Navratri Celebrations in Punjab

Navratri is celebrated in Punjab by fasting for seven days. Some people live on milk for seven days and break their fast on Ashtami (eighth day) or Navmi (ninth day).  On the eighth day or Ashtami, the fast is broken by worshipping young girls who are believed to symbolize the Goddess herself. The young girls are offered puris (sort of deep-fried Indian bread), halwa (a dessert primarily made of flour and sugar), chanas (Bengal gram) and red chunnis (long scarves).

This festival is predominantly linked with harvest. Non-vegetarian food and liquor is avoided completely. People organize ‘jagrans’ to sing devotional songs all night in praise of the Mother Goddess.