Navaratri is a vibrant and joyful festival celebrated by millions of people around the world, especially in India. It’s a time for dancing, singing, and coming together with family and friends. For preschoolers, learning about Navaratri is a wonderful way to introduce them to different cultures and help them understand the beauty of celebrating diversity. This nine-day festival offers an opportunity to teach important values such as respect, togetherness, and the joy of sharing in cultural traditions.
Navaratri, which means "Nine Nights" in Sanskrit, is a Hindu festival that honors the goddess Durga and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It typically occurs in the autumn, between September and October. Each day of Navaratri is dedicated to a different form of Durga, and people celebrate by dressing in colorful clothes, singing devotional songs, dancing, and offering prayers.
The festival also symbolizes the change of seasons, and for many, it is a time of renewal and spiritual reflection. While Navaratri is rooted in ancient Hindu traditions, its message of good overcoming bad and the importance of inner strength is something that can resonate with everyone, including young children.
Navaratri has ancient origins and is celebrated to honor goddess Durga, who represents power, courage, and protection. According to Hindu mythology, Durga defeated a powerful demon after a long battle, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. This story teaches an important lesson: we all have the strength inside us to overcome challenges and make good choices.
For preschoolers, Navaratri can be understood as a time to think about how they can be brave, kind, and help others, just like the goddess Durga.
Navaratri is celebrated in many different ways across India and by Hindu communities around the world, including in the UK. These celebrations may differ slightly depending on the region, but they all share a sense of joy, devotion, and community.
During Navaratri, people wear brightly colored clothes, with each day having a color that symbolizes different qualities like courage, happiness, and peace. In some regions, children and adults take part in traditional dances, like Garba and Dandiya, where they dance in circles with sticks. These dances are joyful expressions of gratitude and devotion to the goddess.
What Preschoolers Can Learn:
People decorate their homes and temples with flowers, lights, and rangoli, which are beautiful patterns made on the floor using colored powders or flowers. In South India, families also set up Golu, a display of dolls that represent gods, goddesses, and scenes from Hindu mythology.
What Preschoolers Can Learn:
During Navaratri, families come together to offer prayers to goddess Durga and ask for her blessings. Offerings often include sweets, fruits, and special dishes prepared during the festival. In temples, people gather to sing bhajans (devotional songs) and participate in ceremonies.
What Preschoolers Can Learn:
Many people observe fasts during Navaratri, eating only specific foods as a way of cleansing and renewing their spirits. At the end of the festival, there is a big feast where families enjoy delicious meals together.
What Preschoolers Can Learn:
In the eastern part of India, especially in Kolkata, Navaratri is celebrated as Durga Puja, a grand festival with elaborate statues of the goddess Durga. These statues are beautifully decorated and placed in pandals (temporary stages) for people to visit, offer prayers, and enjoy cultural events. At the end of the festival, the statues are carried to rivers in a grand procession and immersed in the water.
What Preschoolers Can Learn:
Navaratri is not only a time for celebration but also an opportunity to teach preschoolers valuable lessons that they can carry with them:
Celebrate the colors of Navaratri by having a special dress-up day where children wear bright, festive clothes. Talk about how wearing different colors can represent different feelings, like happiness, courage, and peace.
Introduce preschoolers to the joy of Garba and Dandiya dancing. Play some traditional music and let the children try simple moves in a circle. You can also make small sticks for a safe version of Dandiya and let the children tap them together while dancing.
Create a simple rangoli pattern using colored paper or safe chalk. Preschoolers can help place the pieces into a pattern, teaching them about creativity and the importance of decoration in celebration.
Tell a simplified version of the story of Durga’s victory over evil, using puppets or pictures to help the children understand. Emphasize the values of bravery and goodness, and ask children what they would do to help others.
Have the children help create a small offering plate with play fruit, flowers, and sweets. Explain that this represents sharing and gratitude, important themes during Navaratri.
Navaratri is a festival filled with color, joy, and cultural richness, making it a perfect opportunity for preschoolers to learn about the world’s diversity. By introducing them to this celebration through stories, music, art, and dance, we can teach them important lessons about kindness, bravery, and the beauty of different traditions.
As we explore Navaratri, we also remind children that no matter where we come from or what we celebrate, we all share the same values of love, togetherness, and the triumph of good.