The aroma of divinity, the continuous chanting of Mantra, the environment bathed in religious passion, the temple bells and arti echoes at dawn all captivate the spirit. This is the time to celebrate “Navratri,” one of India’s most colorful festivals in which the Goddess of Power is invoked. There are some amazing places to go for Navratri 2021 which you should not miss.
The Navratri festival is dedicated to Maa Durga and is celebrated with zeal in the month of “Ashwin.” According to the English calendar, the pious Ashwin month is dedicated between September and October, which is the time to welcome the winter season.
During Navratri, the air is filled with floral aromas, making devotees feel the eternal happiness bestowed by Maa Durga. The celebration is widely celebrated across the country. The vibrant vibes of Sharad Navratri are all set to greet Maa Durga for 10 beautiful days across the country this year, just as they do every year.
This year, Maa Durga is riding an elephant, implying that there will be plenty of rain for harvesting. Farmers growing a diverse range of crops are thought to be a good omen from a religious standpoint. The “Kalasthapan” rite will kick off the festival on October 11th, and the Ravan-Dahan ceremony will conclude on October 15th.
So get ready to feel the beat of this celebration as it makes its way across India. Taking a religious vacation to these places during Navratri can help people appreciate India’s vibrant culture. In honor of these ten days of festivities, it’s time to celebrate and reunite with our families.
1. Kolkata
Without a doubt, Kolkata is one of the best places to celebrate Navratri. During Navratri, enormous statues of Goddess Durga can be found in every corner of West Bengal, guarded by elaborately decorated pandals. The Navratri festival in Kolkata is popularly known as Durga Pooja or Durgotsav.
The pandal is filled with a constant buzz of religious chants. It commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, the shape-shifting buffalo demon who could not be defeated by any man or god. Rituals are performed to commemorate the day when the eyes of the idols are drawn.
The local folklores believe that during the span of 9 days goddess pays them the visit much like a married woman pays the visit to the paternal home for a holiday. Kolkata is known for its embellished pandals, which are constructed on the roadside. Pandals are beautifully painted and resemble a rural tent made of bamboo. Pandal surfing is only one aspect of the celebrations. You can also pay a visit to the artisans and see how they create these magnificent statues. You should definitely check out these 12 must-visit temples in Kolkata for the spiritual you, to gain more insights about the Navratri culture.
The entire 9 days are filled with festivities and rituals. If you visit the pandal then you should not miss the scrumptious delicacies which are often served as a prasad to all the guests. Some of the best places to visit pandals in Kolkata are Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Birbhum, and Bankura. The markets will be brimming with souvenirs and ceremonial items. Make an effort to visit the street market and do shopping.
2. Ahmedabad
Gujarat’s Navratri is the world’s longest traditional dance festival and it is one of the prime places to go for Navratri 2021. Gujarati people gather to show off their best moves while dancing to dandiya and Garba tunes in brightly colored clothes embellished with mirrors, buttons, and needlework.
The traditional dance style ras Garba is thought to have originated with Lord Krishna and his Gopis. On occasion, it is even done with dandiya (small wooden cylindrical sticks).
Over the nine days of Navratri, the goddesses Durga’s might, Lakshmi’s prosperity, and Saraswati’s intelligence are all celebrated equally. To make your Navratri vacation more exciting, you should not miss out on these 12 spectacular places to visit near Ahmedabad for one day.
3. Varanasi
Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, is one of India’s holiest cities, and it goes all out to celebrate the Navratri festival in grand style, that is why it is said to be one of the best places to celebrate Navratri. Thousands of diyas light up Varanasi’s ghats, and Ramcharitmanas chants reverberate throughout the city for ten days.
One of the most notable features of Navratri in Uttar Pradesh is the performance of Ramleela, a traditional play expressing the climax of the mythological epic Ramayana. To bring out the historical you, please check the 15 best things to do in Varanasi to understand its history.
While Maa Durga’s victory over evil is celebrated for nine days during Navratri, Lord Ram’s victory over Ravana is celebrated on the tenth day (Dussehra) with the burning of massive effigies.
4. Mysore
One of the main reasons to visit Karnataka during Navratri is to see the Mysore Royal Palace, which is illuminated with thousands of lights. Dasara, also known as the Nadahabba festival, is a ten-day festival that includes music and dance performances at various auditoriums throughout Mysore, Karnataka.
The events are only open to well-known and emerging performers. The ceremonial parade on the last day of Navratri is the most anticipated of all the festivities. During this Dussehra parade, an idol of the goddess Chamundeshwari is carried around on the back of a decorated elephant.
