Hindu festival of nine nights · Thursday, September 30 – Saturday, October 9, 2027
Navratri
Nine nights of devotion, dance and light, ending with Dussehra, the victory of good over evil.
Say it like a neighbor
Happy Navratri
Say: NUH-vuh-RAH-tree · “nine nights”
Jai Mata Di!
You can also say “Shubh Navratri” (shoobh NUH-vuh-RAH-tree), “auspicious Navratri.” Many devotees answer with “Jai Mata Di” (jai MAH-tah dee), “Victory to the Mother.” On the tenth day, “Happy Dussehra” (duh-SEH-rah) is the greeting. You do not have to be Hindu to say it.
Sep 30
Navratri means “nine nights.” Tap to light the lamps, three nights at a time.
When is Navratri and Dussehra? Key dates and days to know
Main day
Main day
This page is about Sharad (autumn) Navratri, the biggest of the year. There is also a spring Navratri in April (April 7–15 in 2027). Dates follow the lunar calendar and can differ by a day between calendars and cities. Most list Navratri beginning on Thursday, September 30, 2027 and Dussehra (Vijayadashami) on Saturday, October 9, while some list Sunday, October 10. Diwali follows about three weeks later.
What are Navratri and Dussehra and what do they mean?
Navratri means “nine nights” in Sanskrit. It is a major Hindu festival honoring the divine feminine, Shakti, especially in the form of the goddess Durga. It is held in the autumn and ends with Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, on the tenth day.
Hindus tell different stories about the victory it celebrates. In one, Durga defeats the buffalo demon Mahishasura after a battle of nine nights. In another, widely told in northern India, Rama defeats the demon king Ravana on the tenth day. Both stories are about the triumph of good over evil.
Customs vary by region. In Gujarat, and among Gujarati families in Houston, the nights are filled with circle dances called garba and dandiya. In Bengal, the festival is Durga Puja. In South India, families arrange displays of dolls called golu. All are a time of devotion, music and community.
How are Navratri and Dussehra celebrated? Customs and traditions
Ghatasthapana
On the first day many families set a kalash, a pot of water topped with a coconut and mango leaves, in a clean place at home, and sow barley or wheat seeds nearby. The shoots that sprout by Dussehra are a symbol of growth and prosperity.
Fasting
Many devotees fast for some or all of the nine days, eating only fruit, milk, potatoes, buckwheat or other foods set aside for fasting, often without grains, onion and garlic. Practices differ, and children, elders and people who are unwell need not fast.
Nine forms of the goddess
Each night is dedicated to a different form of Durga, called the Navadurga. Another tradition divides the nights into three groups of three: Durga for strength, Lakshmi for prosperity and Saraswati for knowledge.
Garba and dandiya
In the evening people dance in circles around a lamp or an image of the goddess. Garba is danced with clapping and graceful steps, and dandiya raas with pairs of decorated sticks. Everyone is welcome to join, and colorful dress is part of the fun.
Golu and Saraswati Puja
In South Indian homes, families arrange tiered displays of dolls and figures called golu and invite friends and neighbors to see them. Near the end, books, instruments and tools are blessed in Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja.
Kanya puja
On the eighth or ninth day many families honor young girls as forms of the goddess, washing their feet, offering food and giving small gifts.
Dussehra
On the tenth day communities remember the victory of good over evil. In many places, large figures of Ravana are burned at sunset, and plays called Ramlila are staged. In the Bengali tradition, Durga images are carried to water and immersed. People share sweets and greetings.
Being a good neighbor during Navratri
Tap each one as you go.
Navratri and Dussehra in Houston: how neighbors can take part
Garba and dandiya nights across Greater Houston
Houston has one of the largest Indian American communities in the country, and Navratri is among its busiest social seasons. Temples, cultural associations and event organizers hold evening garba and dandiya nights, many of them open to the public.
Local listings from past years show Navratri programs at temples such as BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford and the Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland, which is known for its nine-day South Indian celebration with golu displays. Groups such as the Gujarati Samaj of Houston and the Bengali Association of Greater Houston host garba nights and Durga Puja.
Past years have also included ticketed garba concerts and charity garba nights at venues such as ISKCON of Houston. The 2027 schedules had not been posted when we checked, so please check with the temple or organizer.
Navratri and Dussehra events in Houston
Houston temples and groups set their own times, and calendars can differ by a day. Please check with the organizer before you go. Visitors who dress modestly and follow the temple’s rules are generally welcome.
Questions neighbors ask about Navratri and Dussehra
When is Navratri 2027?
Navratri begins on Thursday, September 30, 2027, and runs nine nights. Dussehra is Saturday, October 9.
What does Navratri mean?
“Navratri” means “nine nights.” Hindus honor the Goddess Durga, and Dussehra marks the victory of good over evil.
Can anyone join garba and dandiya?
Many temples and community centers invite neighbors to join these circle dances. Wear comfortable shoes or go barefoot as the hosts prefer, and “Happy Navratri” is a warm greeting.
Keep exploring