How Is Navratri Celebrated in Different Parts of India?

Navratri in India is one of the most cherished festivals, symbolising the triumph of good over evil and the worship of Goddess Durga in her nine divine forms. Over nine nights, it unites communities in devotion, dance, music, and vibrant cultural expressions across the country. In 2025, Navratri will be celebrated from September 22 to October 2, transforming the nation into a grand canvas of spirituality, colour, and celebration.

What makes Navratri truly special is its diversity. Garba nights light up the Gujarat Navratri Festival, Durga Puja pandals captivate West Bengal, Golu displays adorn Tamil Nadu, and Mysuru comes alive with royal Dasara processions.

With Club Mahindra resorts near these festive hubs, you can experience the best Navratri celebrations in India in their most authentic form.

Also Read: Durga Temples in India You Must Visit This Durga Pooja

In this blog

• Best Navratri Celebration in India: Festivities Across Different States
• Gujarat: The Land of Garba and Dandiya
• West Bengal: Durga Puja Magnificence
• Punjab: Jagrata and Kanjak Puja
• Tamil Nadu: Golu Displays and Classical Arts
• Karnataka: Mysuru Dasara Splendour
• Maharashtra: Ghatasthapana to Dassehra
• Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: Mountain Devotion
• Planning Your Navratri Experience with Club Mahindra

Best Navratri Celebration in India: Festivities Across Different States

Gujarat: The Land of Garba and Dandiya

When one thinks of the best Navaratri celebration in India, Gujarat’s infectious energy immediately comes to mind. For nine electrifying nights, the state transforms into a massive dance floor where devotion, music, and celebration come alive.

At its heart, the Gujarat Navaratri festival is a celebration of Goddess Durga and the cycle of life. Garba, performed in circles, symbolises creation, preservation, and dissolution. Each movement reflects the rhythm of the universe, connecting devotion with dance.

Puja and Rituals: Evenings begin with traditional aarti and offerings before the dances commence. Devotees also observe fasting, preparing meals with sabudana, kuttu flour, and singhara. These rituals, followed by community feasting, bring families and neighbourhoods together in devotion and celebration.

What Makes Gujarat’s Navratri Unique: Garba and Dandiya form the vibrant soul of Gujarat’s Navratri. Garba, danced in circles around a lamp or goddess idol, reflects the eternal cycle of life with graceful, rhythmic steps. Dandiya Raas adds festive energy as pairs strike decorated sticks in harmony. Together, they create enchanting nights of devotion, unity, and cultural celebration.

Celebrate with Club Mahindra: Feel the electrifying spirit of Navratri as Ahmedabad becomes the epicentre of Garba and Dandiya nights. Stay at resorts in Ahmedabad, such as Club Mahindra Kensville Golf Resort, for the Garba events in Ahmedabad, or choose resorts in Gujarat, like Club Mahindra Gir and Club Mahindra Netrang, for a peaceful retreat.

West Bengal: Durga Puja Magnificence

Navratri in India’s West Bengal is celebrated as Durga Puja, where Goddess Durga is revered as the supreme force who triumphs over evil. Worshipped with her children—Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartik—she embodies strength, wisdom, and prosperity, making this festival a profoundly spiritual and cultural experience.

Durga Puja marks the victory of the goddess over Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The last four days—Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami—are considered most sacred, with elaborate rituals, chanting of mantras, and devotional music filling the air. Families and communities come together, reinforcing Bengal’s cultural and religious identity as home to the best Navratri celebration in India.

Pujas and Rituals: Rituals such as the Dhunuchi dance, performed to the beats of the dhak with incense-filled pots, create an intense spiritual atmosphere. On Vijayadashami, Sindoor Khela sees married women in white sarees with red borders smearing vermillion, celebrating feminine power and marital harmony. The immersion or Visarjan of the idols marks an emotional farewell, with devotees promising her to return next year.

What Makes West Bengal’s Durga Puja Unique: Widely regarded as one of the best Navratri in India, Kolkata’s Durga Puja stands out for its spectacular, artistic pandals that blend creativity with devotion. Traditional Raj Bari festivities preserve Bengal’s royal heritage, offering a timeless glimpse into cultural grandeur and rituals unmatched anywhere else.

Celebrate with Club Mahindra: While there are no Club Mahindra resorts in West Bengal, you can seize this festive season to travel further east. Experience the cultural vibrance of Durga Puja in Kolkata and then extend your journey to the hills of Sikkim. Stay at Club Mahindra’s hill resorts in Sikkim, like Club Mahindra Gangtok and Le Vintuna Gangtok, for a memorable festive retreat.

