Goddess Festivals of India 2025: Celebrate with Agarbatti & Dhoop

India’s festive season from late September to November is a vibrant celebration of the Devi or the Divine Feminine. Across states and cultures, goddesses are honored with music, dance, rituals, and offerings. This devotion is rooted in the concept of Shakti, the primordial cosmic energy and life-force that is believed to create, preserve, and destroy the universe.

A Season of the Divine Feminine Across India

From Shakti as the fierce warrior Durga at Navaratri to the nurturing Lakshmi in Diwali, and the wise Saraswathi at Vidyarambham, the Devi or Divine Feminine is celebrated in all her multifaceted forms. These festivals are not just about a specific deity, but about honoring this universal feminine power that is said to reside within every being. Each celebration blends devotion with joy, and the sacred fragrance of agarbatti plays a vital role in connecting worshippers to the divine energy.

In modern India, these regional festivals often transcend their local roots, with people across the country embracing rituals, songs, and dances to honor the different versions of Devi. These celebrations, though diverse across regions, are united by a shared devotion and by the sacred fragrances of agarbatti and dhoop that carry prayers to the divine.

Here’s a closer look at the Devi festivals and the agarbatti and dhoop that make the regional celebrations feel complete.

Navaratri in Gujarat

Gujarat celebrates the nine forms of Durga with Garba and Dandiya Raas. Homes and temples begin with ghat sthapana; setting up a pot to welcome Goddess Durga, accompanied by music from drums, lighting agarbatti, filling the space with a sacred fragrance, and symphonies that energise devotees.

Our Festive Pick: Lyrics Agarbatti, Rosa Ultimo Agarbatti

Durga Puja in West Bengal 

West Bengal’s Durga Puja features grand pandals or shrines, cultural performances, and pushpanjali offerings. Dhoop and agarbatti are an integral part of the festival; thick clouds of dhoop and dhunuchi smoke (fragrant resin burnt on coals) fill the air, creating the signature sacred atmosphere of Durga Puja.

Our Festive Pick: White Musk Dhoop, Rosa Ultimo Dhoop

Dussehra in Karnataka 

At Mysuru, Goddess Chamundeshwari is worshipped at Chamundi Hill. Palaces are lit up, and rituals are performed with sandalwood-scented agarbatti, honoring her as the fierce protector who vanquished Mahishasura. The celebrations symbolise the victory of good over evil and attract prosperity and protection. 

Our Festive Pick: Chandan Agarbatti, Sandal Ultimo Agarbatti

Ayudha Puja & Saraswati Puja in Tamil Nadu 

During Ayudha Pooja, tools, instruments, and books are worshipped and blessed, marking knowledge and prosperity. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped with mantras and offerings, and agarbatti is lit to symbolise purity and clarity of thought. Modern workplaces extend this tradition to bless their equipment, like laptops, appliances, and machinery.

Our Festive Pick: Urmi Agarbatti, Madurai Mallige Agarbatti

Bathukamma Festival in Telangana 

Bathukamma is a festival where women create floral arrangements for Goddess Gauri, singing devotional songs. Agarbatti is lit alongside the flower arrangements, adding fragrance to the blossoms and prayers offered in community gatherings.

Our Festive Pick: Yellow Rose Agarbatti, Lavender Ultimo Agarbatti 

Vidyarambham in Kerala 

Children are introduced to learning in a ceremony called Vidyarambham (Vidya means knowledge, Arambh means beginning). Goddess Saraswati is worshipped with mantras and offerings, and agarbatti is lit to make the ritual sacred. A teacher guides the child to write their first letters on rice grains, marking the start of their education.

Our Festive Pick: White Lily Agarbatti, Spiritual Guide Agarbatti

Diwali 

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated across India with glowing diyas, festive decorations, and the joy of family gatherings. Homes sparkle with lamps, sweets are shared, and subtle aromas of agarbatti and dhoop fill the air, adding a sacred touch to the celebrations.

Our Festive Pick: Styx 4-in-1 Agarbatti, Legend Agarbatti

Lakshmi Puja 

During Lakshmi Puja, Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is worshipped at the household mandaps. Agarbatti and dhoop are lit alongside lamps, flowers, and offerings of sweets, creating a fragrant and auspicious atmosphere.

Our Festive Pick: Gulistan Agarbatti, Kasturi Agarbatti

Kali Puja in West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam 

Kali Puja is celebrated primarily in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and other eastern states, honoring Goddess Kali, the fierce mother and protector. Devotees light agarbatti and dhoop alongside diyas, flowers, and offerings to create a sacred, transformative atmosphere that invokes her energy and blessings.

Our Festive Pick: Rosa Ultimo Dhoop, Slok Agarbatti 

Why Agarbatti and Dhoop Are Essential for Indian Festivals

In Hindu mythology, agarbatti and dhoop are more than just a pleasant fragrance; they serve as a bridge between humans and the divine. Texts like the Devi Mahatmya describe flowers and incense as essential offerings to Goddess Durga, highlighting their sacred role in worship. 

Every element of the incense ritual has meaning: the stick represents earth, the flame fire, the rising smoke air, the scent ether, and the ash returns to earth. 

Lighting incense is often seen as an act of surrender, a way of letting prayers drift freely to the divine. For many, it isn’t just decoration but a sacred gesture that fills homes and temples with devotion.

Celebrate the festive season of the Divine Goddesses with our curated collection of agarbattis and dhoops, perfect for poojas and festive gifting. Shop now at Padmini.in.