Celebrating Navaratri: A Festival of Joy & Colour

Navaratri is a vibrant and joyful festival celebrated by millions of people around the world, especially in India. It’s a time for dancing, singing, and coming together with family and friends. For preschoolers, learning about Navaratri is a wonderful way to introduce them to different cultures and help them understand the beauty of celebrating diversity. This nine-day festival offers an opportunity to teach important values such as respect, togetherness, and the joy of sharing in cultural traditions.

What is Navaratri?

Navaratri, which means "Nine Nights" in Sanskrit, is a Hindu festival that honors the goddess Durga and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It typically occurs in the autumn, between September and October. Each day of Navaratri is dedicated to a different form of Durga, and people celebrate by dressing in colorful clothes, singing devotional songs, dancing, and offering prayers.

The festival also symbolizes the change of seasons, and for many, it is a time of renewal and spiritual reflection. While Navaratri is rooted in ancient Hindu traditions, its message of good overcoming bad and the importance of inner strength is something that can resonate with everyone, including young children.

The Origins and Significance of Navaratri

Navaratri has ancient origins and is celebrated to honor goddess Durga, who represents power, courage, and protection. According to Hindu mythology, Durga defeated a powerful demon after a long battle, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. This story teaches an important lesson: we all have the strength inside us to overcome challenges and make good choices.

For preschoolers, Navaratri can be understood as a time to think about how they can be brave, kind, and help others, just like the goddess Durga.

How is Navaratri Celebrated Around the World?

Navaratri is celebrated in many different ways across India and by Hindu communities around the world, including in the UK. These celebrations may differ slightly depending on the region, but they all share a sense of joy, devotion, and community.

1. Colorful Dresses and Dance

During Navaratri, people wear brightly colored clothes, with each day having a color that symbolizes different qualities like courage, happiness, and peace. In some regions, children and adults take part in traditional dances, like Garba and Dandiya, where they dance in circles with sticks. These dances are joyful expressions of gratitude and devotion to the goddess.

What Preschoolers Can Learn:

• The joy of dressing up in colorful clothes and celebrating with dance
• How people in different cultures express happiness through dance and music

2. Decorating Homes and Temples

People decorate their homes and temples with flowers, lights, and rangoli, which are beautiful patterns made on the floor using colored powders or flowers. In South India, families also set up Golu, a display of dolls that represent gods, goddesses, and scenes from Hindu mythology.

What Preschoolers Can Learn:

• Creativity and the beauty of decoration
• The importance of bringing light and color into celebrations

3. Special Prayers and Offerings

During Navaratri, families come together to offer prayers to goddess Durga and ask for her blessings. Offerings often include sweets, fruits, and special dishes prepared during the festival. In temples, people gather to sing bhajans (devotional songs) and participate in ceremonies.

What Preschoolers Can Learn:

• The significance of coming together to show gratitude and respect
• The idea of sharing food and kindness during special times

4. Fasting and Feasting

Many people observe fasts during Navaratri, eating only specific foods as a way of cleansing and renewing their spirits. At the end of the festival, there is a big feast where families enjoy delicious meals together.

What Preschoolers Can Learn:

• Understanding the balance between fasting and feasting as part of tradition
• The importance of family meals and sharing food

5. Durga Puja in Kolkata

In the eastern part of India, especially in Kolkata, Navaratri is celebrated as Durga Puja, a grand festival with elaborate statues of the goddess Durga. These statues are beautifully decorated and placed in pandals (temporary stages) for people to visit, offer prayers, and enjoy cultural events. At the end of the festival, the statues are carried to rivers in a grand procession and immersed in the water.

What Preschoolers Can Learn:

• The importance of community and working together to create something beautiful
• The joy of large celebrations and how people around the world celebrate in unique ways

Teaching Preschoolers the Values of Navaratri

Navaratri is not only a time for celebration but also an opportunity to teach preschoolers valuable lessons that they can carry with them:

• Kindness and Helping Others: Just like goddess Durga protected others, preschoolers can learn how important it is to be kind and help those in need.
• The Power of Goodness: Navaratri celebrates the victory of good over evil, reminding children that making good choices and being brave can make the world a better place.
• Celebrating Diversity: Through learning about Navaratri, children can begin to understand that different cultures have their own special traditions and celebrations, and this diversity makes our world richer and more interesting.

Fun Activities for Preschoolers to Celebrate Navaratri

1. Colorful Dress-Up Day

Celebrate the colors of Navaratri by having a special dress-up day where children wear bright, festive clothes. Talk about how wearing different colors can represent different feelings, like happiness, courage, and peace.

2. Dance Time: Simple Garba and Dandiya

Introduce preschoolers to the joy of Garba and Dandiya dancing. Play some traditional music and let the children try simple moves in a circle. You can also make small sticks for a safe version of Dandiya and let the children tap them together while dancing.

3. Rangoli Art with Shapes and Colors

Create a simple rangoli pattern using colored paper or safe chalk. Preschoolers can help place the pieces into a pattern, teaching them about creativity and the importance of decoration in celebration.

4. Story Time: The Tale of Durga

Tell a simplified version of the story of Durga’s victory over evil, using puppets or pictures to help the children understand. Emphasize the values of bravery and goodness, and ask children what they would do to help others.

5. Make an Offering Plate

Have the children help create a small offering plate with play fruit, flowers, and sweets. Explain that this represents sharing and gratitude, important themes during Navaratri.

Conclusion

Navaratri is a festival filled with color, joy, and cultural richness, making it a perfect opportunity for preschoolers to learn about the world’s diversity. By introducing them to this celebration through stories, music, art, and dance, we can teach them important lessons about kindness, bravery, and the beauty of different traditions.

As we explore Navaratri, we also remind children that no matter where we come from or what we celebrate, we all share the same values of love, togetherness, and the triumph of good.