INDIA, September 22, 2025 (RNS): Monday marked the start of Navaratri, a vibrant, nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to the Divine Feminine in all her forms. Hindus will dedicate rituals to the Goddess Durga — the “Mother Goddess” who embodies the feminine energy known as Shakti — in recognition of her victorious nine-day battle against the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. Some Hindus celebrate all nine of Durga’s manifestations, while others divide the holiday into three parts, dedicated to the triad of Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati — representing power, prosperity and wisdom, respectively. In all its iterations, Navaratri is seen as a time for men and women alike to recognize the role feminine power has played in their lives — the loving and compassionate caregiver, the steadfast and devoted supporter and the powerful and fierce protector.
And just as with most Hindu holidays, celebrations of Navaratri (which means “nine nights” in Sanskrit) will differ widely across Indian regions. In the western state of Gujarat, Navaratri is almost synonymous with Garba — the community folk dance that takes place in a circle around a clay lamp symbolizing the divine energy at the center of life. In some southern states, households create Golus, or tiered arrangements of dolls and figurines representing Deities and mythological scenes, that they share with their neighbors. In the north of India, many undergo a fast to deepen their spiritual practice and perform kanya puja for young girls. As for Bengalis in India’s east, Navaratri is the occasion for one of the region’s grandest festivals, Durga Puja, a community celebration when highly decorative Pandals, or temporary temples, are built to house elaborate statues of Durga and her family. At the end of the nine days comes Vijayadashami, also called Dussehra.
More at source.
https://religionnews.com/2025/09/22/what-is-navaratri-the-hindu-festival-of-nine-nights/
A daily summary of world news for Hindus and non-Hindus alike