Navratri –– is one of India’s most exuberant festivals, and Gujarat transforms it into a state-wide, all-night dance party. Every evening people gather in open squares around a small shrine to the goddess (garbo) and dance in concentric circles. At the festival’s start each family builds a garbo – an earthen pot with a coconut, betel nut and coins to symbolize the goddess – and performs puja. Over the nine nights the community honours Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati in sequence. By nightfall the ceremony gives way to pulsating Garba and Dandiya rhythms – drums, harmonium and songs – and villagers (as well as city folk) whirl “towards the divinity” that every woman holds within. Even traditionally reserved women freely join the dance, a vivid expression of empowerment and joy. Devotees pay homage to the nine divine forms of Maa Durga with deep reverence, invoking their blessings for strength, prosperity, and wisdom throughout the nine nights.
In Gujarat, Navratri is first a nine-night puja dedicated to the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga. Each night’s rituals focus on a different aspect of the Maa Durga. Navratri is the celebration of worshipping the nine pious forms of Maa Durga namely Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. In villages, families make a garbo pot at the household altar – containing water, a coconut, betel leaf and a silver coin – to invoke Durga’s presence. That sacred pot is central to nightly pujas mixing devotion and dance. Outside the home, major Shakti temples overflow with pilgrims: Ambaji (one of the 51 Shakti Peethas), Pavagadh, and Bahucharaji near Mehsana see special celebrations. Other regional shrines – Ashapura Mata-no-Madh in Kutch, Khodiyar Mata near Bhavnagar, and the Chamunda Mata temple at Chotila – similarly host Navratri festivities. Between dances, many Gujaratis fast or observe dietary restrictions and sing hymns for Maa Durga’s blessings. The emphasis on women joining the festival (“even the most traditional and housebound”) underlines the spiritual unity and empowerment Navratri brings.
Navratri in Gujarat is a kaleidoscope of colour. Every dancer decks out in elaborate traditional dress. Women typically wear a chaniya choli – a flared, embroidered skirt and matching blouse – with a dupatta draped over one shoulder. These chaniya cholis often feature bright bandhani (tie-dye) or leheriya prints, heavy mirrorwork and bead embroidery. Men wear a short embroidered jacket (kediyu) with a dhoti or pants, a bandhani-printed pagdi (turban) and traditional mojri shoes. From bangles and ankle bells to necklaces and earrings, every piece of jewelry adds to the flash. The result is a swirling rainbow of costumes under the festival lights: every Garba circle glitters like a living mandala as dancers whirl around the lamp or goddess icon.
Music and dance are at Navratri’s heart. Each night the community circles around a lamp or a deity icon, clapping and moving in step to traditional Garba songs and drums. Initially the tempo is slow and devotional, but as the night builds it turns into a joyous frenzy. Dancers trade simple hand-claps for paired wooden sticks in Dandiya Raas, striking in rhythm and adding a lively counterpoint to the circle dances. The circular Garba itself is deeply symbolic – a rotating mandala of life with Maa Durga at its centre. (Gujarat’s folk heritage even earned “Garba of Gujarat” UNESCO intangible-heritage status recently.) Importantly, Garba is inclusive: anyone can step into a circle, and caste or class distinctions vanish in the joy of the dance. Families and strangers alike mingle freely through the night. Modern Garba music often fuses traditional lyrics to the goddess with contemporary beats, keeping the age-old tradition fresh and appealing for today’s youth.
Gujarat is the land of the Goddess Durga women celebrates Garba all night without fear. Navratri creates a space of safety and devotion where every dancer feels empowered to rejoice freely.Police also monitor the state-wide women’s helpline (dial 181) throughout Navratri for immediate response. Beyond security, organizers prepare for health needs with medical vans, first-aid posts, and clearly marked emergency exits at major grounds. Together, these measures create an atmosphere where women of all ages can celebrate joyfully and fearlessly through the night.
Every city in Gujarat hosts Garba celebrations. Gujarat Tourism’s Navratri at the GMDC Ground draws about one lakh (100,000) Garba players each night throughout the nine-day festival, transforming the venue into a pulsating showcase of Gujarat’s cultural heritage and communal spirit. However, you don’t need to buy tickets – every village and neighbourhood in Gujarat throws its own Garba party. Travellers should pack dance-friendly shoes and plan to stay up late, because in Gujarat the party really doesn’t stop until dawn.
Key experiences to add to your Navratri itinerary include:
Join a Garba Circle: Any open-air Garba is a chance to dance with locals. Just follow the rhythms at sundown. Gujarat Tourism notes that Garba happens “in villages and neighbourhoods all around Gujarat,” so even small towns offer authentic celebrations.
Attend Grand Events: Check out large festival grounds. Ahmedabad’s famed Sabarmati Riverfront (hosting the 2025 Rangtali festival) and Vadodara’s Navlakhi Ground (United Way’s Garba) are musts. In Ahmedabad you’ll also find major events at historic venues like Bhadra Fort or the Rajpath Club. These draw massive crowds, professional music setups and even celebrity performers.
Temple Fairs and Pilgrimages: Plan a daytime visit to the Shakti temples, which become pilgrimage hubs during Navratri. Ambaji Mata (on the Rajasthan border) and the hilltop Pavagadh temple see huge Dussehra processions on Day 10. Close to Ahmedabad, the Chamunda Mata temple at Chotila and the Bahucharaji temple attract devotion and local festivities.
Cultural Bazaars & Crafts: Many Navratri events include theme-based pavilions with craft bazaars and performances. Nearby market stalls spill into street fairs. In cities, the old bazaars fill up with embroidered chaniya-cholis, bandhani-dyed kediyas and all the dancing paraphernalia. Look for special Garba handicrafts and souvenirs at pop-up melas in October.
Shop & Snack: Gujarat’s festive street food is an attraction of its own. Vendors line Garba grounds with farali (fasting) snacks: sabudana khichdi (tapioca pilaf), batata vada (potato fritter) and farali pattice are everywhere. And no Navratri outing is complete without FAFDA and Jalebi – crispy gram-flour sticks with syrupy pretzels – a traditional combo especially associated with Dussehra. Ahmedabad’s Manek Chowk or Vadodara’s Raopura Market turn into late-night food hubs where you can grab steaming fafda jalebi or khandvi and dhokla in between dances.
By nightfall, Gujarat’s streets and auditoriums will be awash in colour, music and joyful crowds. Whether you go to a massive city gala or a humble village Garba, you’ll find a warm welcome in every circle.
Navratri in Gujarat is as much a culinary fest as a dance festival. Tradition mixes with convenience at the food stalls. As Gujarat Tourism notes, the tenth day (Vijayadashami) is often celebrated by “unabashedly eating lots of fafda, a salty fried crunchy snack, and jalebi, a sweet fried sticky snack.” During the festival nights you’ll see carts selling sabudana khichdi, farali pattice (potato-coconut patties) and batata vada on sticks – all filling, garlicky favourites for those observing fast. Crunchy fafda with chutneys, paired with sugary jalebi, is a beloved combo that Gujaratis snatch up for breakfast even in the early morning hours. Local markets and food lanes cater to every diet: you can also find besan dhokla, khandvi, sev tameta and other Gujarati specialties for a quick snack between dances. Each bite – from buttery patra rolls to steaming hot jalebi – is a taste of Gujarat’s festive spirit. It’s no wonder you’ll see festival-goers lining up at food stalls just as eagerly as they line up to dance – both dancing and feasting last well into the night.
