Across North India, Navratri takes several forms, from fasting and daily worship to Kanya Pujan and Ramlila performances. In many places, the wider festival season builds toward Dussehra, when the story of Rama’s victory over Ravana reaches a public climax through Ramlila and Ravan Dahan. Practices vary considerably across this large region, spanning Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, but the connection between Navratri, Ramlila, and Dussehra is especially prominent in North Indian cultural life.
Ramlila: the Ramayana on stage
Ramlila is a theatrical, community-based retelling of the Ramayana, performed through a sequence of scenes involving narration, song, dialogue, and ritual. It takes place during the Dussehra season across North India. Many Ramlila traditions run for 10 to 12 days, while some, such as the celebrated Ramnagar tradition, continue for much longer. Representative traditions include those of Ayodhya, Ramnagar and Benares, Vrindavan, Almora, Satna, and Madhubani. In 2008, Ramlila was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Fasting and daily worship
Fasting is widely observed during Navratri, although the form varies between individuals, families, and regions. Some people avoid grains and certain foods, while others follow more restrictive fasts for some or all of the nine days. Daily prayer and home worship are also common, sometimes including a lit lamp kept in a sanctified pot as one possible household practice among several.
Kanya Pujan (Kanjak): worship of young girls
A widely observed Navratri household ritual in parts of North India, Kanya Pujan or Kanjak takes place on Ashtami or Navami, the timing varies by family. Young girls are invited into homes, honoured as forms of the goddess, their feet traditionally washed, and offered food such as puri, halwa, and chana as an expression of respect. Practices vary by family and region.
Dussehra: Ravan Dahan and the end of the festival
In the North Indian Ramlila tradition, Dussehra or Vijayadashami marks the culmination of the Ramayana narrative, with Rama’s victory over Ravana. Ravan Dahan commonly involves the burning of large effigies of Ravana and, in many celebrations, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad as well, often accompanied by fireworks and large public gatherings. Some effigies are built many metres tall, and the burning is widely understood as a symbolic triumph of good over evil.
FAQ
What is Ramlila?
A traditional theatrical performance of the Ramayana, particularly associated with the Dussehra season in North India. Performances vary in length: many run for 10 to 12 days, while some traditions continue much longer. UNESCO inscribed Ramlila on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
What is Kanya Pujan or Kanjak?
A Navratri ritual observed on Ashtami or Navami in parts of North India, in which young girls are invited into homes, honoured as forms of the goddess, and traditionally offered food such as puri, halwa, and chana. Practices vary by family and region.
What is Ravan Dahan?
The burning of an effigy of Ravana on Dussehra or Vijayadashami, often accompanied by effigies of Kumbhakarna and Meghnad. In the North Indian Ramlila tradition, it represents the culmination of the Ramayana narrative and Rama’s victory over Ravana.
Why is Ravan Dahan celebrated on Dussehra?
In the North Indian Ramlila tradition, Dussehra marks the climax of the Ramayana story, when Rama defeats Ravana. The burning of Ravana’s effigy, often alongside those of Kumbhakarna and Meghnad, symbolises the defeat of evil and brings the public Ramlila narrative to its conclusion.