Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratri means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Devi are worshiped. Navaratri represents a celebration of the Goddess Amba, (the Power). Navaratri or Navadurga Parva happens to be the most auspicious and unique period of devotional worship of Shakti (the sublime, ultimate, absolute creative energy) of the Divine conceptualized as the Mother Goddess-Durga, whose worship dates back to prehistoric times before the dawn of the Vedic age. Traditionally, Navratri celebrations are linked to different dance forms, primarily garba and raas.

Garba honors Durga, the feminine form of divinity. Garba is performed in a circle as a symbol of the Hindu view of time. The rings of dancers revolve in cycles, as time in Hinduism is cyclical. The dance symbolizes that God, represented in feminine form in this case, is the only thing that remains unchanging in a constantly changing universe (jagat).

Raas, commonly known as “Dandiya Raas”, is performed during Navaratri. Other forms of Raas include Dang Lila from Rajasthan where only one large stick is used, and “Rasa lila” from North India. In Dandiya Raas men and women dance in two circles, with sticks in their hands.

Navratri in Vancouver has been celebrated for almost half a century. Although there are various different types of Navratri events taking place throughout the Lower Mainland, the Navratri Festival prides itself on celebrating Navratri as authentically as we can. We want to emulate our ancestors who have been celebrating this beautiful festival for over a thousand years! If you want to witness and participate in an event that is bringing the traditional Gujarati Navratri into Canada than this is the event for you!