Indian wedding

For Madhu and Rajendra Bahuguna from Dehradun, Uttaranchal, Navratri has a special meaning. The couple observes a fast during all the nine days, "We fast for nine days and worship Goddess Durga (Nav Durga ) who took different avatars or incarnations killing nine evil forces or asuras. Each day of Navratri is devoted to one avatar. Our day starts with the recital of the Chandi Paath, which is a ritual for all the nine days.
We also sow 'Jowar' seeds on the first day. The height of the shoot is an indicator of the times to come. We also keep a coconut (Shriphal) at our place of worship, which is distributed as prasad on the ninth day. All of us abstain from non-veg, alcohol and even onion and garlic during this period."
On the ninth day, the couple invite nine young girls (signifying the nine avataars of the Goddess Durga) and worships them.

In Gujarat, Navratri is associated with dandiya and garba . Television actress Shital Thakkar and husband Ritesh Kothari celebrate the festival in all its traditional glory. "We place a matki in our house and worship the Goddess Amba .
Most homes have a 'diya' installed which has to be kept burning for all the 9 days and nights. During the evening puja an aarti in praise of Ma Amba is sung after which the women folk get together and start singing garbas. However, these days we have big grounds where dandiya is performed. As a child I used to go and play Dandiya for all the nine days but now I don't get the time and usually go on the last day."

Durga Puja is the most important festival for Bengalis. The streets of Kolkatta are filled with beautiful and elaborate pandals. The traditional six-day countdown to Mahasaptami starts from Mahalaya .
For famous singer Shaan and Radhika Mukherji, Navratri is all about celebrations. Says Shaan, "Like any other Bengali Durga Puja is a very special festival. Though I don't know all the rituals and the ceremonies that are performed, I go and visit the pandals that are created all across Mumbai. I also have a few concerts in the evenings where I sing devotional songs. As a kid, I remember that we had a small Puja at our house and then we would visit family and friends. I also intend to take my kids out this time so that they also understand their culture."

Murli and Annipurna V. Narayanan, from Kerala celebrate Navratri with a flavour unique to most of the country. "Unlike North India, we worship Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, during Navratri," informs Murli. "On the first day we worship all the idols of Hindu gods, goddesses, sages, poets, mythological characters along with two wooden idols called Chettiar (symbolic and mandatory). Children's books and musical instruments are placed before the Goddess and pujas are performed.
In the evening too a puja is performed where bhajans in the praise of Saraswati are sung. We also invite married women and kids and they are given prasad. When we invite people it is customary for them to sing a kirtan (a song in praise of the gods and goddesses). The tenth day (Viyay Dashmi) or the Vidyarambham day is a day to begin new ventures, be it business or education. It is on this day that toddlers are taught their first alphabet. Formal training in music, dance and other art forms commences on this day."