Navaratri is a time for devotion, joy, and deep spiritual connection, especially for the young hearts who are eager to explore the world of the divine. It’s a time to celebrate the power of good over evil, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to teach children the values of love, devotion, and spirituality in a way that feels exciting and meaningful to them. As parents and teachers, we can make this festival more than just a cultural celebration—it can become a spiritual journey that leaves a lasting impact.

In this blog, we’ll explore fun activities that help children connect with the essence of Navaratri while focusing on devotion, the teachings of Swami Mukundananda, and the deep spiritual wisdom that is at the heart of this festival.

Navratri is incomplete without Garba and Dandiya, where the joyous dance celebrates Maa Durga’s victory and fills the nights with divine energy. Clad in colorful attire, devotees gather to dance, rejoice, and honor the Divine Mother in an atmosphere of joy and reverence.

At Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas, the Navratri Mahotsav 2025 offers unforgettable evenings filled with Garba, Dandiya, Durga Pooja, children’s activities, delicious food, and vibrant cultural programs. As lamps glow and music fills the air, the community comes together in a beautiful celebration of tradition, devotion, and festivity—an experience of Navratri magic like never before.

Join us at the celebration; get your tickets today!

What Makes Navaratri Special?

Imagine a festival that spans nine nights, where each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess Durga, and every night is filled with prayer, dance, music, and learning. How can we make this spiritually enriching time meaningful for our children?

Navaratri isn’t just about decorating our homes with vibrant colors or preparing delicious food; it’s about learning the values of perseverance, strength, and devotion. We celebrate the goddess Durga’s victory over evil, but we also reflect on how we, too, can conquer our inner demons like anger, jealousy, and pride. And through the eyes of children, the festival becomes a beautiful opportunity to nurture a deeper spiritual connection to the divine.

The complete Sharad Navratri 2025 calendar is as follows:

Fun, Spiritual Activities for Kids During Navaratri

Here’s how you can combine fun and devotion to make Navaratri a special spiritual time for your children:

1. Devotional Storytelling: The Triumph of Good Over Evil

One of the most beautiful ways to teach children about the spiritual significance of Navaratri is through stories. But not just any stories—devotional stories that inspire love for the divine.

• Goddess Durga and Mahishasura: Tell your children the captivating story of how Goddess Durga fought the demon Mahishasura. Her victory symbolizes the triumph of virtue over vice. But more than that, it shows how devotion and prayer can give us the strength to overcome any obstacles.
• Lord Rama and His Devotion: Share the story of Lord Rama’s devotion to Lord Shiva when he prayed and performed a ritual to receive the blessings needed to defeat Ravana. Emphasize how deep devotion can guide us to do the right thing, even when faced with challenges.
  
  Reflection: What do these stories teach us about facing the challenges in our own lives? How can we pray for strength just like the great heroes in these historical events?

2. Divine Crafting: Create Your Own Goddess or Deity

Why not let your kids express their love for the divine through crafts? Crafting is a fun way to teach them about devotion, and it’s a hands-on activity that helps them feel connected to the festival.

• Crafting Durga's Lion and Weapons: Ask your kids to create a model of Goddess Durga sitting on her lion, holding her weapons—each of which symbolizes different divine qualities. Use colored paper, markers, and glue to bring this powerful image to life. While crafting, talk to them about the significance of each weapon and how it represents qualities like fearlessness, wisdom, and compassion.
• Make Prayer Beads (Mala): Teach your children to make their own prayer beads. You can buy beads and thread, and let the children create a simple mala for chanting or prayer. Explain the importance of reciting mantras or prayers with the mala to keep the mind focused on the divine.
  
  Reflection: What do the weapons of Goddess Durga represent to you? How can we hold onto these qualities in our daily lives?

3. Bhajan Singing and Music: Chanting the Name of God

Navaratri is all about chanting and singing in praise of the divine. You can introduce your children to simple bhajans (devotional songs) and chants to bring the spirit of devotion alive in your home.

