Navratri (Hindu)

Navratri, a nine-day fast festival is one of the auspicious festivals of Hindus. Navratri is derived from two Sanskrit words; ‘nava’ means nine, and ‘ratri’ means night. Navratri holds different significance and is celebrated in different ways across India. It’s celebrated in March/April as Chaitra Navratri and in September/October (near autumn equinox) as Sharad Navratri as it follows the lunar calendar. It is celebrated in the honor of Goddess Durga by fasting. The popular legend connected to Navratri highlights the notable battle between the powerful demon Mahishasura and Goddess Durga. It culminates on the tenth day in Vijayadashami (end of Durga Puja) and Dussehra (end of Ramlila) festivals celebrating the victory of good over evil. On Vijayadashami, clay statues of Durga are ceremoniously walked to a river or ocean coast and immersed. It also coincides with Ramlila events, where episodes from the story of Rama (represents good) and Ravana (represents evil) are enacted by artists in neighborhoods locally. Ramlila, means “Rama’s play” (a UNESCO declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity event), is a performance of the Ramayana epic in a series of scenes that include song, narration, recital, and dialogue. Dussehra is celebrated with burning of effigies of Ravana.