Navratri Festivities in Gujarat: A Comprehensive Guide

Navratri, the nine-night festival dedicated to the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga, is set to illuminate Gujarat once again from September 22 to 30, 2025. This vibrant cultural and devotional celebration will take place in every city, village, and neighbourhood across the state.

The festivities will kick off in Udaipur with the Vibrant Gujarat Pre-Navratri Festival starting on September 14. Other significant locations include Vadodara, home to the massive United Way Garba with tens of thousands of dancers, Bhavnagar, known for community-centric celebrations, and Ambaji, famous for temple-style festivities.

Food plays a crucial role in Navratri celebrations, with local markets and food lanes catering to every diet. Traditional Navratri snacks like fafda and jalebi, besan dhokla, khandvi, and sev tameta are staples during this period. Street food vendors will also be selling fasting snacks like sabudana khichdi, farali pattice, and batata vada.

The garbo pot, a central element of nightly pujas during Navratri, is mixed with devotion and dance. Families in villages make a garbo pot at the household altar, containing water, a coconut, betel leaf, and a silver coin.

Men in Navratri celebrations wear a short embroidered jacket, dhoti or pants, a bandhani-printed pagdi (turban), and traditional mojri shoes. Women typically wear a chaniya choli - a flared, embroidered skirt and matching blouse - with a dupatta draped over one shoulder.

Music and dance are central to Navratri, with traditional Garba songs and drums played, and dancers moving in circles or performing Dandiya Raas. The GMDC Ground in Gujarat attracts about one lakh (100,000) Garba players each night during Navratri.

Bhadra Fort and Rajpath Club in Ahmedabad host large Navratri events with professional music setups and celebrity performers. Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Riverfront and Vadodara's Navlakhi Ground are major festival grounds for Navratri celebrations.

Navratri is also a time when many Gujaratis fast or observe dietary restrictions and sing hymns for Maa Durga's blessings. The emphasis on women joining the Navratri festival underscores the spiritual unity and empowerment it brings.

Each night of Navratri in Gujarat focuses on a different aspect of Maa Durga. Major Shakti temples in Gujarat, such as Ambaji, Pavagadh, and Bahucharaji, see special celebrations during Navratri. Navratri events often include theme-based pavilions with craft bazaars and performances.

Garba parties can be found in small towns offering authentic celebrations. The leadership of the Navratri festivals in Gujarat in 2025 is under the Gujarat Tourism Department, with key figures including Chetan Misal (General Manager), Harendra Singh Dabi (Assistant General Manager), and Gaurikant Sharma (Deputy Director of Information & Public Relations, Udaipur).

Navratri is a time of unity, devotion, and celebration in Gujarat, and it promises to be an unforgettable experience for all who participate. Join in the festivities and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, music, and dance of Navratri 2025.