Navratri Isn’t Only About Women – Here’s the Sacred Role of Men We Lost

Many people see Navratri as a women-centered celebration. Women fast, sing, dance Garba, wear the nine colors, and perform rituals. But here’s the thing. Shakti is not about gender. She is energy itself.

• Without Shakti, Shiva is inert.
• Without Shiva, Shakti has no grounding.
• Together, they create balance, movement, and life.

Navratri is not just about honoring the goddess as a female figure. It’s about remembering that all of us, men included, carry Shakti within. And without acknowledging that, men lose touch with their wholeness.

In ancient traditions, men were deeply involved in Navratri rituals. They weren’t just observers. They performed yajnas, sang bhajans, and upheld discipline during fasting. Their role was not passive, but active.

Some examples:

• Warriors prayed to Shakti before going into battles. They believed her blessings gave them courage.
• Kings observed Navratri fasts to remind themselves that power must bow before a higher power.
• Sages and men in villages led processions, not just women. They carried the goddess’s idol, ensuring everyone felt her presence.

But over time, Navratri started being seen as a festival “managed” by women. Men quietly stepped back, thinking their place was only in the background. This is where we lost balance.

So what does Navratri look like for a man in today’s world? It’s not about copying rituals without meaning. It’s about reconnecting with the essence of Shakti in everyday life.

Here are a few ways:

• Fasting with Intention – Not just skipping meals, but pausing ego. Fasting teaches humility, patience, and discipline, all vital for men who often tie their identity to strength.
• Meditating on Balance – Take time each Navratri night to reflect: Where is my inner Shiva? Where is my inner Shakti? Am I only being hard, rational, and tough, or do I also honor my softness, creativity, and intuition?
• Supporting Women’s Energy – Instead of standing aside, men can actively participate by helping set up rituals, joining Garba with joy, or simply appreciating the feminine energy around them.
• Learning From the Goddess Archetypes – Each day of Navratri represents a different goddess. Men can meditate on them not as external figures but as qualities they need. Strength, wisdom, compassion, courage, nurturing, and detachment.
• Creating Family Balance – Navratri is also about harmony in relationships. Men can use this time to restore balance in family roles, not just leaving “puja” to women but being equal participants.

Navratri gives men an opportunity to look inward. Modern life often teaches men to hide their emotions, to appear strong, to chase success. But inside, there’s an untapped reservoir of gentleness, creativity, and surrender.

When men celebrate Navratri with sincerity, they:

• Connect with their emotional side without shame.
• Learn that real strength comes from balance, not dominance.
• Realize that worshipping Shakti is not about worshipping women, but about honoring the sacred energy that fuels life itself.

Navratri is not about choosing sides. It’s about harmony. Shiva and Shakti don’t compete. They complete each other. And so do the energies inside every man and woman.

This year, as I light the first diya of Navratri, I’ll remind myself that it’s not “their festival.” It’s mine too. Not because I want to take over, but because I want to remember.

Remember that my strength is meaningless without sensitivity. My logic is empty without intuition. My presence is incomplete without balance.

Navratri invites men to step in, not as outsiders, but as essential keepers of balance. And maybe, if more men embraced this forgotten role, our homes and hearts would feel more whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why should men celebrate Navratri?
   
   Because Shakti lives in them too, waiting to be honored.
2. How can men connect with Navratri?
   
   Through fasting, reflection, and joining the celebration with intention.