Despite the unexpected weather, the spirit of the festival remained undampened as people continued to celebrate with vibrant energy, honouring the traditional dance that marks this joyous occasion

The festival of Navratri honours the defeat of the demon Mahishasura and the triumph of good over evil

The 10th day of Sharad Navratri is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami

The 9-day-long festival of Shardiya Navratri is intended for worshipping Maa Durga and her nine avatars, known as Navdurga. Navratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit

Hindus observe a total of four Navratris throughout the year

From Ashwin Shukla Paksha's Navami until the Pratipada, Shardiya Navratri is observed

While it is celebrated with great fanfare across the nation, distinct traditions are more commonly practised in different states