Navratri which translates into ‘Nine Nights’ is one the most glorious festivals of Gujarat that is celebrated enthusiastically each year. It is the one celebrated with much pomp and essence which is dedicated to the Goddess Durga along with her nine forms. Here we have music and dance combined and celebrated into a festival of spiritual and cultural significance which draws people from all over the world to come and experience the festivity.
The Cultural Significance of NavratriNavratri is purely a cultural and religious event. It symbolizes the defeat of the evil forces and celebration of the win of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. Every day of the festival is dedicated to different forms of Durga and on the festival days, people wake up early, take fast, offer prayers and perform rituals. Culture of Gujarat is such that it gets inclined towards celebrations and thus these nine days become important. SACD is an annual Harvest Festival held towards the end of September or the beginning of October in correspondence with the lunar calendar.
Garba and Dandiya: The Main Attraction Of NavratriThe two most popular and attractive dance forms Navratri festival in Gujarat are Garba and Dandiya Raas. Garba is a dance featuring twisting and turning around a deity and it’s a form of worship. Dandiya, on the other hand, is a nice dance form which is done holding sticks in their hands representing the fight between Durga and Mahishasura.
Garba Nights:Through the colorful and glamorous lehenga cholis and kediyu, gathered people dance to Garba forms inside large and open halls known as pandals. The music is rhythmic and played on traditional instruments, which results in a charged up feeling.
Dandiya Raas:In the later hours the ‘Dandiya Raas’ begins in which dancers move sticks in coordination with the flow of folk music figures. It is festive and people-oriented with members of the community across the generations responding to it well.
Experience Navratri with Gujarat TripsIf you are thinking to indulge more in the cultural aspects of the Gujarat state especially during Navratri festival, Gujarat Trips provides an organized tour package so that one does not miss anything important. Whether you want to shake a leg in Garba nights or want to wander lost in the artistic pandals, Gujarat Trips takes all your burdens.
Contact Gujarat Trips Now● Customized packages including the premier Garba locations.
● We have guides who give directions about the Navratri festival along with the traditions related to it.
● We offer a good place to stay and good arrangements of transport.
We help you plan the best Navratri vacation. Gujarat Trips offers you an amazing Navratri, where you can explore true devotion, cultural splendidness, and happiness.
Navratri is a Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, celebrating her victory over the demon Mahishasura. In Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with great enthusiasm, with nine nights of dance, fasting, prayers, and cultural activities, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
Navratri generally falls in September or October, depending on the Hindu lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated for nine nights, leading up to Dussehra (Vijayadashami), which marks the conclusion of the festivities.
The main attraction of Navratri in Gujarat is the traditional dance forms, particularly Garba and Dandiya, which are performed all over the state. The vibrant celebrations also feature religious rituals, music, and cultural events. Major cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Gandhinagar host grand Garba nights.
Garba is a traditional dance performed in a circular pattern, where dancers clap, move in sync with the rhythm of the music, and offer prayers to Goddess Durga. Dandiya is a similar dance but performed with colorful sticks (dandiyas) that are clashed together in time with the music. Both are key components of Navratri celebrations in Gujarat.
Yes, even smaller towns and villages in Gujarat celebrate Navratri with immense devotion and enthusiasm. While the celebrations may not be as grand as in larger cities, they are deeply rooted in local traditions, and you can enjoy authentic cultural experiences in these areas.
Ahmedabad ➝ Dwarka ➝ Porbandar ➝ Somnath ➝ Diu ➝ Sasan Gir ➝ Virpur & Gondal ➝ Ahmedabad.
