Dharwad Celebrates Navaratri with Vibrant Festivities

The nine-day Navaratri celebrations in Dharwad, the cultural capital of north Karnataka, concluded on Vijaya Dashami (October 4, 2025). Throughout the festivities, the city's over 40 Durga temples attracted large numbers of devotees, who participated in special discourses, Durga Daud, Dandia Raas, and other religious rituals.

One of the major highlights was the Laxminarayan Temple fair, which ran for nine days leading up to Dasara. The 112-year-old temple in Ravivar Pet proved to be a popular destination, drawing crowds not just from Dharwad but also surrounding areas. Hundreds of volunteers worked to decorate the idols into different incarnations depicting scenes from epics.

Another major event was the Jamboo Savari procession, which took place on October 3rd. The procession, featuring two tamed elephants carrying the howdah with an idol of Goddess Durga, paraded through Dharwad's main thoroughfares, captivating onlookers. Over 50 art troupes performed along the route, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

Despite intermittent rains, devotees braved the weather to visit the temples early in the morning and offer prayers and puja. The Navaratri celebrations have now concluded, but the stalls set up for the festivities will continue operating for a few more days.