Every year, as the festive season begins, homes across India come alive with colourful clothes, music, prayers, Garba and beautifully decorated temples. One of the most widely celebrated festivals during this time is Navratri, a festival dedicated to the many forms of Goddess Durga.
But why do we celebrate Navratri? Why are there nine days? And what is the story behind the festival?
Let's make it simple for children and parents to explore together.
What Is Navratri?
The word Navratri comes from two Sanskrit words: Nav meaning nine and Ratri meaning night.
Navratri is celebrated over nine nights and ten days, with devotees worshipping different forms of Goddess Durga. While traditions vary across India, the festival is closely associated with devotion, strength and the triumph of good over evil.
The most widely celebrated Navratri is Sharad Navratri, which usually falls around September–October.
The Story Behind Navratri
One of the best-known stories of Navratri is the battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura.
Mahishasura was a powerful demon who became so strong that he defeated the gods and began causing chaos across the world.
The gods came together, combining their divine energies to create Goddess Durga, a powerful form of Shakti, or divine feminine energy.
Riding a lion and carrying weapons gifted by the gods, Durga battled Mahishasura for several days. On the tenth day, she defeated him.
This victory is at the heart of Navratri and is remembered as the triumph of good over evil.
Why Are There 9 Days of Navratri?
Each of the nine nights is traditionally dedicated to a different form of Goddess Durga, known as the Navadurga.
The nine forms are:
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Shailaputri – strength
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Brahmacharini – devotion and determination
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Chandraghanta – courage and peace
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Kushmanda – energy and creativity
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Skandamata – nurturing and motherhood
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Katyayani – courage and strength
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Kalaratri – protection and the destruction of negativity
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Mahagauri – purity and peace
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Siddhidatri – wisdom and fulfilment
For children, these nine forms are a wonderful way to discover the many qualities associated with Maa Durga from courage and strength to compassion and wisdom.
Why Does Navratri End on the 10th Day?
The tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashami, or Dussehra.
For many traditions, it marks the victory of good over evil including Durga's victory over Mahishasura.
In other parts of India, Dussehra celebrates Lord Rama's victory over Ravana. While the stories are different, both are remembered as victories of righteousness over wrongdoing.
What Can Children Learn From Navratri?
The story of Maa Durga gives children some simple ideas to take away:
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Courage to stand up for what is right
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Strength to face difficult situations
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Determination to keep going
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Compassion to use our strength to help others
These lessons become more meaningful when children experience them through stories, music, festivals and family traditions.
Introducing Children to Navratri
For a young child, Navratri can begin with something simple like seeing Maa Durga during a family puja, joining a Garba dance, hearing a familiar prayer or listening to a story about the goddess.
Devotional audio can naturally become part of these moments too. WonderBuddy’s Let's Sing for Our Gods musical book introduces little ones to familiar mantras, aartis and bhajans.
As children grow, these familiar sounds and stories can become part of their understanding of the traditions they grow up with.
A Festival of Strength, Devotion and Celebration
Navratri brings together stories, prayer, music, dance, colour and family traditions. Its celebrations may look different from one part of India to another, but the spirit of the festival remains deeply rooted in devotion, strength and the victory of good over evil.
And for children, it can begin simply with a story, a prayer, a dance and the traditions they experience with their families.
Nine nights. Many traditions. One celebration of Shakti.
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