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Festival Profile

Sharad Navaratri

Nine nights of Goddess Durga, celebrated with devotion, dance and fasting.

All festivals

Navaratri means nine nights, devoted to Goddess Durga and her divine forms. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and the power of the Divine Mother.

Stories behind the festival

The origin is rooted in the Devi Mahatmya (part of the Markandeya Purana), describing the battle with Mahishasura, and in ancient harvest and seasonal worship of the Divine Mother.

According to the Devi Mahatmya, the goddess fought the buffalo-demon Mahishasura for nine days and nine nights, and on the tenth day, Vijayadashami, she defeated him. The nine nights honour the three goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
Devi Mahatmya / Markandeya Purana

Why we celebrate

Navaratri means nine nights, devoted to Goddess Durga and her divine forms. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and the power of the Divine Mother.
Devi Mahatmya / Markandeya Purana

When

Navaratri is celebrated twice a year — in Chaitra (spring) and Sharad (autumn, September–October). The autumn Sharad Navaratri is the most prominent, beginning on the first day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin.

Who celebrates / for whom

Navaratri is celebrated across India and by Hindus worldwide, with distinct regional traditions such as Garba and Dandiya in Gujarat, Durga Puja in Bengal, and Navaratri in South India.

Origin

The origin is rooted in the Devi Mahatmya (part of the Markandeya Purana), describing the battle with Mahishasura, and in ancient harvest and seasonal worship of the Divine Mother.
Devi Mahatmya / Markandeya Purana

Key deities

Goddess Durga and her nine forms (Navadurga), Goddess Lakshmi, and Goddess Saraswati.

How to celebrate

Observe fasts, perform daily puja of the goddess, recite Durga Saptashati or chant mantras, and in many regions perform Garba/Dandiya dances.

Rituals & offerings

Kalash sthapana (pot installation) at the start, worship of the nine forms on each night, kanya puja (worship of young girls) on the eighth/ninth day, and immersion on the tenth.

Key facts

Each of the nine nights is dedicated to a different form of the goddess. Vijayadashami, the tenth day, is also celebrated as Dussehra.
Devi Mahatmya / Markandeya Purana