Navratri likewise known as the Nine Nights is one of the most colorful festivals in India with the symbols of victory of divine or good force over the evil force. The term, Navratri, derived from Sanskrit, actually literally means nine nights; these nine nights are more specifically spent in worshipping the forms of Goddess Durga. Every day people wake up to offer devotion, feel happiness, dance, and enjoy the heritage of the diverse culture of India. Navratri is not only a religious festival but a festival of life, colors, music, and tradition. From vivacious Garba dances to artistically decorated Durga idols, the festival gives all your senses a treat, and everyone ranging from all over the country and beyond.
Here is a list of few festive destinations that provide an authentic touch to celebrate Navratri in India. And as you troop out to the various places you want to get to, RCabs can go with you and make it possible for you to arrive at your destinations in style.
Places to Celebrate the Navratri:
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
It’s important to note that the city of Ahmedabad is considered the best place for people to celebrate Navratri. Nine days of the year the city comes alive with student’s participation in Garba, Dandiya Raas apart from other traditional dances. Gujarat University ground or the new GMDC ground it is celebrating thousands of participants every night and it can be one of the biggest Garba times in the globe. The huge scale of these events which combined with people participation of the locals and tourist consolidates the impression of in-effable delight.
The women wear ethnic colorful chaniya choli and men wear kediyu which also play part of colorful attire. The lights of the streets, homes, and markets are on and the beats of the dhols and folk songs can be heard everywhere. If you want to feel the true spirit of Navratri, then Ahmedabad should be right on the top of your list.
Vadodara, Gujarat
Often referred to as Baroda, Vadodara is popularly regarded as the cultural capital of Gujarat and especially the city is full of spirits during Navratri. Unlike any other Navratri celebration across the country, Navratri participants in Vadodara significantly respect the orthodox form of celebrations and stick to their cultural origin of performing Garba. The Navlakhi Grounds of the city is where a huge Garba celebration is held in which thousands of people ladies dressed in colorful attires perform the Garba with dhol and folk music in the background.
Thus, the enthusiast to the delighted realization of Navratri can quickly designate Ahmedabad as the city that is totally dedicated to preserving the culture of the festivity. It is also a place famous for its admirable structure and traditional architecture Therefore, during the day tourists can enjoy palace, museum and parks but at the night they perform Garba.
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Navratri in Mumbai is a BOLLYWOOD- dance festival where tradition meets the youth’s glamorous preferences. Some of the famous Dandiya and Garba like Falguni Pathak and Kora Kendra etc are some of the events that are part of the celebrations held in Mumbai. These events fuse the older Garba beats with better Bollywood tunes and get astonishing turnouts, sometimes with celebrities. The arrangements of the Navratri festival in Mumbai reveal modernity with a touch of tradition.
That is why, Navratri here is not only the dance. The whole spirit of the city turns festive, covering everything from shopping complexes to markets, restaurants, street-side shops, and everything in between, launch a special End of Festive Season offer, while the evenings come alive with Garba, DJ Nights, and Live Music across most part of the city. Navratri is celebrated in Mumbai like anywhere else in India but due to its cosmopolitan nature, people from all forms of communities get involved in the Navratri festivities.
Kolkata, West Bengal
Kolkata is a city, where Navratri falls during Durga Puja, the largest festival celebrated in the region but both the festivals share same flavor. But even though Garba may not be central here, the spirit of the city – devotion to Goddess Durga – is unparalleled. Yes, the entire city comes alive during Navratri as gorgeous pandals that host attractively adorned statues of Goddess Durga are put up all over the city.
The concept of the Durga Puja celebration that is evident in this city of joy, Kolkata is not only a religious journey but a cultural one as well. The taste of the elaborate constructions of the pandals, the splendid decor of the idols, and the immensity of the festivals is mind-boggling. There is conch blowing, devotional songs, and dhaknas (tramples) having an integral role in hymn singing. Through Durga Puja, visitors will get the feel of Navratri celebrations but at the same time, they will find the feel of Durga Puja. Well if you want to enjoy Navratri in the much more artistic and devotional form Kolkata is the place.
Surat, Gujarat
One of the important destinations of the diamond and textile industries, Surat has another distinctive reason to celebrate Navratri. The city provides both regional and contemporary types of Garba events as well, so one can visit his city and enjoy both these styles. Some of the top events held in Surat are ‘Surati Night Garba’ and ‘Shankus Dandiya’ wherein lakhs of people participate to get garba done, indulge in socialization, and have a blast.
The Garba function that takes place in Surat is also full of enthusiasm; the people of Surat come out of all the age group to have a Garba event. The city also supports the feast through food with farsan, sweets and food trucks available at the event venues. To enjoy a colorful and energetic Navrattr you must head to Surat.
Delhi
Navratri is very famous in Delhi, which is the capital city of India. The ones that take place here are a combination of dandiya nights, Garba functions, and ethnic shows. As in Dwarka, Karol Bagh, and CR Park, large and monumental decorations are erected in which people dance, pray, and celebrate fairs. New Delhi also has a number of Ramlila venues – mythological plays, in which the entire drama of the struggle between Rama and Ravana is staged.
However, Navratri in Delhi is celebrated in diverse colors since many people of different cultures come out to celebrate. In addition to exotic colorful floral arrangements for this festival, there is so much more as it sweeps over the culinary delights of the district ranging from effulgent Navratri banquets and street food stalls. In that respect, there is no dearth of traditional festivities linked to”, but there is also the new age flavor of the obelisks and so on if that is what one is in the hunt for.
Pune, Maharashtra
Pune is a culturally vibrant and historically crucial place, Navratri festival with great enthusiasm but in a modern way. Clubs and cultural societies in Pune do play Garba and Dandiya nights, where people get together and dance, have fun, and have festive spirits. The Navratri celebrations in the city are in the form of Garba tunes and some Bollywood touch to the music making it an attractive place for tourists as well as residents.
In addition to this, the happy spirit of Pune is even decorated with historical religious places, and temples where people go for fasting and to offer prayers. In Pune, this follows the cultural diversity with great enthusiasm, and thus we see that Navratri festivals are sensitivity, dance, and happiness.
Bangalore, Karnataka
The Silicon Valley of India – Bangalore enjoys Navratri dedicatedly in a special way. Even though Santa Clara is most associated with technology companies today, it reveals its cultural face during the Christmas period. Navratri is a nine-night festival in which people of Bangalore enjoy different Dandiya and Garba nights held in different areas of the city. Spectaculars like “Rangilo Re” or “Garba in the City” are held involving several participants of the Gujarati community as well as other people of different origins.
Be it ever so popular, people celebrate it especially in Bangalore due to the cosmopolitan life they lead offering colorful feelings of dance and merry making during the festivity season. The best thing about celebrating Navratri in Bangalore is that whether it is the first day or the ninth day, the cool climate is good for the health and the energy that young people have is really very good.
Travel with Ease During Navratri with RCabs
If you have a choice of which city you would like to celebrate Navratri in then having your transport is invaluable for a trouble-free celebration. Using RCabs you can easily hire comfortable, safe, and inexpensive taxis for getting to any of these Navratri places. Whether it’s a local trip or interstate, RCabs has provided convenient services to make the holiday as productive as possible.
Have a Happy Navratri only with RCabs this time and enjoy this wonderful fun-filled colorful festival to the core.
