Navratri is one of the most cherished and vibrant festivals in India, celebrated with lots of music, dancing, and devotion for nine days and nine nights.

The festival of Navratri is dedicated to the powerful Goddess Durga, who is worshipped in nine different forms over nine nights, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.

If you’re a parent looking to introduce your children to the magic of Navratri, you’re in for a delightful journey full of color, culture, and rich traditions.

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Navratri is a Hindu festival celebrated over nine nights and ten days, dedicated to worshiping Goddess Durga, a fierce form of the Divine Mother/Adi Shakti.

The word Navratri comes from Sanskrit, where “Nav” means nine, and “Ratri” means night.

Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one of Durga’s nine forms, collectively known as Navdurga.

Navratri symbolizes the victory of good over evil, with the goddess Durga representing the divine power that triumphs over the demons.

It is a celebration of women and empowerment in Hindu culture.

It is believed that during these nine days, Durga, riding a lion, fought the demon Mahishasura, who took the form of a buffalo bull, and vanquished him on the tenth day.

Navratri is also linked to the story of the Ramayana, in which Rama, a prince and an incarnation of Vishnu, defeats the demon Ravana in a fierce battle.

The tenth day of the battle in which Ravana is killed is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.

This Navratri, during which we celebrate the Navadurga, is known as Sharad Navratri.

Sharad Navratri is celebrated during the autumnal equinox in the Hindu month of Ashwin, which falls, according to the lunar calendar, at the end of September or beginning of October. 

Over these nine nights, people pray for strength, prosperity, and wisdom.

Did you know that there are four seasonal Navratris that are celebrated throughout the year!

Magh Navratri in January – February

Chaitra Navratri (Spring) – Celebrated in March or April, it coincides with the Hindu New Year and culminates with Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama.

Ashad Navratri in June – July

Sharad Navratri (Autumn) – This is the most celebrated Navratri, usually occurring in September or October. It culminates in Dussehra, marking the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama.

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Since the earliest time when farming began, people in different cultures gathered to thank god for the bountiful harvest.

Harvest festivals are connected with goddess worship because of the belief that the feminine aspect of the divine is responsible for good soil and crops.

Navratri is hence a time to honor the goddess both as a fighter of the demons of the human mind, but also as Mother Earth, who provides us with food.

Hence, when the Navratri celebrations in India started, they were connected to the time of the harvest during the year.

The Navadurgas can be seen as divine beings who fight evil and as the ruling spirits of edible plants like grains and different types of grams (legumes), and dals (lentil-like grains).

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This is an informative video about the story of Goddess Durga, and how and why she was created to kill the demon Mahishasura.

Note to Parents: Please watch the video before showing it to your children to make sure the content is appropriate for your child. The recommended age group for this video is 7 years and above.

This is the story that we all have grown up listening to. Mahishasura was a powerful demon who could not be defeated by any man or god. His arrogance led him to wreak havoc on Earth and in the heavens.

The gods then created Goddess Durga, a combination of their powers, to defeat him. After nine days of fierce battle, Durga finally killed Mahishasura, restoring peace.

That is why Durga is also known as Mahishasuramardini, or the slayer of Mahishasura, the buffalo demon.

The story is a means to understand that humans can overcome the demons in their minds. Durga conquers evil thoughts like passion and anger, desire, and ego.

She battles and defeats the ego, represented in the story by Mahishasura, and that is what we celebrate during Navratri.

This is especially relevant since it is our negative thoughts and tendencies that keep us from fully realizing our true potential and connecting to our true selves.

We all know about Rama and Ravana and have watched the serial Ramayana by Ramanand Sagar probably ten times by now, thanks to the Pandemic.

To do a refresher, the story goes that after being exiled, Rama, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, travels the land on foot and lives in the forests.

There, the demon Ravana kidnaps Sita, and Rama sets out to free Sita from Ravana’s palace in Lanka with the help of an army of bears and monkeys.

A great battle ensues, and a ten-day battle between Rama and Ravana ended in Ravana’s defeat.

The Ramayana, which is the story of Lord Rama, like the story of Durga and Mahishasura, is a story of the victory of good over evil.

It offers a perspective on how to overcome the struggles within one’s mind.

We have all grown up listening to the stories of Vishnu’s avatars (reincarnations).

These avatars are also models for how our conduct and behavior should be as humans. Rama was one such incarnation.

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The best way to teach children about Navratri is to involve them in the celebration.

Whether it’s through dance, stories, or simple rituals at home, you can make Navratri an exciting and meaningful time for your family.

Explain to them that Navratri is a celebration of strength, kindness, and the victory of good over evil—values they can carry with them all year long!

So, are you ready to celebrate Navratri with your little ones? Grab those Dandiya sticks, whip up some festival snacks, and let the celebrations begin!

Navratri is a Hindu festival that spans nine nights and is dedicated to worshiping the nine forms of Goddess Durga. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil, with each day focusing on a different avatar of the goddess.

Navratri is celebrated twice a year – once in spring (Chaitra Navratri) and once in autumn (Sharad Navratri). The most popular is Sharad Navratri, which usually falls in September or October, depending on the lunar calendar.

Fasting during Navratri is a spiritual practice that purifies the body and mind. It is believed to increase devotion and focus. People who fast usually consume light foods like fruits, nuts, and specific grains, avoiding heavy and processed meals.

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is the festival that marks the end of Navratri. It symbolizes the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana, representing the triumph of good over evil.

Garba and Dandiya Raas are traditional dance forms associated with Navratri.

Garba involves dancing in circles around a lamp or idol of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the cycle of life. Dandiya Raas is performed with decorated sticks and symbolizes the battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura.

1. https://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/Navaratri.html#tab4
2. https://thediversitymovement.com/understanding-respecting-hindu-holiday-navaratri/
3. https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/navratri/how-is-navratri-celebrated-in-different-parts-of-india