📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Gpkp
Religion
Day 3 of Navratri 2026 Echoes with Dhol Beats as Kheliyas Dance in Circles
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 15 Oct 2026, 07:09 AM
👁 15
On the third day of Navratri 2026, devotees gathered to the rhythm of dhol drums while kheliyas performed traditional circular dances.
The third night of Navratri 2026 was marked by lively celebrations as communities across the country gathered for the traditional rituals of the festival. Dhol drums resonated through streets and public spaces, setting a festive tempo that drew participants into the heart of the observance.
Kheliyas – local youth groups who lead the rhythmic processions – moved in coordinated circles, their steps matching the steady beat of the drums. The circular dance, a hallmark of Navratri’s Garba and Dandiya traditions, symbolises unity and the cyclical nature of the divine feminine celebrated during the nine nights.
Spectators lined the venues, cheering and clapping as the performers continued their synchronized movements. The atmosphere remained upbeat and devotional, reflecting the cultural importance of music and dance in reinforcing communal bonds during Navratri.
Kheliyas – local youth groups who lead the rhythmic processions – moved in coordinated circles, their steps matching the steady beat of the drums. The circular dance, a hallmark of Navratri’s Garba and Dandiya traditions, symbolises unity and the cyclical nature of the divine feminine celebrated during the nine nights.
Spectators lined the venues, cheering and clapping as the performers continued their synchronized movements. The atmosphere remained upbeat and devotional, reflecting the cultural importance of music and dance in reinforcing communal bonds during Navratri.