सनातन पुस्तकालय Sanatan Cultural Library

Navratri — "nine nights" — honours Shakti, the Divine Mother, in her nine forms. The Devi Mahatmya tells the central story: the buffalo demon Mahishasura, unconquerable by any god, is destroyed by Durga, born of the combined radiance of all the devas — the tradition's declaration that when powers unite in righteousness, no evil can stand. The nine nights are often understood as three triads: the first three nights to Durga, who removes what obstructs; the middle three to Lakshmi, who grants what nourishes; the final three to Saraswati, who bestows what illumines. The festival ends on the tenth day, Vijayadashami — victory day — which northern tradition also celebrates as Dussehra, Rama's defeat of Ravana.

Navratri opens with Ghatasthapana — installing the kalash that embodies the Goddess for the nine nights — at a specific muhurta on the first morning. Many observe a full or partial fast, taking only phalahar (fruit, milk, specific grains like kuttu and singhara). Each night honours one of the Navadurga, from Shailaputri on the first night to Siddhidatri on the ninth. Gujarat dances garba and dandiya raas around the lit deepgarbha; Tamil, Telugu and Kannada homes arrange golu — tiered displays of dolls and deities; Bengal builds up to the great Durga Puja days from Shashthi to Dashami. Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami bring kanya puja, where young girls are honoured as the Goddess herself. The exact Ottawa dates for the key days are in the Festivals & Dates list on this page.

Navratri's tithis are computed astronomically, so Ottawa's dates can shift by a day from India's — the dates on this page are calculated precisely for the Canadian timezone. Fasting works anywhere: kuttu flour, singhara, sabudana and rock salt are available at Ottawa's Indian grocery stores. Garba and dandiya nights are organized by community associations in the Ottawa area each Sharad Navratri, and the city's mandirs hold nightly Durga aarti and Durga Ashtami programmes — see our Hindu temples in Ottawa guide and confirm each venue's schedule. A home observance needs only a kalash, a lamp kept lit, the Durga Chalisa or Ambe Gauri aarti each evening, and a simple fast kept with sincerity.