Nine nights. Nine forms of the Goddess. One of the most joyful festivals in the Hindu calendar.
Navratri means nine nights in Sanskrit. The festival honors Goddess Durga in her nine manifestations, known as the Navadurga. Each night, devotees worship a different form of the Goddess: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.
The festival occurs four times a year, but the two most celebrated are Sharad Navratri in autumn and Chaitra Navratri in spring. Sharad Navratri, which falls before Dussehra and Diwali, is the most widely observed. It celebrates the Goddess victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
The tenth day after Navratri is Vijayadashami, also called Dussehra. Effigies of Ravana are burned across India. Good defeats evil. The cycle completes.
Navratri is inseparable from garba and dandiya raas. Garba is a circular dance performed around an image of the Goddess. Dancers move in rhythmic patterns, arms raised, feet stepping in perfect coordination. The dance can last for hours. Hundreds of people move together like one living thing.
Dandiya raas adds wooden sticks, which dancers click together in synchronized pairs. The costumes are spectacular: bright chaniya cholis for women, colorful kediyu for men. In Gujarat, where these traditions originate, Navratri garba events draw tens of thousands of participants every night for nine nights straight.
The Gujarati Hindu American community has turned Navratri into a national event. Large garba celebrations in cities like Edison, Chicago, Houston, and Fremont draw thousands of attendees. Convention centers fill with dancers. The music is live or amplified. The energy is electric.
For many Hindu Americans, Navratri garba is the social event of the year. Young professionals drive hours to attend. Families come in full traditional dress. Non-Hindu friends are welcomed. Learning to garba is its own rite of passage.
Fasting is also central to Navratri for many devotees. Common foods during the fast include sabudana khichdi, kuttu ki roti, and fresh fruit. Many Hindus observe partial or full fasts on some or all nine days as an act of devotion.
Each form of the Goddess represents a different aspect of divine feminine energy. Shailaputri is the daughter of the mountains. Brahmacharini embodies penance and devotion. Chandraghanta wears the crescent moon on her forehead. Kushmanda created the universe with her smile.
Skandamata is the mother of Kartikeya. Katyayani is the warrior form. Kalaratri is fierce and dark. Mahagauri is radiant and pure. Siddhidatri bestows blessings and fulfills wishes. Together, these nine forms encompass the full range of the Goddess power and grace.