Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Known as the epicentre of Garba, Ahmedabad hosts some of the most energetic and large-scale dance gatherings. Venues like the GMDC Ground transform into seas of colour and coordinated movement, where thousands dance all night to live folk music.
Kolkata, West Bengal
In Kolkata,
Navratri is synonymous with Durga Puja, the city's largest festival. The streets become an open-air art gallery with thousands of elaborate temporary structures called 'pandals', each housing a unique idol of Goddess Durga.
Vadodara, Gujarat
Considered the cultural capital of Gujarat, Vadodara is famous for its traditional and massive Garba events. The United Way of Baroda Garba is iconic, known for its enormous, synchronised circle of tens of thousands of dancers.
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mumbai celebrates with high-energy Garba and Dandiya nights, often featuring famous performers. Suburbs like Borivali and Goregaon, along with venues like the NESCO Centre, host some of the city's most vibrant events, blending tradition with modern spectacle.
Mysore, Karnataka
Here, the festival is celebrated as Dasara and is a 400-year-old tradition. The highlight is the grand procession, 'Jumboo Savari', led by decorated elephants through the streets of the royally illuminated city.
Delhi
The capital comes alive with numerous Ramlila performances, a theatrical retelling of the Ramayana. These plays are staged across the city, culminating in the burning of effigies of Ravana on Dussehra, symbolising the victory of good over evil.
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
Kullu Dussehra is an internationally acclaimed week-long festival that starts on Vijayadashami. Unlike other places, celebrations begin when they end elsewhere, featuring a grand procession of hundreds of local deities.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Experience a spiritual Navratri in this holy city, where the world-renowned Ramlila of Ramnagar is performed over 31 days. The festival here is less about dance and more about devotion, with ancient rituals and theatrical traditions taking centre stage.
Bastar, Chhattisgarh
Bastar hosts a unique 75-day-long Dussehra celebration, said to be the longest in the world. This tribal tradition is distinct from the mainstream Hindu customs and focuses on honouring the local deity, Devi Danteshwari.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu and other southern states, Navratri is celebrated with 'Golu' or 'Bommai Kolu'. It is an artistic display of dolls and figurines on stepped platforms, depicting mythological tales and scenes from everyday life.
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
The Kanaka Durga Temple atop Indrakeeladri Hill is a major pilgrimage site. During Navratri, the goddess is adorned in a different 'alankaram' (form) each day, attracting lakhs of devotees who come to witness the daily rituals.
Hyderabad, Telangana
Navratri in Telangana is celebrated as Bathukamma, a nine-day floral festival. Women create beautiful conical flower stacks and dance around them, singing folk songs before immersing them in water on the final day.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
The 'Pink City' celebrates Navratri with royal fervour. Temples are beautifully decorated, and the city hosts several Garba and Dandiya events. It's also a time for folk music and dance performances, showcasing Rajasthan's rich heritage.
Katra, Jammu
For a deeply spiritual experience, pilgrims flock to the Vaishno Devi Shrine. A journey here during Navratri is considered highly auspicious. The base town of Katra and the entire pilgrimage route are decorated and bustling with devotional energy.
Punjab
In Punjab, many people observe fasts for the first seven days of Navratri. Devotional songs and 'jagrans' (all-night prayers) are organised in homes and temples. The festival culminates with 'Kanya Puja' on the eighth or ninth day, where young girls are worshipped.
