Navratri – Nine Days, Nine Colours, Nine Sarees

Navratri is a festival that celebrates various forms of Goddess Durga. Nav means nine, and Ratri means night, and so it lasts for nine days. It is dedicated to women and celebrated with a lot of pomp and show across the country. On each of the nine days, devotees worship nine forms/ incarnations of Goddess Durga. Each form of the Goddess is associated with a specific colour with a special meaning. Wearing these colours is considered highly auspicious.

So what is the significance of these colours?

Day 1 – Yellow

The festival commences with worshipping the daughter of the mountains- Goddess Shailputri, the first form of Durga. The colour for this day is Yellow, and it stands for brightness and happiness.

In this picture, I am wearing a Yellow Banarsi saree with Goldwork all over the saree.

Day 2 – Green

This day is dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini, the unmarried form of Goddess Durga, with green being the colour of

This day is dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini, the unmarried form of Goddess Durga, with green being the colour of the day. Green stands for nature, growth, and energy.

The saree in the picture is a Dolabedi, an intricate and beautiful weave from the State of Odisha. It is in an Emerald Green and Black. Don’t miss the colourful motifs on the pallu.

Day 3- Grey

Mata Chandraghan

Mata Chandraghanta, the third incarnation of Goddess Durga, is worshipped on this day. The day is associated with the colour Grey, which symbolizes the zeal and determination to destroy evil.

In the picture, I am wearing a silk in Grey and Pink with beautiful threadwork on it. It is a thirty-year-old saree which was a part of my trousseau.

Day 4-Orange

On this day, devotees worship Goddess Khushmanda– the smiling Goddess. The colour is orange, which signifies brightness, knowledge and tranquillity.

My saree is once again a Banarsi in a rich shade of Orange with Goldwork all over. It is one of my recent purchases.

Day 5- White

Devotees wear white colour to worship Goddess Skandmata. It is a colour that represents peace, purity and serenity.

I am wearing a Red and White Dupion silk saree in the picture. The saree has big Gold flowers on the body.

Day 6 – Red

Goddess Katyayani, the fiercest form of Goddess Durga, is worshipped on the sixth day. The colour is Red which signifies fearlessness and rage.

My saree in the picture is an old Tussar in a deep Red colour. The colour is so vibrant that the saree doesn’t need much adornment. I have teemed it with a Gold blouse.

Day 7 -Royal Blue

This colour is symbolic of power and divine energy. Devotees wear this to worship Kaalraatri, the seventh incarnation of the Goddess.

My saree is a Bhagalpuri Tussar in a deep shade of Blue with a bit of Gold thrown in the pallu.

Day 8- Pink

On the eighth day, people worship Goddess Mahaguri. The colour of the day is pink, which signifies love, compassion and freshness.

My saree is once again a Tussar. It is a half n half with Pink and Gold being the two colours. 

Day 9- Purple 

Day Nine is the day when devotees worship Goddess Siddhidhatri. The colour is purple which symbolizes ambition and power.

My saree is a beautiful Uppada in a rich Purple with Gold buties on it. The pallu has Gold and Silver vines and flowers on it.