On this episode of the Pawdcast, host Sahaana Mehta (‘25) takes a deep dive into India’s vibrant festival season, covering everything from Diwali, to Navratri, to Holi. Joined by six guests, Sahaana explores the cultural and religious significance behind these iconic holidays, along with all the unique ways they are celebrated. 

Host: Sahaana Mehta (‘25)

Guests: Priyanka Maini, Inaya Sohail (‘25), Sugan Ganesh (‘25), Shraya Desai (‘26), Layla Patel (‘27), Lauren Ko (‘25)

Producer: Sahaana Mehta

Transcription: Sahaana Mehta

Art: Claire Kim (’25)

Background Music: “Indian Gujrat Background Music” by Ashutosh

Sahaana (00:10):

Hey Wildcats, welcome back to the Wildcat Pawdcast. I’m your host, Sahaana Mehta, and today we’ll be exploring the Indian Festival season. 

The Indian festival season spans from late September to November, and it is a vibrant time of joy, devotion, and togetherness. It begins with Navratri, which is a nine night celebration of Goddess Durga. It’s marked by fasting, prayers and lots and lots of garba and dandiya. 

Karva Chauth follows, where married women fast sometimes along with their husbands, from sunrise to moonrise, for the well-being of their spouses. 

The season culminates in Diwali, which is the Festival of Lights, and it symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It’s typically celebrated with diyas, rangoli, sweets and lots of firecrackers. 

Other festivals, like Dussehra, which commemorate Lord Ram’s triumph over Ravan and Bhai Dooj, which celebrates sibling bonds, add to the festive fervor. 

As we welcome the new year, another vibrant celebration is Holi, which is the Festival of Colors, and it’s usually held in March. People come together to throw colored powders, dance, sing, and celebrate the arrival of spring. It symbolizes the victory of love and goodness while also serving as a celebration of breaking down barriers, bringing people together, and fostering a sense of unity and harmony.

Hindi bhajan (prayer song) plays.

Sahaana (01:54)
First, we’re diving into the vibrant and joyous festival of Navratri. Joining us first is Ms. Maini, our wonderful AP Physics teacher here at the high school. Thank you for being here.

Mrs. Maini (02:03):

Thank you for having me, Sahaana.

Sahaana (02:05):

So let’s start simple. Navratri is a time of spiritual reflection, cultural celebration, and community bonding. It honors the divine feminine energy with each day dedicated to a different form of Goddess Durga. It’s also about balance, with spirituality on one side and the vibrant festivities like garba and dandiya on the other. So Ms. Maini, what does Navratri mean to you?

Mrs. Maini (02:26):

I think Navratri is a nine-day festival, which we celebrate during the month of November. So in this festival, especially for me, I think we celebrate Goddess Durga and every single day, all nine days, we celebrate a different swaroop of Goddess Durga, which represents strength, power, and knowledge. And I think I love it because it’s a wonderful time of the year, like we say during Christmas, for Hindus, this is a wonderful time of the year, and we have a lot of celebrations, going to the temples and the dances we go to, which we call garba, right? And we wear those beautiful, colorful outfits. So I love it.

Sahaana (03:14):

Celebrations typically include those community gatherings for dance, like worship and cultural performances, like you said, and I think it plays a really big part in fostering that community connection with everyone around you. So how do you usually celebrate?

Mrs. Maini (03:30):

So most of the Hindus go to temples. They perform the puja where they’re chanting the mantras and do charities to help the underprivileged. So for me, I do the fasting for nine days, which I think teaches me a lot of self-control. I eat only one meal a day — that is also a strict diet. So what you can eat, what you cannot eat, especially no grains for that diet. So I think it’s kind of having that cleanse, too, for your body, and you are getting connected to spirituality. I like that. And also I go to garba, of course, wearing those colorful outfits and dancing. And garba is a form of dance where you dance in big groups with concentric circles. So it’s amazing where they’re playing the different songs. Of course, they are mixed with Bollywood, and also there are a lot of bhajans (prayer songs) to which they’re playing. So I love it.

