renewal, new beginnings, and a period of immense growth. In the north, 9 days are celebrated as Shardiya Navratri, and Kola in South India.

During Durga Puja celebrations in India, Devi Durga is welcomed with great festive fervour, marked by unique traditions, diverse art forms, and cultural programs to honour nine forms of Adi Parashakti. The Shaktipeeth temples during Navratri welcome millions of devotees of Devi, who offer chunari, bhog, shringar, and immense devotion to seek blessings.

Unique Navratri celebrations across India

We celebrate Durga Puja with different fervour, all across the country; know about Navratri events, dandiya nights, and Durga Puja pandals, and unique celebrations of Durga Puja across India:

1. Navratri in East India (West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha)

The East Indian states come alive in the festive spirits of Durga Puja, a festival that’s ‘the pride of the East’, with preparations kicking off from Mahalaya, the day that marks the onset of Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal. During ‘Mahalaya’, the eyes of Goddess Durga are finally painted in the morning, which is known as ‘Chokkhu Daan’. Kolkata’s iconic Durga Puja pandals host celebrations on Saptami, Ashtami, Mahanavami, and Dussehra. In West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, and Bihar, Navratri is also known as Shardiya Pujo, Sharodotsab, and Maha Pujo. 

Explore: 51 Shaktipeeth packages

2. Navratri in North India (Delhi, U.P., Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, J&K)

Not just Bengal, but other states of India also revel in the 9-day festival, with diverse traditions and rituals. The grand festive spirits and cultural extravaganza of Durga Puja can be observed in the Northern states of India. In Delhi, Durga Puja Pandals are built temporarily, the streets and bazaars are all illuminated, welcoming the beginning of ‘Devi Paksha’. Devotees observe a 9-day fast for purification and to honour Maa. Durga Ashtami Pujan and Mahanavami celebrations are held everywhere in Northern India.

3. Navratri in West India (Gujarat & Maharashtra) 

Dandiya beats and the sounds of dhol will make you groove! Durga Puja celebrations in Gujarat and Maharashtra are more than just a puja or a festival; it’s almost like a cultural spectacle and a carnival of traditions that offers a glimpse into the cultural richness of Gujarat and Maharashtra. From pandal hopping to grand cultural performances, Durga Puja is another of the biggest festivals celebrated in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and other regions on a monumental scale. Gujarati women worship Garbo, an earthen pot which represents life in a womb. The effigies of Ravana are burnt on Vijaya Dashmi, the 10th day after Navratri celebration.

Read story: Navratri special: 51 Shaktipeethas of Maa Sati

4. Navratri in South India (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala) 

Durga Puja celebration in South India is quite colourful in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, during Mahanavmi, devotees worship Durga, Saraswati, and Laksmi. In Mysore, Navaratri is known as Nada habba; the Mysore Palace is illuminated with diyas. During Durga Puja in Kerala, people worship Goddess Saraswati, and the day is called Vidhya-Aarambham, while in Tamil Nadu, children display Golu (dolls) on a wooden structure. In Andhra Pradesh, it’s celebrated as Bathukamma Panduga; women immerse flowers in water bodies, and in Vishakhapatnam, idols of Devi Durga are sculpted and offered devotion, followed by regional puja procedures. 

Read Story: Shardiya Navaratri: Foods to Eat during Navratri for Detox and Purification

Durga Puja is the most auspicious period, in which you can experience the diverse cultural landscape of India, from traditions to creative expressions. Durga Puja brings together people in celebration of positivity and fulfillment.

Liked what you read? Explore the popular temples of Goddess Durga in Navratri with our Shaktipeeth tour packages; discover the cultural spectacle of Durga Puja in Delhi, Kolkata, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, like never before.