There are elephants, camels, and horses in the procession, as well as dance groups, music bands, and adorned tableaux. If you want to rejoice and reunite with your family and enjoy the festive vibe then Mysore is amongst the prime places to go for Navratri 2021. Start tick marking your place check, you should visit 19 popular places to visit in Mysore on your next trip.
5. Bastar
Visit Bastar in Chhattisgarh to celebrate Navratri in the traditional way. Unlike any other region in India, the Bastar district celebrates Navratri or Dussehra as the time when their native goddess Devi Mavli meets her other sisters. During the 75-day festival, deities from neighboring towns visit the Danteshwari Temple in Jagdalpur.
The deities are moved in chariots constructed by local artisans using ancient techniques. If you want to rejoice and reunite with your family and enjoy the festive vibe then Bastar is amongst the prime places to go for Navratri 2021.
Thousands of pilgrims and priests visit Jagdalpur’s Danteshwari Temple to worship the local deities. Chariots are used to purchase idols in a religious procession. The chariot is built by local artisans using traditional tools. The procession takes place between Bastar and Jagdalpur. Bastar is amongst the best places to celebrate Navratri.
6. Mumbai
Mumbai, Maharashtra, has evolved into a city where people of various cultures coexist. If you travel throughout the city, you will be able to see various types of Navratri celebrations, which makes Mumbai the best place to celebrate Navratri. From Durga Puja to traditional Garba dance, everything happens in Mumbai. As you walk down the streets, you’ll notice pandals with massive idols of the goddess Durga.
Mumbai’s nights are musical, with people dressed in colorful outfits flanking the grounds and music filling the streets. On Vijaydashmi, the effigies of Ravana, the ten-headed demon, are burned, the burning of giant effigies of Ravana to commemorate Lord Ram’s victory over evil. When you are coming to Mumbai, you should check on these 27 iconic places to visit in Mumbai.
The festival concludes with a good note symbolizing the end of evil and the beginning of good. If you want to rejoice and reunite with your family and enjoy the festive vibe then Mumbai is amongst the prime places to go for Navratri 2021.
7. Vijaywada
If you want to rejoice and reunite with your family and enjoy the festive vibe then Vijaywada is amongst the prime places to go for Navratri 2021. Tens of thousands of worshippers flock to Vijayawada during Navratri. Head to Kanaka Durga Temple, where a variety of events are held, to soak up the festive atmosphere. Please check out the 10 most interesting places to visit in Vijaywada to make your Navratri vacation a bit more insightful.
It’s a joy to see the temple’s primary god dressed in various forms every day. Because it is located on the banks of the Krishna River, the majority of devotees rush to the waters to take a holy dip. Another location in Vijayawada where you can see the celebrations is the Mangalagiri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple.
8. Kullu Manali
Kullu celebrates Navratri in a distinctive manner. Without a doubt, Kullu is one of the best places to celebrate Navratri. The Kullu Dussehra festival lasts seven days and commemorates Lord Ram’s victory over the demon Ravana. During this time, around 200 deities from neighboring towns and villages are paraded to Kullu’s Raghunathji Temple.
Among the goddesses depicted here is Manali’s legendary goddess Hadimba. The ceremony concludes with the burning of a pile of wood, symbolizing Ravana’s mythological realm, Lanka. If you are coming to Manali then you should not go back without filling up shopping bags. To know more, you can discover the 6 best shopping places in Manali.
9. New Delhi
If you’re in Delhi during Navratri, head to Ramlila Maidan. This is the location of all events. If you want to rejoice and reunite with your family and enjoy the festive vibe then Delhi is amongst the prime places to go for Navratri 2021.
Many Garba and dandiya nights are held in the Indian capital, and a large number of young people attend. Many Ramleela plays are also performed throughout the city to entertain children and the elderly. You must not miss the spectacular event of burning Ravana’s effigies on Dussehra.
10. Coorg
Durga Puja is celebrated as a massive carnival in the Indian state of Karnataka. This vibrant carnival is also known as the Mariamma festival. The Pandavs’ wife, Draupadi, is honored with traditional dance. There is also a parade in which gods, goddesses, and evils are depicted in theatre.
This massive event is still going on, and the Haaleri kings’ power has a fascinating history. If you want to rejoice and reunite with your family and enjoy the festive vibe then Coorg is amongst the prime places to go for Navratri 2021. You should definitely check 15 mesmerizing places to visit in Coorg, Scotland of India.
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