Sahaana  (04:33):

And I feel like it’s something that everyone should experience at least once. It’s so unique and it’s not like anything I feel like you’ll ever see in other cultures. So my favorite part of Navratri is definitely garba with all the dance, the vibrant energy, colorful outfits, and just that feeling of bringing everyone together in a celebration of joy and tradition. What’s your favorite part of the festival, and are there any specific memories or stories from past Navratris that stand out for you?

Mrs. Maini (05:01):

I think that’s a very good question, that’s going to bring back a lot of memories. So when I was a child, we did the Kanjak Puja. So Kanjak Puja is basically the ninth day of Navratri where you have the young girls, you call them to your house, and we go house hopping. We go to different houses where you are invited and they feed you a lot of different things: your favorite chocolates, and chips, or those goodies. You are getting a lot of money too. I loved it being a kid, and you used to be rich at the end of it, and you used to spend a lot of money. And right now, as an adult, I love to go to the temple and I try to take my kids too. Living in America. I know it’s kind of hard to give those cultural values to your kids too. So I take them to a Temple where they can see how they’re celebrating Goddess Durga and how she has actually saved us from all the demons as we talk about in Indian mythology. 

Sahaana (06:07):

So Navratri, with its rich traditions and vibrant festivities, offers something new for everyone from its devotional rituals to the cultural performances, and of course the lively dances. For someone new to Navratri, what’s one thing you would recommend they experience?

Mrs. Maini (06:22):

Okay, so if they’re not Hindu, I will say, go to garba, right? So over there you wear beautiful outfits when you connect to your Indian friends, right? They will bring you those beautiful outfits and as you dance over there, feel the energy, feel the strength and feel the devotion as a community, devotion for the Goddess Durga. So it’s really good. And yes, you get to eat a lot of stuff over there, good food, socialization, and of course that’s the first step. 

And then you go to the temples to see what is actually happening. And if you really want to understand that, dig a little bit deeper. If you want to understand the Hindu culture, what they do, what these mantras mean, there are books. You can read the books, and then of course, you can talk about what are the things Goddess Durga has done to save us from the demons, and what are the different swaroops, which we are doing the puja for every single day.

Sahaana (07:16):

Right. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. This is really, really enlightening.

Mrs. Maini (07:22):

Thank you so much, Sahaana

Traditional Garba music plays.

Sahaana (07:39):

Garba and dandiya raas are traditions that many of us grew up with, but what’s it like to experience it for the very first time? I’m excited to welcome Inaya Sohail, who recently attended her first garba event at RRB Dance Company. Inaya, welcome to the Pawdcast.

Inaya (07:52):

Thanks for having me. I’m so excited to share my experience.

Sahaana (07:55):

I’ve also got another guest, Sugan, who’s actually been to several garba events over the years. He’s got quite a unique perspective coming from a South Indian background, but wholeheartedly embracing the garba spirit. Sugan, welcome to the show.

Sugan (08:07):

Happy to be here. Garba has always been a lot of fun for me.

Sahaana (08:11):

Inaya, let’s start with you. What was it like stepping into that garba circle for the very first time?

Inaya (08:17):

It was pretty amazing, but also very intimidating at first, obviously, because I’m Pakistani and Muslim, it was very…

Sahaana (08:26):

Like a whole new experience,

Inaya (08:27):

A whole new experience. Energy was through the roof. Everyone, they knew exactly what they were doing, and you were just kind of standing there, and you don’t know when to join in. And the circle was very, what’s it called? Close. But once you get the hang of the steps, you kind of just went in and you had a lot of fun, especially because you were surrounded by people that were just enjoying the steps and enjoying the music and the energy around you. So it was a lot of fun once you got to know how to do the dance

Sahaana (08:55):

And I think you picked it up pretty fast for a first timer too. Overall, it was such a good experience

So Sugan, you’ve also been to a few garba events before. How has your experience been overall?

