Best places in India to celebrate Navratri in a grandeur way
Best places in India to celebrate Navratri in a grandeur way – Navratri marks the most fun and the most auspicious 9 nights for the Hindus. We have known, read, and told stories a lot about these nights. So, in this blog, we are not going to give you the same stories that we already know.
In fact, let’s talk about something else right here. We are going to list some of the best places in India that celebrate Navratri in the grandest ways possible. All of these places that are mentioned here are known to celebrate this festival in their own unique ways. So, stay tuned till the end to know more.
P.S. – If you are planning a vacation during this time of the year, make sure to plan it in any of these cities. It will be more than just a holiday for you because it will be filled with experiences of a lifetime.
Best places in India to celebrate Navratri in a grandeur way
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat
We could not have begun this blog by mentioning any other city other than this. When we talk about Navratri, Ahmedabad just comes a suffix to it. Navratri is believed to be a major festival of Gujarat and its capital city is the proud host of celebrating this festival in the most regal way. Big grounds, small grounds, big hotels, clubs, societies, and basically all the places of the city host Garba nights which is always extra crowded. The sight of people dressed up in ethnic wear, the city dazzled with decorations of dandiya and more and the sounds of Garba songs and Mata Rani bhajans is what sums up the 9 nights in this city.
- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Just like Ahmedabad, Mumbai is the next best place to celebrate Navratri. The vibe of Navratri here is also amazing and somewhat similar to that of Ahmedabad. If you want to see a little more classy and modern version of Navratri then you must attend the Garba shows in this city. The vivacious spirit of this city makes everyone want to attend the urbanised Navratri. The highlight of the events in Mumbai is the celebrities who are invited to be a part of the Navratri nights. People visit these shows to dance with their favourite celebs.
- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi is called as the spiritual capital of the world. It is believed to be the oldest city on Earth and also the birthplace of Lord Shiva. Hence, it is quite obvious that most of the Hindu festivals are celebrated here on a grander level. Talking about Navratri, the Dusshera festival celebrated here holds enough importance. Navratri ends with Dusshera which is the festival of celebrating the good over evil. Ram Leela performances are organised on the ghats of the city. The killing of Ravana is something not to be missed when you are here.
- Delhi
Delhi celebrates Navratri in all ways. This city celebrates the Raas Garba night, the Dandiya night, the Durga Puja, and also the Dussehra. So, if you want to experience them all in one city then you must visit Delhi. The entire city at this time looks dazzling and is lit up with the vibe of Navratri. One can experience a fusion of traditions in this city during this time. Even the clubs of the city host Ras Garba nights which are fun to attend and be in the vibe of Navratri.
- Hyderabad, Telangana
To experience Navratri in the South India touch which is quite distinct from the other parts of India, you must explore it in Hyderabad. Hyderabad does everything in its own peculiar style and always leaves people in awe of it. Here, during the Navratri time, the ‘Bathukamma’ festival is hosted. On this festival, women create floral stacksrepresenting the goddess and dance around them. It is also called as the floral festival for this reason. They celebrate womanhood and nature’s beauty through this festival. The stack is worshipped and later is set afloat in a lake or any other water body.
- Mysuru, Karnataka
If you had to visit one place in Karnataka to experience the Navratri festival then you need to visit Mysuru. You need to experience the royal heritage of the Mysuru Dasara during this time of the year. Karnataka is a beautiful state to explore and make sure to explore during this time of the year. A parade is carried on this day in this city. This extravagant parade is the most special on the last day when the elephants are decorated, the folk dance troupes and music bands are organised. The best place to explore during this time is the Mysuru place which is illuminated with approximately 100,000 bulbs, creating a breathtaking view.
- Tamil Nadu
You need to explore the Tamil Nadu Navratri once in your lifetime. There is a notable tradition that is followed during Navratri month in Tamil Nadu. Here, the festival of Navratri is called as the festival of dolls. The festival is known as Bommai Kolu. These dolls include gods, goddesses, animals, birds, farmers, and almost all sorts of dolls are created and they are specially collected for this purpose. People arrange these dolls and put them in systematic order in their homes in various themes and invite their friends and other family members to visit their homes to view the Kolu.
- Punjab
Talking about the best places in India to explore Navratri, we have to mention Punjab. In Punjab, the people of Hindu origin, observe fast for the first 7 days of Navratri. They break their fast on the 8th day which is the Ashtami day. On Ashtami Day, the people who observe the fast invite 9 young girls to their houses and offer them prasad (food). They are fed and prayed as the 9 forms of Durga. They are also given some money and sweets as a part of the tradition. This is also called as kanjak.
- Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
HP is one of those cities that celebrates Dusshera in the grandest way possible. This valley celebrates one of the most serene Dusshera ever. During the Navratri festival, the local deities are brought to Kullu to pay homage to Lord Raghunath during Dussehra. On this day, an extravagant fair is organised that includes traditional dances and folk songs. The festival is marked by the Rath Yatra of Raghunathji along the streets of Kullu for seven days which attracts a large number of visitors.
- Kolkata, West Bengal
Finally, one of the most divine places to explore during the month of Navratri is Kolkata in West Bengal. Kolkata celebrates Durga Puja like no place in the world does. If you have to visit Kolkata only once in your life, make sure to explore during the Durga Puja celebrations. You will not be able to explore the city because of the crowd but the happiness that you will experience during this time over here, will be out of the world. The streets of this city are lined up with gorgeous pandals that display the idols of Maa Durga in different variations. The city is awake throughout the night at this time.
Conclusion
These were all the gorgeous places in India where the Navratri celebrations are grand. It is more than grand, it is more like king-level and larger-than-life celebrations. Each city and state mentioned above celebrates this festival in a distinct way. This is the beauty of our country. There is something unique and distinct everywhere. There is something new to explore in each part of the country.
It’s so beautiful to think that when Kolkata celebrates Durga Puja and people go pandal hopping while relishing the most delicious food items, Ahmedabad celebrates Ras Garba nights in different open spaces and mostly people observe fast on these nights, in this city.
If you want to explore the authentic Navratri celebrations, we would suggest you visit Gujarat and experience the dancing celebrations during these nights. In case, you want to experience the richness of the Durga Puja celebrations, you must visit Kolkata once in your life during the last 4 days of Navratri. That is an experience you need to behold in your eyes and soul for life.
Best places in India to celebrate Navratri in a grandeur way – Navratri marks the most fun and the most auspicious 9 nights for the Hindus. We have known, read, and told stories a lot about these nights. So, in this blog, we are not going to give you the same stories that we already know.…