Festival companion · 30 September – 9 October 2027

Navaratri and Dasara

Nine nights of the Goddess. Everything for one festival in one place: the story to tell, the puja, a recipe, a craft for children and a shopping list.

Tell the story

The Story of Navaratri

The buffalo demon Mahishasura could not be defeated by any god. The gods combined their powers into one goddess, Durga, who fought him for nine nights and killed him on the tenth day, Vijayadashami.

Each region tells it in its own way. Bengal welcomes Durga home for Durga Puja, Gujarat dances garba around her lamp, and Mysuru celebrates Dasara as the victory of Goddess Chamundeshwari over Mahishasura, with the palace lit by nearly a hundred thousand bulbs.

On Vijayadashami Rama also defeated Ravana, and across North and Central India the Ramlila ends with effigies of Ravana being burned.

How families celebrate

Nine nights honour the Goddess in her many forms. South Indian homes set up a doll display on steps (golu in Tamil Nadu, bommala koluvu in Andhra, bombe habba in Karnataka), Gujarat dances garba and dandiya, Bengal celebrates Durga Puja, and the north stages the Ramlila. Saraswati is worshipped with books and instruments, Ayudha Puja honours tools and vehicles, and Vijayadashami is a lucky day to begin learning.

Golu doll display, garba nights, evening arati and sundal for visitors, Saraswati Puja (books rest for a day), Ayudha Puja (8 Oct) and Vijayadashami (9 Oct).

At home

The Puja

A simple home puja anyone can follow, plus the full vidhi with Sanskrit mantras.

Simple puja guide (English)

Detailed puja vidhi with Sanskrit mantras: Devanagari · Kannada script · Telugu script

Cook together

Sundal

More recipes →
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka · Navaratri

Sundal

Chickpea stir-fry: sundal in Tamil, guggillu in Telugu, usli in Kannada

  • 20 min + soaking
  • Serves 4
Ingredients and method

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chickpeas or other beans, soaked overnight and boiled
  • 2 tbsp grated coconut
  • Oil, mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, dried red chilli, hing
  • Salt

Method

  1. Heat oil and add mustard, urad dal, chilli, curry leaves and hing.
  2. Add the boiled chickpeas and salt.
  3. Toss in coconut and stir for a minute.

A different bean for each of the nine nights, given to visitors who come to see the dolls.

For children

Set up a golu (bombe habba, bommala koluvu)

You need

  • Steps (boxes or books under a cloth)
  • Your family's dolls and toys
  • A Pattada gombe (wedding pair) for the top
  • Small lamps and flowers

Steps

  1. Make an odd number of steps: 3, 5, 7 or 9.
  2. Put gods on the top step, then saints, then everyday life.
  3. Let children make a park or village scene at the bottom.
  4. Invite friends each evening and give sundal.

Get ready

Shopping List

Tick things off as you go, or print the list for the Indian store.

Shopping list

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