Sugan (09:06):

I mean, my experience at garba has always been amazing. I think also being South Indian, it was a little all new to me the first time. Obviously it’s more of a North Indian tradition, and I didn’t really know anything coming into it. But I think the excitement and chaos of garba just kind of let me ease into it a lot more. And the garba I usually go to is dodhiya garba, which is kind of a group dance with a lot of interchanging movement. And I think that also kind of just helped me ease into it more, being around people.

Sahaana (09:36):

And I think it’s always just such a fun experience to be going along with your friends and overall it is a very, I think, unique blend of tradition and fun. 

So Inaya, did anything about the experience surprise you? 

Inaya (09:49):

I was just surprised how welcoming everyone was. It was just like, even as a complete newbie, everyone just pulled me in, taught me the steps. It made me feel like I belonged there. It wasn’t just about dancing. I felt like I was part of something bigger.

Sahaana (10:05):

And I think we ended up learning a lot of new types of dances too. I feel like that was a really fun part. I know the basic ones, but I think that experience, we ended up leaving with a lot more dances than we intended. And I think that’s one of the things I love most about garba. It is very inclusive. 

Sugan, do you have a favorite memory from your garba nights?

Sugan (10:26):

I do. It was definitely the first dodhiya garba I had ever been to. Like I said in my previous statement, I really didn’t know what I was doing. But again, just that atmosphere of being around people who are already just so inclusive, it helped me just fit in. And also what makes it even better is I was healthy enough to dance and not injured.

Sahaana (10:46):

Yeah, I think that definitely made a difference! 

Let’s talk a little bit about the outfits, too. I think they play a major role in not just Navratri but celebrations in general. For girls, it’s typically the chaniya choli, which is a colorful three piece suit with heavy embroidery and a lot of mirror work. There’s jewelry like bangles, necklaces and anklets, and they all just are there to add some sparkle. For the boys, it’s typically the kurta and dhoti, which are just classic, and they’re often worn in bold colors with intricate designs. Although it seems like all anyone wants to wear these days are those sparkly black ones!

But colors are pretty symbolic, too. Bright shades of red, yellow and green are considered auspicious, and they represent energy, joy, and prosperity during Navratri. 

Inaya I think we also learned this time that these outfits have a practical side too. 

Inaya (11:31):

Oh definitely. I kind of learned from my mistake. I wore a ghagra, so I kept tripping. Definitely don’t do that. When you go to one of these events, you have to wear a lehenga because the flowy lehenga allows for freedom of movement, and it’s essential for those endless spins and jumps in garba.

Sahaana (11:48):

For sure. And speaking of movement, I think it’s really amazing how these dances have sort of stood the test of time while still evolving with every generation. I went home and I was showing my mom, I learned these new dances, and she knew half of them, and then half of them, she’s like, I’ve never seen these before. Sugan, how do you think the music and style has changed over the years?

Sugan (12:08):

Well, I think most of the traditional folk songs and regular garba songs all pretty much stay the same. Every Bollywood track you would normally hear, it’s all stayed the same. But we’re also living in a Gen-Z era now, so we have a more modern twist. I don’t know if you guys watch Instagram reels, but I think incorporating more modern twists into the dancing too has definitely been noticeable.

Sahaana (12:31):

And the garba at RRB that Inaya and I went to, we actually had a Bollywood party afterwards. It was so, so much fun. And hearing those remixes with the Bollywood tracks, I think you learn that even the steps that people were doing to those songs, they have modern twists and they incorporate temporary dance styles. So I think overall it’s just a little bit of…

Inaya (12:56):

Everything for everyone.

Sahaana (12:57):

Correct. And it is just proof that the culture isn’t static. It grows and it adapts, and I think it makes it more inclusive and exciting for everyone.

Inaya (13:05):

Yeah, I agree. That’s the magic of garba and dandiya.

Bollywood music from Diwali party plays. 

