Navaratri · Sharad Navaratri

Culture of origin: Hindu · Cultural

Holiday sources: Hinduism

Sharad Navaratri, the "nine nights" of autumn, honours the Goddess Durga, and with her Lakshmi and Saraswati. At home the festival centres on Ghatasthapana: a pot of water topped with a coconut and mango leaves is set on a small platform of soil in which barley is sown. Many fast. Gujarat dances garba, the eastern states keep the festival as Durga Puja, and the nine nights end with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on the tenth day.