Navratri 2025 in India: Dates, Rituals, Colours & Regional Traditions

Navratri is one of the most important Hindu festivals, celebrated with unmatched devotion and colourful traditions across India. The festival lasts for nine nights and ten days, honouring Goddess Durga in her nine powerful forms, also known as Nava Durga. Navratri is not just about prayers and fasting; it is also about dance, music, food, fashion, and community gatherings that bring people together from every part of the country.

With Navratri 2025 around the corner, devotees and culture lovers are already preparing for the grand celebrations. From setting up altars at home to planning Garba nights, from observing fasts to wearing colour-coded outfits each day, there is so much that makes Navratri special.

In this blog, we are going to cover Navratri 2025 dates, day-wise goddess worship, the significance of nine colours, regional variations across India, fasting food traditions, etc. Keep reading!

Navratri 2025 Dates in India

• Start Date: Monday, 22 September 2025
• End Date (Vijaya Dashami/Dussehra): Thursday, 2 October 2025

Note: Dates may vary slightly across regions based on the lunar calendar.

Day-wise Goddess, Colour and Significance in Navratri 2025

Day	Date	Goddess (Nava Durga)	Significance	Colour of the Day
1	22 Sept	Shailaputri	Symbol of strength & nature	Yellow
2	23 Sept	Brahmacharini	Penance & devotion	Green
3	24 Sept	Chandraghanta	Bravery & peace	Grey
4	25 Sept	Kushmanda	Source of universal energy	Orange
5	26 Sept	Skandamata	Motherly love & protection	White
6	27 Sept	Katyayani	Courage & warrior spirit	Red
7	28 Sept	Kalaratri	Power to destroy evil	Royal Blue
8	29 Sept	Mahagauri	Purity & serenity	Pink
9	30 Sept	Siddhidatri	Blessings & perfection	Purple

Rituals of Navratri 2025

• Ghatasthapana (Day 1): Establishing a pot or kalash symbolising Goddess Durga.
• Daily Puja: Morning and evening prayers with flowers, incense, diyas, and mantras.
• Fasting: Devotees observe strict or partial fasts to show devotion and discipline.
• Kanya Puja: Worship of young girls as a form of Goddess Durga, usually on the 8th or 9th day.
• Vijaya Dashami: On the last day, Dussehra is celebrated with Ram Leela performances and the burning of Ravana’s effigies in many regions.

Regional Variations of Navratri 2025

Gujarat & Maharashtra – Dance and Devotion

• Garba and Dandiya Raas are the highlight.
• People wear colourful outfits and dance late into the night.

West Bengal & Odisha – Durga Puja Glory

• Durga idols installed in grand pandals.
• Cultural programs, bhog prasad, and massive processions on Dashami.

South India – Golu and Bathukamma

• Tamil Nadu: Golu displays of dolls representing gods and social scenes.
• Telangana & Andhra Pradesh: Bathukamma flower festival celebrated by women.

North India – Ram Leela and Dussehra

• Dramatic enactments of Ramayana across towns.
• Burning of Ravana effigies symbolising victory of good over evil.

Himalayan and Northeast States

• Special fairs, jagrans (night-long prayers), and local traditions unique to each region.

Also Read: Lesser-Known Navratri Rituals: Exploring India’s Rich Regional Traditions

Navratri 2025 Fasting Food List

Allowed foods:

• Fruits, dry fruits, milk, paneer
• Potatoes, sweet potatoes
• Flours like kuttu (buckwheat) and singhara (water chestnut)
• Rock salt (sendha namak) instead of regular salt

Popular fasting dishes:

• Sabudana khichdi
• Kuttu poori with aloo sabzi
• Singhare ke laddoo
• Makhana kheer

Avoided foods:

• Onion, garlic, rice, wheat, alcohol, non-vegetarian items

Takeaway

Navratri 2025 is not just a religious festival; it’s an experience of devotion, joy, and cultural richness. Whether you join a Garba night in Gujarat, visit a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, or arrange a Golu display at home in Tamil Nadu, every region offers something unique. As the festival approaches, plan your celebrations, embrace the colours, and carry the blessings of Goddess Durga with you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. When does Navratri 2025 start and end?

It starts on 22 September and ends on 2 October 2025.

Q. Which colour is worn on the first day of Navratri 2025?

Yellow is the colour for Day 1, dedicated to Goddess Shailaputri.

Q. Is it necessary to fast for all nine days?

No, many devotees fast only for one, two, or selected days.

Q. What happens on Dussehra 2025?

Effigies of Ravana are burnt, and in Bengal, Durga idols are immersed in rivers or seas.