Celebrations for Navratri, the nine-day Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, are set to take place across Manchester and the wider North West.
Running until 20 October, Navratri commemorates Goddess Durga’s battle against the demon Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival is one of the most significant events in the Hindu calendar and is celebrated with traditional dancing, prayers, lights, sweets and gift-giving.
Communities across the North West are marking the occasion, with Oldham hosting a series of free events throughout the festival.
Bharat Kumar Sisodia, from the Indian Association in Oldham, described Navratri as the “major festival of the year”.
He explained that Goddess Durga took nine different forms during her battle, with each day representing a different aspect of her power.
The festival concludes with Dussehra, which celebrates the victory of good over evil. According to Mr Sisodia, Durga’s defeat of Mahishasura symbolises the restoration of peace throughout the world.
He said: “In all festivals we have lights, sweets, gifts, prayers and singing, but this particular festival is nine days of dancing.”
Traditional celebrations include Garba, in which participants dance in circles around an idol of Goddess Durga, and Raas Dandiya, where dancers strike pairs of decorated wooden sticks together with their partners.
Mr Sisodia said the dancing creates a sense of spiritual connection and community.
“You feel that you are all connected with the divinity, and everyone else,” he said.
He added: “It is a nice social gathering, where the community just gets together.”
The Indian Association in Oldham is hosting free Navratri celebrations from 19:00 to 23:00 BST at Shree Radha Krishna Mandir on Schofield Street, with events scheduled daily until Tuesday.
