Navratri, one of the most important festivals for Hindus in India, by feasting and fasting and takes over normal life for millions of Hindus over nine nights.
During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and prosperity. Devotees avoid meat, alcoholic drinks, grains, wheat and onion during this fast. Indeed Navratri is a festival of
In North India, as the culmination of the Ramlila which is enacted ceremoniously during Dussehra, the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil forces on the 'Vijaya Dashami' day.
In the Punjab, Navaratri is known as Navratras or Naratey where the first seven days are for fasting. On the eighth day or Ashtami, devotees break their fasts by calling young girls home and these girls are treated as the goddess herself. They are
It is believed that the festival ushers in prosperity and positive energy.
Navaratri festival in Gujarat is one of the main festivals. Garba is a dance which people perform on all nine nights, after the Durga Pooja, in groups accompanied by live orchestra or devotional songs.
Hindu devotees queue outside the historical Kali Temple on the first day of the Navratri, or nine nights festival, in Jammu.
In Andhra, the festival is celebrated with the Bathukamma Panduga during the Navratri which was earlier this year adopted as the state festival, and is celebrated across the state of Telangana wherein large number of people, particularly women,
The Mysore Dasara is Nadahabba (state-festival) of state of Karnataka in South West India. According to legends, Mysore derives its name from Mahishasura, the demon who was slayed by the Goddess. The city of Mysore has a long tradition of
Dancers perform during a procession on the occassion of the first day of Navratri festival in Katra.
Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. The Dussehra of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh is particularly famous in the North. In pic, artists attired in traditional dresses perform during the Navratri festival celebrations at Katra,
The festival is celebrated as the triumph of good over evil. In pic a man applies make up on an artist as he prepares for a procession in Allahabad.