Navratri Celebration, a nine-day festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, is one of the most celebrated festivals in India. It’s a time of great joy and enthusiasm, and people from all over the country come together to celebrate this festival.
FAMOUS PLACES FOR NAVRATRI CELEBRATION
Kolkata
Kolkata City in West Bengal is known to be famous for celebrating Navratri.
The last four days of Durga Puja are known to be auspicious for travellers, who tend to visit Kolkata during these days. Durga Puja in Kolkata has been inscribed on the Intangible cultural heritage list of UNESCO in December of 2021.
Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi in Uttar Pradeshis known for being among the best places in India to celebrate Navratri. For ten days from the beginning of the festival till Dussehra, the city remains a favorite haunt of holy seers and devotees. Ram Leela is an attraction of Navratri celebration in Varanasi. This is because of the huge Ram Leela performances that are showcased here to depict the Ramayana and its various events – right from Ram-Sita’s wedding to their exile to Sita’s abduction and Ravan Dahan.
Andhra Pradesh
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Nine forms of Rajarajeshwari are worshipped as Navadurga forms on the nine days of Navaratri at the famous Kanaka Durga Temple. The nine forms of God Rajarajeshwari are Swarna Kavachalankrita Durga, Bala Tripurasundari, Annapurna, Gayatri, Lalitha Tripura Sundari, Saraswati, Mahalakshmi and Durga.
Maharashtra:
Maharashtra, Yavatmal is known for its unique Navratri festival celebration, the whole city is known for organizing huge celebration events for Navratri. People in Maharashtra celebrate Navratri as a new beginning and buy something new for their homes. Also, women invite their friends to their homes and give them coconut, beetle nuts, and beetle leaves as gifts. Garbha and Dandiya nights are popular in almost every locality in the state of Maharashtra.
Telangana:
Telangana, Navaratri is celebrated as in the rest of India and it ends with Dasara. During the Navaratri nights, a notable Telangana tradition involves Telugu Hindu women making Bathukamma for Navaratri goddesses. Bathukamma celebrations will be started with the Pitru Amavasya, a day before Navaratri starts. The main deity of worship is the goddess Gowri, a form of goddess Durga.
Gujarat
Gujarat, One of the main highlights of Navratri celebrations in Gujarat is their traditional Navratri-special dance and garba. People wear traditional garba attires and perform a dance and dandiya. This is the only state that erupts into a nine-night dance festival. Each night, all over the state, villages and cities alike, people gather in open spaces to celebrate. They enact several mythological stories through their dances as well.
Karnataka
Karnataka, Mysore was once called ‘Mahishur,’ as it is believed to be the place where Goddess Chamundeshwari (a form of Durga) killed Mahishasura. Since then, the nine days of Mysore Dasara have been celebrated with much enthusiasm. The city of Mysore is known best for its opulent Dasara celebrations. Dasara is the most famous Mysore festival and lasts for ten days. Mysore Palace is one of the key attractions of Mysore Dasara Celebrations.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu,the nine-day Navaratri festival honouring the Shakti or universal primordial force. It is celebrated uniquely by venerating successively three goddesses: Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. The first three days of the festival are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the next three days to Durga. And the last three days to Saraswati. The traditional dolls called Kolu or Golu are arranged at homes, shops, and temples.
Kerala
Kerala People prepare for Saraswati puja on Navaratri. In Kerala, three days (Ashtami, Navami, and Vijayadashami) of Sharada Navaratri are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja. in which books are worshipped sarasvati devi. The books are placed for Puja on Ashtami in their own houses and temples.
Hence, Navratri is celebrated differently in India’s various regions. For many people, it is a time of religious reflection and fasting, while for others it is a time for dancing and feasting.
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