Navratri And Durga Puja 2022: The Key Differences Between The Two Festivals

Even though Goddess Durga is honoured at both of these Hindu festivals, and are celebrated with great pomp and show, there are some customs and celebration styles that set apart the two occasions.

New Delhi: With the onset of September, India begins to gear up for the major festive season, which starts off with two of the most widely celebrated festivals: Navratri and Durga Puja.

Even though Goddess Durga is honoured at both of these Hindu festivals, and is celebrated with great pomp and show, there are some customs and celebration styles that set apart the two occasions. While Navratri is celebrated in the north and west of India, Durga Puja is the most important festival in Bengal and other eastern Indian regions.

The key differences between Navratri and Durga Puja:

1. Duration: Navratri is observed for nine days, followed by Dussehra. Durga Puja, on the other hand, is celebrated for ten days.

2. Significance: During Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshipped in each of her nine avatars for nine days. As a result, women dress in various colours on each day of Navratri. Meanwhile, Durga Puja commemorates Goddess Durga's victory over the monster Mahishasura, which also serves as a symbol of virtue triumphing over evil.

3. Fasting: While Navrati is a fasting period during which believers refrain from eating eggs, meat, onion, and garlic for nine days, Durga Puja is a time when Bengalis indulge in a variety of non-vegetarian delights. Durga Puja, which is widely celebrated by Bengalis, is a time to relax, laugh, and eat authentic Bengali cuisine.

4. First day of the puja: Navratri, begins with the adoration of Shailputri, the first manifestation of Goddess Durga. Mahalaya, on the other hand, the first day of Durga Puja, marks the beginning of the fight between Durga and Mahishasura. 

5. Last day of the puja: While Navratri concludes with the burning of Raavan effigies on Dussehra, Durga Puja concludes with Sindoor Khela, where married ladies apply sindoor (vermillion) on each other before the immersion of idols, after which everyone dances to the beat of the dhaak while taking the goddess for immersion in the river.

Despite the differences between the two festivals, the days of Navratri and Durga Puja are intended to bring people closer together.