Navratri 2022 starts on 26 Sept (Monday) and ends on 5 Oct (Wednesday) while Dussehra is on 5 Oct (Wednesday)
It is that divine time of the year when the entire country echoes the chants, bhajans and jai-karas. The back-to-back festivities gives such divine and positive vibes that everyone, despite the religion, loves this time of the year in India. Whether it is Navratri in Gujrat, Durga puja in Kolkata or Dasara (Dussehra) in Mysore, every place in India gives such amazing experiences to its visitors.
I strongly suggest everyone to travel to experience the different kinds of celebrations happening all across the country during this time. In this post, I am giving my best travel tips for travelling in Navratri & Dussehra, so that you get to enjoy the festival to the fullest.
Read: 5 Best Places to Travel to Celebrate Navratri in India
Travel Tips for Travelling in Navratri & Dussehra:
Try Something New:
Experience the amazing shidoor-khela or dhunuchi-nach in the pandals of Durga Puja in Kolkata, where women come together to celebrate the festival while dancing and playing with sindoor and gulaal. It looks like Holi and will surely get you straight into the festival spirit. You can also visit Mysore as Mysore is in its all glitter and glory as the famous Mysore palace is all decked up in lights and streets are all decorated for the festival Dasara. You can also fly to Gujrat to experience the traditional Garba dance night or book your tickets to Delhi for the famous Ramlila play.
Be a part of it: travelling in Navratri & Dussehra
Yes, you need to experience the festivities by participating in the activities and not just looking from the outside and clicking photos. You will enjoy ten times more if you be a part of that Shindoor-khela ceremony or the Garba circle. By participating, you will experience how amazing it is be a part of such cultural activities and will surely make you feel rejuvenated and lively.
Travel back in time:
I always says, visiting a monument is more like time travelling for sometime. The festivals and cultural ceremonies make more sense if you know the reason and history behind it. Why is Navratri celebrated for 9 Nights? Why is Durga Puja celebrated the way it is done? What is a reason behind Garba dance? Why is Mysore so enthusiastic for Dasara (Dusshera) than any other festival? Just talk to the locals about the ceremonies and reasons behind it and you will feel even more connected to the moment and the ritual and will be able to enjoy even more.
Wear the traditional outfits:
So, when you travel to a certain place for the festivities, I always suggest to get dressed up in the traditional clothes. For example, you can wear a chaniya choli or kali/kalidar kurta if you goto Gujrat for Navratris. Every place has a traditional outfit, you have to wear it at least once in order to get into the vibes of the place. Like it is said, ‘rang me rang jao’, you have to do exactly the same!
Eat the local delicacies:
During the festivals, there are lots of pandals and kiosks setup to add-on to the celebration. There, they often serve the local delicacies like Sondesh in Kolkata, Fafda and Thepla in Gujrat to name a few. You must try the local delicacies too. Festivals are the best time to eat guilt-free!
Also read: travelling in Navratri & Dussehra
5 Navratri Food Items to Eat if You are Fasting while Travelling
Best Bollywood Movies having Navratri Celebration in it
Why We Celebrate Navratri Festival?
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