DISCLAIMER: Though this article provides a manufactured Spiritual significance, sharing the origin of this practice which was a marketing tool of Maharashtra Times which became a harmless yet pleasant Tradition and a unifying factor cutting across all religions today.
Each region has its own set of rituals and practices associated with this festival. A compilation of some of them here specifically with respect to the attire here. List of the nine colours of Navratri to be worn by Goddess Durga as well as Devotees, with their significance:
First Day – Paadyami
Shailaputri Maa is the first amongst Navadurgas worshipped during Navaratri. ‘White‘ is the colour of the day. It represents purity, peace, serenity and new beginnings.
Second Day – Dwitiya
Maa Bharmacharini is the form of mother goddess which is worshipped on the second day. ‘Red’ is the color of the day, which represents love, passion, and strength.
Third Day – Tritiya
Chandraghanta is the form of the goddess worshipped on the third day of Navaratri. ‘Royal Blue’ is the color of the day and it represents calmness, divine energy and stability
Fourth Day – Chaturthi
Kushmanda is the fourth form of goddess that is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. ‘Yellow’ is the color of the day and it symbolizes joy and brightness, and brings a sense of unparalleled optimism and joy.
Fifth Day – Panchami
Skandamata is a face of Maa Durga always known for demolishing the demons and worshipped on day 5 of Navaratri. ‘Green’ is the color to be worn on this day and it represents growth, nature, and fertility. Green also represents new beginnings in life.
Sixth Day – Shashti
Katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri. ‘Grey‘ is the color of the day which is symbolic of control and balance emotions and keeps the person down-to-earth. It also represents overcoming darkness in a calm manner.
Seventh day – Sapthami
Kaalratri is the seventh figure of Goddess Durga. Maha Saraswathi Devi is also worshipped on this day. ‘Orange‘ is the color of the day and it represents energy and strength, or courage and determination.
Eighth day – Ashtami
Maha Durga is worshipped on the eighth day(Durgashtami). On this day, ‘Peacock Green‘ is regarded as the colour for all, which signifies beauty, grace, and positivity.
Ninth day – Maha Navami
Siddhidatri is the form of Maa Durga for the ninth day of Navratri. ‘Pink‘ is the colour of the day for devotees which is the color that signifies love, compassion, and universal harmony
Tenth day – Vijaya Dashami
Vijayadashami is the day of Victory of Good over Evil. The Goddess is dressed in Glowing Gold & the color for devotees is also Gold or Peacock Blue.
To summarize: Colors of attire advised on 9 days of Navratri
Day 1: White
Day 2: Red
Day 3: Royal Blue
Day 4: Yellow
Day 5: Green
Day 6: Grey
Day 7: Orange
Day 8: Peacock Green
Day 9: Pink
Happy Navaratri! Enjoy a synchronized & colorful days dedicated to Mother Goddess.
Origins of this practice: (Source: https://www.cntraveller.in/story/from-trend-to-tradition-how-the-9-colours-of-navaratri-became-a-thing-maharashtra-times/)
In 2003, the innovative marketing team at Maharashtra Times conceived a brilliant strategy to engage more female readers. During the occasion of Navaratri, they unveiled a captivating narrative that put forward the significance of the nine distinct colours to be worn each day of the Hindu festival. Each colour was thoughtfully linked to an avatar of the Goddess Durga, thereby bestowing a sense of authenticity upon this “tradition”— orange for Goddess Shailputri, white for Goddess Brahmacharini, red for Goddess Chandraghanta, green for Goddess Katyayani, and so on.
Throughout the nine days of the festival, Maharashtra Times featured captivating images of women elegantly adorned in the colour of the day, presenting a compelling aspirational value and igniting a sense of enthusiasm among their audience and beyond. The newspaper also invited women to share photographs of themselves in their colour-coordinated attire, which were subsequently showcased in the following day’s edition, making the trend all the more viral.
Under the guidance of the then-editor, Bharatkumar Raut, this story enjoyed monumental success according to The Quint, triggering an intentional wave of enthusiasm across the state of Maharashtra—eventually spreading across the nation to cities like Delhi. It swiftly morphed into an accepted tradition and became an indispensable part of the festival for many of its participants; to this day, Maharashtra Times still holds a Navaratri photo contest on their website, where people submit group photos in colour-coordinated clothing corresponding to the given festival day. Dressing up in said colours has even evolved into a contemporary workplace activity championed by HR teams, expanding to the likes of cubicle decorations.
What’s remarkable is that this practice didn’t vanish like a seasonal fad, rather it became an important cultural cornerstone. Created before the age of social media and viral hashtags, the trend stands as proof of the sheer influence of media and the importance of evolving traditions.