By Brittany Amalfi

On September 27th, music, dance, and celebration was planned for many at a Navratri event at the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School gym. Navratri, which means “nine nights” in Sanskrit, is one of India’s most significant festivals. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and honors Goddess Durga and her nine forms.

In India, Navratri is celebrated on a grand scale from September 22 to October 2 this year, with music, dancing, and prayers filling the streets every night for nine consecutive evenings. Families and neighbors gather for Garba and Dandiya Raas, traditional dances performed in circles or with decorated sticks called dandiyas. The sounds of drums and singing fill the neighborhoods as each night brings devotion, culture, and celebration together.

Navratri celebrates the Goddess Durga and her nine forms.

But for Indian American communities, the scale and timing of such festivities can be hard to replicate. Work schedules, school routines, and access to space often make it challenging to organize a nine-night celebration like the ones held in India.

That’s why Swati Patel Rao applied for a Franklin Cultural Council grant earlier this year—to bring at least one evening of Navratri to life locally. The grant made it possible to rent the Tri-County gym, hire a DJ, and create an event space where families could celebrate.

“We don’t have the luxury of celebrating nine nights here,” Rao explained when planning the event. “But even one evening helps bring the community together and keeps traditions alive.”

With the grant funding covering the costs, the event was open to all and drew more than 500 people. Attendees danced, socialized, and celebrated, many wearing traditional attire for the occasion. The evening offered a chance for younger generations to learn about the meaning behind Navratri while giving longtime community members a familiar connection to traditions from back home.

Although just one night, the celebration, which was scheduled to take place after Local Town Pages deadline, aimed to honor the values of Navratri: devotion, togetherness, and joy. Organizers say they hope to continue the tradition in future years, keeping the festival going for local families while sharing its cultural significance with the broader community.