Punjab: Jagrata and Kanjak Puja

Among the many ways Navratri is celebrated in India, Punjab adds its unique warmth, devotion, and inclusive spirit. The festival is marked by soulful jagratas, devotional singing, and the sacred tradition of Kanjak Puja, bringing communities together in faith and service.

Navratri in Punjab is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her divine feminine energy, symbolising purity, devotion, and respect for women as embodiments of the goddess. Families uphold centuries-old customs while blending them seamlessly with Sikh values of seva (selfless service), giving Punjab a special place in the best Navratri celebration in India.

Pujas and Rituals: The celebrations begin with jagrata, where devotees stay awake through the night singing bhajans and performing aarti before beautifully adorned idols of the goddess. The highlight comes on Ashtami and Navami with Kanjak Puja, where young girls are worshipped as divine embodiments of Durga. Their feet are washed, a tilak applied, and sacred moli tied on their wrists before they are served a traditional feast of puri, chole, and halwa. Gurdwaras also organise langars, offering simple, vegetarian meals prepared without onion or garlic, reinforcing the values of community service and unity.

Celebrate with Club Mahindra: Experience the festive journey with a stay at Club Mahindra Fortune Ranjit Vihar, Amritsar. One of the finest resorts in Punjab, it offers modern comforts, warm hospitality, and easy access to the city’s cultural and spiritual landmarks, making your holiday truly memorable.

Also Read: A Guide to Gujarat’s Festive Gala – Navratri!

Tamil Nadu: Golu Displays and Classical Arts

Tamil Nadu’s Navratri celebrations are a beautiful blend of tradition, culture, and devotion. Known for their elegance and refinement, they highlight the state’s deep-rooted heritage through Golu displays, classical arts, and meaningful rituals observed across households and communities.

Navratri here is dedicated to honouring Goddess Durga in her various forms while also giving special importance to Goddess Saraswati. The festival reflects devotion, prosperity, and the passing down of traditions, with families preparing spiritually and culturally for nine sacred nights.

Pujas and Rituals: The highlight of Tamil Nadu’s Navratri is the Golu display, where dolls and figurines are arranged on stepped platforms. These narratives tell stories from mythology, village life, and social themes, transforming homes into miniature cultural showcases. Evenings see women visiting each other, exchanging kumkum, flowers, and sundal—a nutritious legume-based dish. The Saraswati Puja on the ninth day involves worshipping books, instruments, and tools of learning, while Vijayadashami is marked as an auspicious day for new beginnings.

What Makes Tamil Nadu’s Celebration Unique: What sets Tamil Nadu apart is its artistic touch. Carnatic music concerts, Bharatanatyam recitals, and small cultural gatherings during Navratri make it a time when classical arts flourish alongside devotion, creating a festive yet refined atmosphere.

Celebrate with Club Mahindra: After experiencing the festivities and cultural grace in Tamil Nadu, unwind at the finest resorts in Tamil Nadu like Club Mahindra Danish Villa Ooty, Club Mahindra Derby Green Ooty, or Le Poshe Kodaikanal. These hill resorts in Tamil Nadu combine scenic beauty with warm hospitality, making your festive holiday truly special.

Also Read: Durga Pujo in Kolkata- Important Days, Worships, and the Rituals

Karnataka: Mysuru Dasara Splendour

Karnataka elevates Navratri in India to royal grandeur with the world-famous Mysuru Dasara. This 10-day festival, rooted in the 400-year-old Wadiyar dynasty, blends devotion, heritage, and spectacle, drawing thousands of visitors from across the country and beyond.

The festival honours Goddess Chamundeshwari, the guardian deity of Mysuru, who represents the victory of good over evil. Her worship at the Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hills forms the spiritual centre of the celebrations, where devotees gather to seek blessings.

Pujas and Rituals: Navratri begins with the dazzling illumination of the Mysuru Palace, glowing with thousands of lights. Daily offerings to the goddess, rituals around the royal throne, and cultural performances lead up to Vijayadashami, which culminates with the grand Jumbo Savari procession—caparisoned elephants, folk dancers, and music troupes parading through the streets.

What Makes It Unique: Renowned as one of the best Navratri celebrations in India, Mysuru Dasara combines regal pageantry with deep devotion. From Yakshagana and Dollu Kunitha performances to Channapatna doll exhibitions and food festivals featuring Mysore pak, holige, and bisi bele bath, it is celebrated on a spectacular scale. Its heritage and splendour secure its place among the best Navratri in India.

Celebrate with Club Mahindra: Stay at the heart of the festival with Club Mahindra. One of the best resorts in Karnataka, the Golden Landmark Associate Club Mahindra Resort, Mysore, offers the perfect base to experience the grandeur of Mysuru Dasara up close.

