At StoryPoint Group senior living communities, we love to celebrate. Whether we’re celebrating a birthday, commemorating a milestone, or welcoming a new season, there’s always a meaningful moment for residents to look forward to, no matter the time of year.
For many seniors, Navratri is one of those special celebrations. Around the world, Navratri brings Hindus to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. At StoryPoint Group, the unique backgrounds and experiences of our residents make holiday celebrations extra special.
What is Navratri?
Navratri is a holiday celebrated by Hindus across India, South Asia, and other parts of the world. Though there are four distinct seasonal Navratri celebrations, the most widely celebrated one, Sharad Navratri, takes place in autumn every year.
Sharad Navratri (often simply “Navratri”) occurs during Ashvin, the seventh month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Because of this, where it falls on the Gregorian calendar can vary, although it usually lands in September or October.
Translating to “nine nights,” Navratri is a Hindu festival that takes place over nine days to celebrate the victory of goddess Durga over an evil demon, Mahishasura. Traditions and focuses surrounding the holiday vary widely depending on the region. Across variations, the holiday is often celebrated with various foods, meditations, dances, and gatherings.
How is Navratri Celebrated?
In North India, the Ramlila (or “Play of Rama”) is a major focus of the festival. In the Ramlila, scenes of the Ramayana — an epic marking the triumph of Lord Rama over the evil Ravana — are reenacted in performances that include music, dance, and puppetry. This pageant traditionally concludes with the burning of large effigies of Ravana, celebrating good winning over evil. Another popular way to celebrate is Kanya Puja, where young girls are honored and worshiped as embodiments of the goddess Durga.
In Southern India, many celebrate with elaborate displays of idols, figurines, and dolls of the gods, called “Golu” or “Kolu.” Southern Indian dishes are often prepared, such as vadapappu, a dish made by soaking yellow moong daal.
In Bengal and other eastern Indian states, Navratri is celebrated as Durga Puja. A famous aspect of Durga Puja is the visiting of lavishly decorated stages, or pandals — with family, friends, and neighbors often gathering to visit multiple pandals. Life-size idols of Durga are also lavishly displayed.
Navratri Activities for Seniors
Outside of India, Navratri is still celebrated by much of the Hindu diaspora with favorite traditions.
For Hindu seniors celebrating, they may enjoy:
- Spending time with family, friends, and loved ones
- Visiting Hindu temples and cultural centers
- Watching or participating in garba and dandiya dances
- Participating in a themed craft, like decorating dandiya sticks
For seniors who don’t celebrate Navratri, there are still several ways to mark the occasion. They include:
- Wishing those who celebrate a “Happy Navratri”
- Acknowledging that many celebrating may be fasting, forgoing foods like meat, onion, garlic, or salt
- Asking your Hindu neighbors about their religion and traditions, if they’d like to share
Celebrate Every Day at StoryPoint Group
At StoryPoint Group, we celebrate the people who make our communities so special. From holiday traditions to everyday activities and community events, life at StoryPoint Group is filled with ways to connect, engage, and shine every day.
Whether you’re looking for active adult living, independent living, enhanced living, assisted living, or memory care, you’ll find welcoming communities where there’s always something to celebrate.
To learn more about what makes life at StoryPoint Group so special, schedule a tour at a community near you, or call us at (844) 275-9990.
