October 15 started the nine-day festivities of the Hindu holiday Navratri. The name of this festival translates to “nine days and nine nights,” in Sanskrit. Each day, people celebrate a different female deity in Hinduism by fasting, conducting prayers and meditation, singing or even doing garba. 

“Garba” means womb and “dandiyas” are bamboo sticks. This dance has a specific style where it begins slow and becomes faster and louder and can last for hours on end. 

Navratri is celebrated throughout all of India in several ways. In Punjab, it is more common to fast and give gifts. 

“You cannot meditate if you are eating, this is why we fast. It is about discipline and control over yourself. The principles are science-based and take into account the changes that occur in your body during the day and night and over long periods of time,” said Yash Desai, regional director at the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). 

In the west in Gujarat, it is customary to do dandiya-Raas garba dances. 

“Gujarat is where the dance festival ‘garba’ originated from, so not all Hindus partake in it to celebrate Navratri. On top of that, not many people know the significance of the dance, either,” said Dhruti Desai, senior event coordinator for DePaul’s South Asian Student Association (SASA). 

“Raas coincides with garba, which is where we dance with the dandiya hitting them against each other which symbolizes the battle that Goddess Durga endured over evil beings,” Dhruti Desai said. 

Hindu DePaul student holding dandiya and getting ready to perform garba. Photo by Siona Chibber.

“The first three days are dedicated to Maa Durga. The next three days focus on knowledge and are normally associated with Saraswati, goddess of education. Then the last three are centered around Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and health,” Yash Desai said.

A dance circle forms around a frame of Goddess Ambika, an incarnate of Maa Durga. Photo by Siona Chibber.

In Bengal, Hindus focus primarily on doing Durga puja or aarti (prayer). While various idols are represented each day, the main avatar that is represented entirely is the goddess Durga, who is known by her followers as “Maa Durga.” She symbolizes divine femininity, which is also called “shakti.” 

“The divine feminine puts a spotlight on all the things women are capable of. They are powerful forces in the universe. These nine days celebrate fertility and womanhood,” Kush Shah, co-president of SASA, said. 

In Kannada, there are a handful of ways they choose to honor Maa Durga, ranging from plays that tell stories to pujas, as well as dances. 

According to the Art of Living, in the nine days and nine nights, Hindus honor the Mother Divine. Each day represents a form of Maa Durga and all the ways she is represented in our lives and in our souls. The article goes on to share each day and what they represent, beginning with Shailaputri in which we aim to achieve the highest level of consciousness. 

“Hindu dharma is saying that when the time comes to protect yourself, you must protect your knowledge and your own shakti. You must be dedicated to your meditation, your lifestyles and your thoughts,” Yash Desai said. 

Goddess Ambika, an avatar of Maa Durga, placed at the center of the garba dance covered in marigold and surrounded by diyas (candles in clay candle holders). Photo by Siona Chibber.

The second day, Bramacharini, is for meditating and exploring inner divinity. The third day, Chandraghanta, signifies detaching from a restless mind and to center our focus onto one thought to attain harmony and peace. The fourth day, Kushmanda, symbolizes vitality and positivity to inspire one another. The fifth day, Skandamata, worship would harness wisdom, prosperity, and liberation. On the sixth day, Katyayani, we support dharma and karma in hopes of restoring balance with ourselves and our relationships with others. Dharma is an act of righteousness where we follow the social order and karma which helps find that balance by sending out the positive and negative energies to do those who deserve it. 

On the seventh day, Kalaratri, provides us with protection against evil and cleanses our auras. On the eighth day, Mahagauri, the idea is similar to Day 7, focusing on peace and cleansing. Finally, on the last day of Navratri, Siddhidatri, this goddess provides us with protection and perfection. This last day focused on the overall picture of Navratri and reminds us why Maa Durga is so important to these people and why we should continue to honor her and her several entities. 

An important note is that there are different names,symbols and ways of celebrating these days and nights in India. They also follow the Saka Calendar instead of the Gregorian one, so the dates for this festival change every year. The Saka calendar is solar and is the nationally recognized calendar in India. With Hindus spread across the world under different time zones, Navratri looks a little different in every hemisphere. 

In America, Hindus find their own ways of celebrating within states such as Illinois. Through other Indian or Hindu organizations as well as Hindu temples, Navratri was being observed simultaneously in the past week. In institutions such as DePaul, the SASA offered students a chance to have an on-campus garba night on October 20th.  

Students prepare for the next song and next dance to begin on Garba Night at DePaul. Photo by Siona Chibber.

In the DePaul Student Center, the SASA club created an open space for Hindu students to dance, mingle, and observe the event. 

Hindu students at Garba Night at DePaul’s Student Center. Photo by Siona Chibber.

While this festival comes from Hinduism, much like the faith itself, the holiday is not subjected to strictly one community. Themes of strength, womanhood, femininity, and devotion can be acknowledged and celebrated by all people. 

“The Hindu American Foundation has resources on their website which can tell you more about this holiday along with others. There are also several places in Chicago to celebrate Navratri. \Manav Seva Mandir is a temple which has ten days of garba, for example. Kali Bari Temple is dedicated specifically to Mother Durga, and it has lots of murtis,” Dhruti Desai said.  

Hindu DePaul students watching the garba dances. Photo by Siona Chibber.

The purpose of Navratri is to connect with our spirit through rest, mindfulness and positive cosmic energy. Hinduism is all about our connection with ourselves as well as the universe. These nine days are a reminder for individuals to focus on themselves and on self-improvement. 

Header by Mei Harter