Navaratri: Nine Nights of Devotion, a Lifetime of Learning
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणी नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Salutations to Goddess Narayani, the most auspicious among the auspicious, the fulfiller of all aspirations, the divine mother who offers refuge to all.
Festivals are a part of India's heritage with each one having it's own beauty, traditions and spiritual significance. Among them is Navaratri, nine nights dedicated to Maa Shakti, the divine energy, celebrated as Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ambe Mata and in countless other forms. Beginning with Ghatasthapana and ending with Vijaya Dashami, Navaratri is a celebration of faith, culture, community and the eternal triumph of good over evil.
For me, Navaratri, is a journey through childhood memories, family traditions, the joy of learning, the comforting presence of the divine and a promise of a new beginning.
The beauty of India lies in the diversity of its celebrations. Bengal comes alive with magnificent Durga Puja pandals, Gujarat dances to the rhythms of Garba and Dandiya, the South celebrates Bommai Golu and Bathukamma, while the North reverberates with Ram Lila and the festivities of Dussehra.
Different traditions, different expressions, yet one underlying message: the victory of light over darkness, wisdom over ignorance and good over evil.
My earliest memories of Navaratri are of the Durga Pooja at the railway colony in Bhusawal, organised by the Bengali Association. I eagerly awaited the festivities, the beautiful idols, the cultural programmes and of course, the delicious bhog of Begoon bhaja, payesh and other delicacies.
At home, Navaratri meant Bommai Golu, the delightful South Indian tradition of arranging dolls and deities on steps. Setting up the Golu was an event in itself. My siblings and I would enthusiastically set up the steps, arrange the dolls, create little scenes, decorate them and admire our handiwork. Evenings brought neighbours and friends, devotional songs, exchanges of haldi-kumkum and the inevitable sundal, prepared differently each day. Those days celebrations were less about grandeur and more about togetherness.
After marriage, I continued the tradition with my mother-in-law. Her passing in 2001 left a deep void and for a few years, the Golu remained absent from our home. Eventually, an inner calling prompted me to revive it. That was twenty-two years ago and since then, Golu has once again become an inseparable part of our lives. Every year, the familiar dolls emerging from their boxes, carry stories of the years gone by. Some have been with us for decades, silent witnesses to changing homes, growing children, cherished relationships and the passage of time.
Perhaps that is the true charm of tradition which connects generations and keeps memories alive while we move forward in life.
Saraswati Pooja is a beautiful part of Navaratri. In the north, Saraswati Puja is celebrated on Vasant Panchami, while in Tamil Nadu and much of southern India, Saraswati Poojai is observed during Navaratri, traditionally alongside Ayudha Poojai and Vidyarambham, the initiation of young children into the world of learning.
Saraswati Poojai invites us to reflect upon the meaning of knowledge in today's rapidly changing world where information is available at the click of a button. Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT and other technological innovations can answer questions, generate ideas and simplify tasks in seconds. Yet, is access to information the same as acquiring knowledge? And is knowledge necessarily wisdom? Technology can provide answers, but it cannot replace our responsibility to think critically, question intelligently, read deeply and develop independent judgement. Saraswati Poojai offers us a timely opportunity to renew these habits by encouraging every child and also every adult, to read for at least ten minutes and write one page every day. Ten minutes of reading can open a new world. A page of writing can help organise thoughts, strengthen expression and encourage reflection.
Navaratri is also a celebration of the dignity of work. During Ayudha Poojai, artisans worship their tools, musicians their instruments, students their books, and workers the equipment that sustains their livelihoods acknowledging the dignity of every occupation and respect to every instrument we use for work.
This message has particular relevance today, when we speak of dignity of labour, women's empowerment, skill development and inclusive growth. Maa Shakti is not confined to temples and beautifully decorated idols. Her strength is reflected in the countless women who nurture families, sustain livelihoods, overcome adversity and contribute silently to society. The woman running a small enterprise, the artisan preserving a traditional craft, the farmer working tirelessly in the fields and the young girl determined to pursue her education are all expressions of Shakti. To truly honour the Goddess, we must also honour and strengthen the women around us.
The culmination of Navaratri in Vijaya Dashami celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura and Lord Rama's triumph over Ravana. But perhaps the greatest battles are not those fought in mythology but those within ourselves.
Anger, jealousy, prejudice, greed, arrogance and resentment are the demons that often disturb our inner peace. Just as Ravana's effigy is consigned to flames on Dussehra, let us resolve to let go of at least one negative habit or lingering grudge. Let us replace criticism with kindness, indifference with compassion and despair with hope. Let us extend our sense of reverence to Mother Earth, our Matrubhumi, by reducing waste, planting trees, protecting nature and embracing more sustainable ways of living. For ultimately, the triumph of good over evil is not merely a story to be remembered. It is a principle to be practised in everyday life.
Navaratri teaches us courage through Durga, prosperity with purpose through Lakshmi, and wisdom through Saraswati. Together, they remind us that a fulfilling life requires strength, compassion, knowledge and the willingness to act. The real celebration of Navaratri lies not only in the nine nights of worship, but in carrying their light into the remaining days of our lives.
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥
May all be happy, may all be free from illness, may all experience goodness, and may none suffer or live in sorrow.
R. Vimala, IAS Retired, MH 2009
Subject Matter Expert, CBC & YASHADA
Former Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra Sadan & Secretary, GoM,
Founder AnirvedShakti Foundation,
PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay
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