In the Western part of the country, in Gujarat and Maharashtra, devotees and young people dance the Garba and Dandiya-Raas all through the night. While garba is slow, dandiya is an exuberant dance. Both dances have dancers striking their sticks in a rhythmic movement. Meanwhile the Navaratri festival celebrations in Ahmedabad and Baroda in Gujarat are famous throughout India. The women dance around an earthen lamp while singing devotional songs accompanied by rhythmic clapping of the hands.
In Punjab, Navaratri is a period of fasting. In Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh
and Karnataka, a special platform is constructed in homes on which are placed
icons, toys and other colorful objects. Friends and relatives are invited for
the Bommai Kolu, as the arrangement is called.
On the ninth day, people in southern India celebrate Saraswati Puja. All
objects of learning like books, stationary, musical instruments and other
objects associated with them are placed on a pedestal and worshiped. Since the
next day coincides with Vijayadashmi, the books are taken out and read. It is
believed that Aksharabhyas is an auspicious day for children to be initiated
into learning.