• Learn a Simple Bhajan: Teach your kids a simple bhajan, like "Jai Jai Durga Mata" or "Mohi Shyam se Milayi De Durge Maa." Encourage them to sing along with you, and even dance around the house in celebration. Music and dance naturally create joy, and when they are directed toward devotion, they help children develop a love for the divine.
• Devotional Dance: Beyond Garba, you can introduce children to devotional dance as an expression of love for God. Have a family Garba night or a small devotional dance competition where everyone gets to perform their favorite bhajan or devotional song.
  
  Reflection: How do you feel when you sing or dance in praise of God? What kind of devotion can we feel through music?

4. Offerings to the Divine: Creating a Sacred Space

This activity helps children feel like they are personally involved in the devotional rituals of Navratri. Setting up a small altar or sacred space at home can make them feel closer to the divine.

• Altar Decoration: Allow your kids to decorate the altar with flowers, diyas (lamps), and small idols of Durga or other deities. They can place small offerings like fruits, incense, and flowers on the altar as an act of devotion.
• Offer Prayers Together: Every evening, ask your children to offer a prayer for peace and happiness in the world. You can do this as a family, lighting a lamp and saying a simple prayer like “May the light of divinity guide us on the path of love and compassion.”
  
  Reflection: What is the significance of offering something to the divine? How can we make every offering an expression of love and gratitude?

5. Fasting with Devotion: Simple Acts of Self-Discipline

Fasting is a beautiful way to cultivate devotion and self-control. For younger children, it can be something simple like giving up a favorite treat or performing an extra act of kindness during the day.

• Little Acts of Devotion: Instead of a traditional fast, encourage your children to perform acts of devotion throughout the day. Perhaps they can refrain from using their phones or television and spend that time in prayer, singing, or helping others. These small acts teach the importance of self-control and devotion without overwhelming them.
  
  Reflection: What does it mean to make a sacrifice for God? How does it feel to put others before ourselves in devotion?

The Teachings of Swami Mukundananda: Bhakti and Devotion

At the heart of all the activities during Navaratri is Bhakti—the path of love and devotion. As Swami Mukundananda Ji often teaches, Bhakti is not just about rituals or customs; it’s about cultivating a loving relationship with the divine. It’s about channeling our emotions, our actions, and our hearts in service to God.

Swami Mukundananda Ji beautifully explains that Bhakti is about surrendering our ego and finding joy in the simple act of loving God. Whether it’s through prayer, dance, or acts of kindness, Bhakti is a way to keep our hearts open to the divine presence in our lives. It’s a way to bring light into the world, just as the diyas we light during Navaratri bring light to our homes.

Reflection: How can we practice Bhakti in our daily lives? What would it look like to make every action a loving offering to God?

Subscribe to Swami Mukundananda's YouTube Channel

If you’re inspired by the teachings of Swami Mukundananda and want to learn more about how to integrate Bhakti into your life, make sure to subscribe to Swami Mukundananda’s YouTube channel! You’ll find a treasure trove of spiritual talks, insightful teachings, and heartwarming wisdom that can guide you and your children on the path of devotion and love.

Celebrate this Navaratri with devotion, joy, and love. Let your hearts be filled with the light of Bhakti, and may this festival bring you closer to the divine presence in your life.

📚 Learn about all 9 forms of Goddess Durga and explore Navratri rituals in our Complete Navratri 2025 Guide »

Join the Navaratri Celebrations at the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas

We invite you to immerse yourself and your children in the spirit of Navaratri at the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas! The temple offers a wonderful array of activities throughout the festival, from devotional prayers to fun Garba nights that are perfect for families. Your children can join in the divine dances, listen to stories, and experience the vibrant energy of the festival in a supportive and spiritual community.

Don’t miss out on the Garba! It’s an excellent opportunity for your children to learn about community, culture, and devotion while having fun. The temple is a place where devotion thrives, and the presence of the divine can be felt in every step of the dance.

Check out the registration Details below:

Wishing you a blessed and joyous Navaratri!