Why is Navarātri celebrated so differently — garbā, Golu, Durgā Pūjā, Dasarā?

one festival of the Goddess’s victory, expressed through each region’s own art, family life and local deity.

At the heart of Navarātri is the Devī Māhātmya: the Goddess defeating Mahiṣāsura and other demons, the triumph of good. Each region celebrates it in its own language.

In Gujarat, people dance garbā around a lamp in a clay pot (garbo) that represents the womb of the Mother, and dāṇḍiyā with sticks. Bengal, Assam, Odisha and Bihar welcome Durgā with her children in grand paṇḍals from Ṣaṣṭhī, ending with Sindūr Khelā and immersion. Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Karnataka arrange Golu or Bommai Koluvu, steps of dolls, and invite women for haldi-kumkum. Karnataka’s Mysuru Dasarā honours Cāmuṇḍeśvarī, and Āyudha Pūjā honours tools and books. In the North, Rāmlīlā leads up to Dussehra and the burning of Rāvaṇa. Himachal has the Kullu Dasarā of the valley deities.

None is more correct than another. Enjoy your own, and visit others with an open heart.

Core text: Devī Māhātmya (Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa) · Source: regional traditions

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