Creative Ideas to Make This Year's Navaratri Celebration Fun, Festive, And Unforgettable For The Family

Since childhood, I’ve always looked forward to Navaratri, starting from July with grand plans. These included trips to the tailor, shopping for matching shoes, jewelry, and hair accessories, and searching for the perfect home decor items. The excitement of welcoming the festive season with loved ones was unmatched. Here are some ideas to make this year’s Navaratri celebration fun and memorable, from family gatherings to home festivities.

1. Organise a bhajan and prayer meet

Navaratri is that time of the year when bhajan and shloka recitation happen. How about organising a bhajan and prayer evening at home? You can cook something special with your family as an offering to the gods, dress up, sit around in a circle, and sing a few bhajans. Ask your children to blow the conch shell or ring the brass bell, and light some incense sticks and diyas. You could also pray and meditate together. See how calm and energised you feel.

2. Conduct a storytelling session

Every culture has a different story behind Navaratri or Durga Puja. How about sharing some of these tales with your child? Share a different story every night. (For example, you could narrate one Dashavatara story every night, 10 stories, 10 nights, including Vijayadashami). Create a warm ambience, arrange some instrumental background music and start your storytelling session. Ask your child what they know about the significance of these festivals. Tell them how you celebrated Navaratri in your childhood. Don't be surprised if you lose track of time and get immersed in the world of stories!

3. Throw a garba or dandiya party

Navaratri is incomplete without garba (Gujarati folk dance) or dandiya (dance performed with colourfully painted bamboo sticks). Do it at home with your family. Dress up in your favourite clothes, play some peppy dance numbers, and clear some space where you can dance together and have fun. Remember to stay hydrated with some homemade jaljeera, lemonade or milkshake. Groove, sway and dance with joy!

4. Make one new dish a day

How about involving your children in preparing special dishes during the nine days of Navaratri? They are sure to enjoy helping you out in the kitchen. Enlist their help and try to make one new dish every day. To make this activity more fun and challenging, you can explore ideas like making a dish that starts with the letter of a family member's name on each day of Navaratri.

Gift a Smile

Festivals are those times when we are showered with gifts from friends and family. Send over some gifts to make a loved one feel special. The lockdown has rekindled the gardener in my mother-in-law. She's on a gardening spree and loves bonsai [the Japanese art of growing small trees in small containers]. So, we're planning to send her a gardening kit and a bonsai pomegranate plant, shares Vanita Sood from Pune.

Plants make for great gifts. They not only beautify your home, but also uplift your spirits. Other gift options include scented candles, diffusers, or potpourri, their calming fragrances can help create those festive vibes. So, go ahead and brighten the lives and homes of your loved ones with such thoughtful gifts.

During Navaratri, also, while you have fun, spare a thought for the less fortunate. Prepare a hearty meal for them and savour the smile on their faces.