The festival of Navratri, is an inseparable part of the cultural identity of Gujarat. This festival in worship of the Divine Mother Goddess is celebrated with great splendour and gaiety for nine days in October-November. This is the magical time of the year when devotees fast all day and dance throughout the night, performing the traditional dandiya ras and garba dance with verve, devotion and bonhomie. The colours of the mirror-worked ghagras of dancers swinging to the loud music are a visual treat.

The festival of lights follows Navratri. As in other parts of the country, Diwali is celebrated with great grandeur in Vadodara. The whole city is decked up in twinkling lights and the noise of firecrackers. Houses are lit up with earthen lamps and the entrance to each household is marked with beautiful designs made out of coloured powder called rangolis. The day after Diwali is known as Kartik Sud 1 in the Hindu calendar, and marks the beginning of the New Year.