North India believes that the war between Ram and Ravana lasted for nine days of Navratri and hence, there is annual depiction of life-story of Rama during these days in rural areas under twinkling stars, which ends with the death of Ravana on Dussehra when huge effigies of Ravana and his demon-brother and son are exploded with fireworks. People often read Ramayana with an aim to finish it in nine days and special puja and decorations are part of the scenery of the season.

In Bengal, Navaratri is celebrated in a grand and lavish manner as Durga Puja as huge idols of the goddess Durga posed as killing the demon Mahishasura are worshipped in almost every street. Huge 'pandals' (tents) are set up. Skilled artists prepare idols painstakingly for community and family worship. Bengal, Bihar and Orissa is full of a frenzy as people offer a number of 'saris', flowers, fruits and 'jewelry' to the Goddess. There are music and dance performances everywhere as people buy new clothes, jewellery and sweets. There are grand processions on the tenth day as idols are taken with pomp and show for immersion in rivers, lakes or seas.

In Gujarat, painted earthen pots are used to represent the Mother Goodess called 'ghata', which is revered as the abode of the goddess. Devotional Garba dances are performed by the Gujarati women around 'ghata' in circles clapping their hands or decorated sticks to the rhythm of the music of energetic traditional songs. After worshipping and 'Aarti', 'Dandiya raas' is performed in colordul traditional attire of Gujarat as a community dance all through the night. Navratris are considered auspicious for buying jewellery and gold.

In Maharashtra, nine days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga while the tenth day or Vijayadashami is dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and learning. On this day, school-going children worship the tantrik symbol of the goddess for her blessing in their studies and it is considered auspicious day to begin education and learn dance and music, buy new homes, performing housewarmings and weddings and start new ventures.

In Mysore, Chamundi, the royal deity of the Mysore royalty is worshipped durng Navratri with pomp and pageantry. There is a magnificent procession of elephants, horses, chariots and costumed attendants on the tenth day, when Maharaja goes to worship the hilltop temple of the goddess.

In Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, women arrange 'Bommai Kolu', a special placing of dolls in various costumes decorated with flowers and ornaments on specially prepared steps. Nine young 'kanyas' or virgins are offered new clothes and sweets as the goddesses and married women share flowers, kumkum and snacks among themselves.

The Hindu minorities of Kashmiri Pandits celebrate Navratri in a subdued manner as all the adult members of the household fast for nine days on water. One important ritual involves a trip to the temple of guardian goddess Kheer Bhawani in the middle of a Sarovar (lake) on all nine days. It is said that deity warns her devotees of a catastrophe by turning the water of the lake black. It is said that water turned black on a day before Indira Gandhi's assassination and before the last war of India and Pakistan. Here, dance and music is shunned as these nine days are supposed to be spent in the contemplation of Goddess here.