Navratri 2025 Must-Know: Durga Puja, Garba Nights & More

Navratri 2025 is here with nine nights of devotion and celebration. Think Durga Puja pandals in Bengal, Garba beats in Gujarat and temple rituals down South.

Here’s everything you need to know about dates, colours and traditions.

Navratri is the festival of nine nights, literally “Nav = nine, Ratri = nights.” It is the official name you will see in calendars or temple rituals.

But across India, people call it differently and celebrate with their own focus. The names may change, the vibe stays the same. Same goddess, different vibes, one big celebration.

In daily life, you are more likely to hear people say Durga Puja in Bengal, Garba Nights in Gujarat or Golu / Bommai Golu in South India.
Navratri may be the official name, but practically everyone has their own version.

Why is Navratri nine days long?

Legend says that Goddess Durga fought the buffalo demon Mahishasura for nine nights and ten days. Each day she appeared in a different form, known as the Navadurga.

On the tenth day, called Vijayadashami, she finally defeated the demon. That is why the festival is called Navratri, a remembrance of those nine nights of battle.

Mahishasura had received a boon from the gods that made him nearly invincible. He created chaos across the three worlds, and no single deity could stop him.

So the gods combined their powers to create a new warrior, Goddess Durga. Riding a lion and armed with divine weapons, she revealed nine different forms during the battle.

These are what we know as the Navadurga, the nine forms of Durga:

• Day 1 → Shailaputri
• Day 2 → Brahmacharini
• Day 3 → Chandraghanta
• Day 4 → Kushmanda
• Day 5 → Skandamata
• Day 6 → Katyayani
• Day 7 → Kalaratri
• Day 8 → Mahagauri
• Day 9 → Siddhidatri

When is Navratri 2025?

In 2025, the Sharad Navratri will be celebrated from September 22 (Monday) to October 1 (Wednesday).
The tenth day, October 2 (Thursday), is observed as Vijayadashami / Dussehra, marking the triumph of good over evil.

Each of the nine days of Navratri is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga, known as the Navadurga, and every day also carries a symbolic colour. Devotees often dress according to the day’s colour and perform rituals for the corresponding goddess form, making the festival both spiritual and vibrant.

Check the Navratri 2025 Colours With Date

During Navratri, devotees often dress in the day’s colour and even prepare offerings or sweets in the same shade to honor the goddess.

How India Celebrates Navratri

At its core, Navratri is all about devotion to Goddess Durga. Across India, the vibe is basically “prayers by day, party by night.”

In the mornings, people perform puja for Durga, chanting, lighting lamps, preparing offerings and showing devotion. During this time, many also choose fasting, eating only fruits and milk or completely avoiding grains and meat until the ninth day ends. Nine days of fasting takes off the calories, Garba nights make sure they never come back.😅

By evening, the mood flips into celebration. Streets, community grounds and temple courtyards come alive with music, dances and festivities.

The fun part is that Navratri does not look the same everywhere. Each region has its own style and vibe, and up next we will check out how East, West, South and North India each bring their own flavor to the festival.

East India – Bengal & Odisha

In East India, especially Bengal, Navratri is almost synonymous with Durga Puja. The celebrations here are on a carnival scale.

• Pandal decorations: temporary artistic temples built on the streets
• Grand processions: drums and dances fill the streets
• Immersion ritual: on the final day, idols of the goddess are carried to the river for visarjan

West India – Gujarat & Maharashtra

The most famous part of West India is Gujarat’s Garba and Dandiya Raas. At night, the grounds turn into dance arenas, and everyone dresses up in dazzling traditional outfits.

• Garba dance: Large circles of devotees dancing around the goddess’s symbol
• Dandiya stick dance: Pairs performing rhythmic strikes with decorated sticks
• Citywide vibe: Celebrations often go on with dancing until late at night or even dawn

North India – Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal

In North India, Navratri is closely tied to Ramlila plays and Dussehra. The festival is not just about worshipping the goddess, but also about drama, fireworks, and big community gatherings.

• Ramlila plays: Reenactments of Rama’s epic battle against Ravan
• Dussehra fireworks: Burning of giant effigies of Ravan
• Community carnival: Markets, prayers, and family get-togethers

South India – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra

In South India, Navratri is marked by a quieter and more devotional vibe, with the famous Bommai Golu (doll display on steps).

• Golu doll display: Families arrange rows of dolls to depict mythological stories
• Gift culture: Visiting neighbors, exchanging sweets and small gifts
• Music & rituals: Traditional songs, dance, and temple ceremonies go hand in hand

FAQs about Navratri 2025