Gujarati Festivals: Navratri, Uttarayan and Diwali Vocabulary
The main festivals celebrated in Gujarat, with vocabulary and greetings for Navratri garba, the Uttarayan kite festival, Diwali and Bestu Varas.
Gujarat's festivals are colourful and communal. Learning the vocabulary of a few of them gives you a way into the culture.
Navratri (નવરાત્રિ)
નવરાત્રિ means "nine nights" and is celebrated in autumn, dedicated to the goddess Durga. In Gujarat, it's famous for community dancing every night.
- ગરબા (garba) — a circular dance around a lamp or an image of the goddess, with clapping and singing
- દાંડિયા / રાસ — a dance with sticks (dandiya raas)
- ચણિયાચોળી — the traditional women's outfit for garba, a colourful embroidered skirt and blouse
- કેડિયું — the men's traditional short jacket
- માતાજી — the Mother goddess
- આરતી — devotional ritual with a lamp
Navratri in Gujarat is among the longest dance festivals in the world, and cities hold huge garba events. Many people fast during the days and dance at night.
Greeting: નવરાત્રિની શુભકામનાઓ! — Best wishes for Navratri!
Uttarayan (ઉત્તરાયણ)
ઉત્તરાયણ takes place around 14 January, marking the sun's northward journey. Gujarat celebrates it as a kite festival: skies fill with kites, and people spend the day on rooftops.
- પતંગ — kite
- દોરી / માંજો — kite string (often coated for cutting other kites)
- ફિરકી — the spool
- કાપ્યો છે! — "It's cut!" (a shout when a rival's kite is cut)
- ધાબું / અગાસી — rooftop
- ઊંધિયું — a winter mixed vegetable dish, eaten on the day
- જલેબી — sweet
- તલની ચીક્કી — sesame brittle
Ahmedabad hosts an International Kite Festival. Note that manja string can be dangerous to birds and people, and many campaigns encourage safer kite flying.
Greeting: ઉત્તરાયણની શુભેચ્છાઓ!
Diwali (દિવાળી)
દિવાળી is the festival of lights, in October or November, celebrated over several days.
- દીવો / દીવા — lamp(s)
- રંગોળી — coloured floor decoration
- ફટાકડા — fireworks
- મીઠાઈ — sweets
- ચોપડા પૂજન — worship of account books, important for business families
- લક્ષ્મી પૂજન — worship of the goddess Lakshmi
- ધનતેરસ — the day of wealth, before Diwali
- કાળી ચૌદસ — the day before Diwali
Greeting: દિવાળીની શુભકામનાઓ!
Bestu Varas (બેસતું વર્ષ)
The day after Diwali is the Gujarati New Year. People visit relatives, wear new clothes, and greet each other with સાલ મુબારક! or નૂતન વર્ષાભિનંદન!
Other festivals
- હોળી — Holi, the festival of colours (spring)
- જન્માષ્ટમી — Krishna's birthday (with temple celebrations in Dwarka)
- રક્ષાબંધન — sisters tie a protective thread (રાખડી, rakhi) on brothers' wrists
- ગણેશ ચતુર્થી — the festival of Ganesha
- રથયાત્રા — Ahmedabad's Rath Yatra, a large annual procession
- ઈદ — Eid, celebrated by Muslim communities
- પર્યુષણ — the major Jain festival of fasting and reflection
- ક્રિસમસ — Christmas, for the Christian community
Gujarat also celebrates Gujarat Day (ગુજરાત સ્થાપના દિવસ) on 1 May.
Common festival phrases
- શુભ દિવાળી! — Happy Diwali!
- હેપ્પી ન્યૂ યર / સાલ મુબારક.
- મજા આવી. — We had fun.
- મીઠાઈ ખાઓ. — Have some sweets.
- ઘરે આવજો. — Do come to our home.
Learning tips
- Learn the name of each festival and its main symbol.
- Learn the greetings.
- Note the seasonal foods.
- Join in a local event if you can.
Common beginner errors
- Confusing Navratri and Diwali.
- Using the wrong greeting.
Look up festival vocabulary with English Gujarati Dictionary →
English Gujarati Dictionary
Offline English–Gujarati dictionary with meanings in proper Gujarati script
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