This coming Sunday, October 11, the nine nights of Navaratri begin, and they run through Monday, October 19. The tenth day, Dussehra (also called Vijayadashami), is Tuesday, October 20. Diwali follows on Sunday, November 8. For many families in the Portland metro area, including our neighbors in Tigard, Beaverton, King City, and Bull Mountain, these are some of the most joyful weeks of the year, and flowers are everywhere in them.
We are a florist, not a religious authority, and customs differ widely by region, language, and family. This guide is about the flowers and about how to greet someone kindly. If a friend or coworker tells you how their family celebrates, their way is the right one.
📖 What the Festival Is
Navaratri means “nine nights.” It is a festival honoring the goddess Durga, and it is observed with prayer, fasting for many families, and in many communities evenings of Garba and Dandiya dancing. Dussehra, the tenth day, celebrates the victory of good over evil, remembered in different regions as Rama’s victory over Ravana and Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura. Some communities mark the day with a Durga Puja, others with the burning of Ravana’s effigy, and others with the worship of books, tools, and vehicles, which falls on the ninth day in some traditions.
The dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar, so they move each year, and the day on which Ashtami and Navami are observed can differ by a day depending on the calendar a family follows (October 18 or 19 this year). If you are planning around a specific celebration, ask.
🌼 Marigolds Everywhere
If one flower belongs to this season, it is the marigold, often called genda in Hindi. Orange and yellow marigolds are among the most common flowers in Hindu festivals, and a few uses are especially familiar:
- Doorway garlands. A toran of marigolds, often with mango leaves, is hung across the front door to welcome the goddess and good fortune into the home.
- Garlands for the puja space. Strings of marigolds are used to decorate images, altars, and prayer areas.
- Tools and vehicles. In many households, tools, instruments, and cars are decorated with garlands during the festival.
- Other offerings. Roses, jasmine, and in some traditions red hibiscus also appear, depending on the family and the region.
If you have read our Halloween flowers guide, you will notice that the same orange and gold shows up in an entirely different celebration. In this one, it is not decoration for fright. It is a color of auspiciousness and welcome.
🛒 What a Florist Can and Cannot Do
We want to be honest here. Long strands of fresh marigolds, strung by hand in the traditional way for a doorway or a puja, are usually the work of specialists, and they are often found at South Asian grocery stores and from suppliers connected to temples around the metro. If you need a traditional garland for worship, those are the places to start.
What we can do well is a marigold-forward arrangement for the home or the office: a bouquet or vase in warm orange, gold, and red, with the greenery that goes with it. It makes a festive centerpiece for a Navaratri gathering, a gift for a host, or a bright welcome for family arriving to celebrate. Tell us the occasion and we will build it around the season.
🤝 Greeting a Friend, Neighbor, or Coworker
If someone you know celebrates and you would like to acknowledge it, a short, warm message goes a long way. “Happy Navaratri” during the nine nights, or “Happy Dussehra” on or around October 20, is a kind and welcome greeting. A few practical notes:
- Choose festive colors. Orange, yellow, red, and gold suit the occasion. All-white arrangements can read as mourning to some families, so skip them.
- Flowers beat food. Many families fast or follow a restricted diet during Navaratri, and the rules vary. A box of chocolates or a food basket can put someone in an awkward spot, while flowers are welcome in any home.
- Ask before sending something meant for worship. If you are not sure whether a gift of flowers is meant for the home, the office, or the puja space, a quick question avoids confusion.
- Mind the timing. Delivering to an office during the festival week is a thoughtful surprise. For a home, pick a day when someone will be there, and keep in mind that evenings can be busy with celebrations.
- Keep the card simple. A line like “Wishing you and your family a joyful Navaratri” is plenty.
🗓️ The Calendar
- Sunday, October 11: Navaratri begins.
- Friday–Sunday, October 16–18: Many community Garba and Dandiya evenings are held on this weekend.
- Sunday–Monday, October 18–19: Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami, observed on one or both days depending on the calendar.
- Tuesday, October 20: Dussehra.
- Sunday, November 8: Diwali.
🚚 Where We Deliver
We deliver across Tigard and the south metro, including Beaverton, King City, Bull Mountain, Lake Oswego, and Southwest Portland. For a gift to a coworker or a friend, our thank-you flowers page and our guide to the Tigard thank-you list have more ideas. We have also written about celebrating with flowers in another community, in our guide to the Cinco de Mayo corridor.
🧡 The Short Version
Marigolds are the flower of this season, and the festival is about welcome, light, and the triumph of good. Whether you are celebrating, hosting, or simply wishing a neighbor well, orange and gold flowers and a kind word are the right gift.