Maharashtra: Ghatasthapana to Dassehra

Maharashtra’s Navratri celebrations beautifully combine home-based rituals with vibrant community gatherings. From small towns to bustling cities, devotion blends seamlessly with cultural festivities, creating an inclusive environment where ancient traditions adapt to modern urban life.

The festival begins with Ghatasthapana, the installation of a sacred kalash filled with water, coconut, and mango leaves, symbolising the goddess’s divine presence. Barley or wheat seeds sown around it grow into green shoots called “garbo,” later distributed as prasad on Dassehra, signifying prosperity and new beginnings.

Pujas and Rituals: The best Navratri celebration in Maharashtra is the Gondhal tradition, where performers narrate stories of the goddess through songs, dance, and dramatic presentations, keeping oral traditions alive. In cities like Mumbai and Pune, housing societies organise daily aartis, bhajans, and even Garba nights, blending Gujarati influences with Maharashtrian customs. In villages, goddess idols are installed in squares, processions are held, and women perform folk games like zimma and fugdi, passing traditions to younger generations.

What Makes Maharashtra’s Celebrations Unique: The connection between Navratri and Dassehra is deeply symbolic here. Effigy burnings of Ravana link Goddess Durga’s triumph with Lord Ram’s victory, while Ramleela performances add theatrical charm. These traditions make the state’s festivities an integral part of the best Navratri in India, celebrated with devotion and dramatic flair.

Celebrate with Club Mahindra: After the vibrant festivities, unwind at premium resorts in Maharashtra such as Club Mahindra Tungi Lonavala, Club Mahindra Sherwood Mahabaleshwar, and Club Mahindra Alibaug. These resorts near Mumbai and Pune offer relaxation, top-notch amenities, and convenient access to Maharashtra’s finest tourist destinations.

Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: Mountain Devotion

The Navratri celebration in India’s Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand beautifully reflects the region’s mountain spirit. Ancient customs intertwine with nature worship, and festivals here are marked by devotion, folklore, and community gatherings that carry the essence of Himalayan culture and spirituality.

The best Navratri celebration in India’s Himalayan states is deeply tied to faith in local deities and temples. From Naina Devi in Bilaspur to Jwalaji in Kangra, devotees undertake pilgrimages, often trekking challenging routes as acts of penance and devotion. Bhandaras (community meals) at these shrines feed thousands, reinforcing values of service and equality.

Pujas and Rituals: One of the best Navratri celebrations in India, the Kullu Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami, when celebrations end elsewhere. Over 300 local deities, carried on palanquins, converge to honour Lord Raghunath, creating a divine spectacle. Rituals also include Kanya Puja, where young girls are worshipped and gifted clothes and food, and jagrana, night-long devotional singing that echoes through valleys.

What Makes These Celebrations Unique: Folk arts bring unmatched vibrancy: Himachal’s Nati dance unites communities, while Uttarakhand’s Langvir Nritya and Barada Nati showcase acrobatics and harvest joy. Local Ramlila performances, staged by villagers, add charm by blending devotion with humour and inclusivity in intimate settings, making them the perfect place to experience Navratri in India.

Celebrate with Club Mahindra: Stay at Club Mahindra resorts in Manali to be close to the vibrant Kullu Dussehra celebrations and soak in the cultural grandeur of the Himalayas. After immersing in this spiritual energy, unwind at resorts in Himachal Pradesh like Club Mahindra Dharamshala or Club Mahindra Shimla, or head to resorts in Uttarakhand such as Club Mahindra Kanatal and Club Mahindra Mussoorie. These mountain resorts in Himachal and Uttarakhand offer breathtaking views, premium amenities, and easy access to festive hubs, creating the perfect holiday blend of culture and comfort.

Planning Your Navratri Experience with Club Mahindra

Celebrate Navratri in India with Club Mahindra resorts that keep you close to the best Navratri celebrations in India. From the vibrant Garba event in Ahmedabad during the Gujarat Navratri Festival to the grandeur of Mysuru Dasara and the best Navratri celebration in Maharashtra’s Mumbai and Pune, every experience is unique.

With over 140 resorts across India and abroad, you can choose the perfect festive getaway that blends devotion, heritage, and leisure. To make every festival truly yours, invest in a Club Mahindra Membership. It ensures a lifetime of unforgettable holidays, access to exclusive cultural hubs, and the flexibility to celebrate Navratri in a new destination each year.

Conclusion

Navratri in India is more than a festival—it is a journey of devotion, dance, and tradition. The Garba event in Ahmedabad at the Gujarat Navratri Festival, the vibrant Durga Puja in West Bengal, the dazzling Mysuru Dasara in Karnataka, and the best Navratri celebration in Maharashtra, each region shines with their unique devotion and fervour. With Club Mahindra resorts, experience the best Navratri in India in comfort and authenticity.