Durga is the supreme goddess of the Shakta tradition, the fierce and compassionate Divine Mother who embodies shakti, the dynamic power behind all creation. Riding a lion and bearing the weapons of all the gods, she slays the buffalo demon Mahishasura, restoring balance to the world. She is worshipped in her nine forms during Navaratri.

Durga

The Divine Mother; invincible power that protects and upholds the cosmos.

Navaratri spans nine nights of devotion to Durga and her nine forms (Navadurga), celebrating the goddess's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Regional expressions vary widely, from the Garba and Dandiya dances of Gujarat to the elaborate Golu doll displays of the south. It culminates in Vijayadashami, the day of triumph.

Navaratri

Nine nights honouring the Divine Mother in her many forms.

Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, celebrates the victory of good over evil, marking both Rama's defeat of Ravana and Durga's slaying of Mahishasura. Effigies of Ravana are burned in the north, while the south and east honour the conclusion of Navaratri. It is considered highly auspicious for new beginnings.

Dussehra

The day of victory, when good triumphs over evil.

Durga

Festivals