Sahaana (13:33):

Continuing with Diwali. Here are my guests for this segment, Shraya and Layla, welcome to the Pawdcast. 

Shraya (13:39):

Hi, I’m so excited to be here. 

Layla (13:41):

Hi, this is going to be really fun. 

Sahaana (13:43):

So Diwali just recently passed and it’s one of my favorite times of the year. Let’s dive into how each of us celebrate. What does Diwali look like in your house?

Shraya (13:50):

So in my house, my family lights diyas around the house. So we have little tea lights that we’ll put at every entrance in the door, and little flower petals and grains of rice. And it’s kind of welcoming the new spirits of the new year into each room. So yeah, that’s what we do.

Layla (14:10):

We do some of the same things, we all gather at my grandma’s house and she makes a bunch of food and we dress up in traditional clothing, take pictures and just hang out together and celebrate

Sahaana (14:22):

Right. So food is such a big deal in our culture, just in general. And Diwali is that time of year when you can eat all the samosas, jalebi, gulab jamun, and everything else to your heart’s content without question. So what’s a Diwali favorite you guys can’t live without?

Shraya (14:37):

Oh, for me, it’s got to be dosa. We always get dosa every time and it’s so good.

Sahaana (14:42):

My dad is such a big fan of South Indian food, he wants it all the time!

Shraya (14:45):

I know my mom is too. 

Sahaana (14:47):

Layla, what about you? 

Layla (14:49):

I’m between samosas or doodh pak.

Sahaana (14:53):

I love sweet foods, everything sweet is so good, I’m just like give me it all!

So dressing up I think is also half the fun. What are your guys’ favorite Diwali outfits up to date?

Shraya (15:05):

Let’s see, I had a black sari that I wore. I just dress up, I think it makes me feel so much better. And I think just embracing my culture I feel is pretty nice. And just doing it in my house and along with doing it alongside my family too, I think is really fun.

Sahaana (15:25):

I think that’s always a really special experience, just getting ready for Diwali or any big desi event in general. Just the whole process of, because I think especially for girls, the traditional clothes are so heavy and you can’t do it on your own. I love wearing it, but it’s not something you can do on your own. So I think that common shared experience of having your mom help you or having your sister help you get through it. 

So my favorite outfit is probably the one I wore this year. I bought a pink layered lehenga from Jaipur, India, last year for my Sweet Sixteen, and I’m literally trying to get every chance I can to wear it. It’s such a royal piece, and I literally wish I could wear it all the time.

Layla (16:01):

My mom bought me a bunch of Indian outfits last year when we went shopping together, and one of my favorites is this chaniya choli. It’s light blue and baby pink and it’s sparkly, that’s so cute. Yeah, I really love to wear it for weddings.

Sahaana (16:16):

So last thing before we wrap it all up, let’s talk about the celebrations themselves. Do you guys have any special family traditions?

Shraya (16:24):

Not really. I think just the basic stuff. We just eat literally a bunch of food, taking pictures with family. 

Layla (16:30): 

Yeah, meeting up at my grandma’s house!

Sahaana (16:29):

I think for my family, it’s sort of the same. We always do puja with the four of us, which I think is just a typical thing that every household has. And we recently got a puppy named Oreo, so this year he sat through puja with us too. It was really, really cute. 

But if we’re including extended family and everything, my family friends and I also have a tradition of putting together dance dramas every year. And we typically choose a different story from Indian mythology each time and just reenact it through costumes, music and dance and all. And so my dad always writes the script for that and he does the voiceover with Hindi poetry. So it was always really, really fun to listen to. 

This past year was pretty special because a lot of effort went into the special effects and the props we had flying chariots, swords that lit themselves on fire during fights and a bunch of other fun stuff too. So I would say it’s just always an amazing experience and I’ll really, really miss being a part of it when I go to college.

Holi remix music plays.

Sahaana (17:45):
For the last segment of this podcast, I am super excited because we’re talking about a festival that is so close to my heart, Holi, the Festival of Colors. And my last guest for this episode is Lauren, who has never experienced Holi before. So Lauren, welcome to the Pawdcast. 

