Navratri 2026: Spiritual traditions and celebrity fashion trends

The Navratri festival continues with significant cultural and spiritual observances. The traditional Garba dance holds deep symbolic meaning, where the circular movement represents the cosmic cycle of life and the 'garbh deep' (a lamp inside a clay pot) symbolizes the divine soul within the human body. The dance is often performed barefoot to connect with the earth's energy, and the ritual of three claps represents the divine powers of creation, preservation, and transformation.

On the eighth day of Sharad Navratri, dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri, the designated color is purple. This shade, symbolizing royalty, wisdom, and spirituality, has inspired various festive fashion trends. Bollywood celebrities such as Shruti Haasan, Karisma Kapoor, Ananya Panday, and Alia Bhatt have showcased diverse purple ethnic ensembles, ranging from simple silk suits to grand lehengas and Anarkali sets, providing styling inspiration for devotees participating in rituals like Kanya Puja.