Lauren (18:00):

Hey Sahaana, thanks for having me on the Pawdcast.

Sahaana (18:03):

Of course. I’m so excited to have you here. So for everyone who might not know, Holi is a Hindu festival celebrated in India and also around the world, and it’s all about celebrating the arrival of spring and really just spreading that love and joy. It’s also known as the festival of colors because of the colorful powders that are thrown around during celebrations.

Lauren (18:22):

Oh, wow. That sounds beautiful, but I’ve never actually been to a Holi event, so I’m really curious, what’s it like?

Sahaana (18:28):

I’m glad you asked. Basically the celebrations look something like this. Everyone comes together wearing white and just a lot of bright colors and people throw vibrant colored powders in the air onto each other, and it’s not just a party. It’s pretty symbolic. The colors symbolize the beauty of life and the diversity of nature, and it’s also about letting go of all the negativity and just celebrating joy in new beginnings. It’s actually a pretty big thing in India, and even though it’s mainly a religious festival, it is celebrated by people of all faiths.

Lauren (19:00):

That sounds like so much fun, and it’s got to be such a joyful experience too. I love the idea of letting go of negativity and just focusing solely on happiness, and that seems like what this festival exactly is. So tell me more, what do people usually do at these events? Is there music or dancing?

Sahaana (19:17):

Definitely. There is a lot of dancing music and of course a ton of food. People gather in parks and open spaces. It’s like one big community celebration. Everyone’s always dancing to the music, and it’s always like a mix of Bollywood and traditional songs. You’ll see everyone covered head to toe in pinks, yellows, greens, blues, you name it. And the powders are always made of natural ingredients, so it’s totally safe even if it gets into your hair,

Lauren (19:45):

And I’m sure it does, anyway, though, I love that it’s so vibrant, so full of life, and it really sounds like the kind of event that’s all about being in the moment. So this year you’re actually going to bring me to a Holi event, right?

Sahaana (19:58):

Yes. And I am so excited to have you experience it with me. I know you’ve never been to a Holi celebration before, so I cannot wait to see your reaction. What are you most excited about? Is it the colors, the dancing, something else?

Lauren (20:13):

Oh my gosh, honestly, I think it’s mostly about me being excited about the entire atmosphere, all about it, the energy of everyone coming together to have a good time, and of course, throwing color powder at people. I’ve seen so many photos and videos, a lot of yours, and it just looks so much fun. But I have to admit, I am a little nervous about how messy it’s going to get. And will it be hard to clean up after? Will that residue stay on my skin?

Sahaana (20:40):

I think we should be okay. The colors do wash off pretty easily, and people usually go to the event with the intention of getting messy, it’s all part of the fun, and it is also a great excuse to embrace that carefree feeling and just let loose for the day.

Lauren (20:54):

Got it. I love that. And it sounds like such a blast. I am really looking forward to it, and I really can’t thank you enough for introducing me to this amazing tradition, Sahaana.

Sahaana (21:03):

Of course. I am so glad you’re coming with me this year, and I think you’re going to have an absolutely unforgettable experience.

Lauren (21:09):

I agree. I’m definitely ready for it. I can’t wait to see you covered in all colors.

Sahaana (21:14):

It’s going to be so amazing. Thanks for being here, Lauren. 

Lauren (21:17):

And that wraps up our deep dive into the vibrant, joyous celebrations of Diwali, Navratri, garba, dandiya, Holi, and everything in between. From the lights of Diwali to the rhythmic beats of garba and the bright colors of holy, these festivals truly embody the spirit of togetherness, joy, and cultural richness.

Whether it’s the colors, the food, the dances, or the traditions passed down through generations, there is so much to celebrate during this time of year. I hope you enjoyed exploring these wonderful festivals with me, and you’re inspired to bring some of that festive energy into your everyday life. 

Thank you for tuning in, Wildcats!