India, Sept. 28 -- As Navratri celebrations light up the country, Raashii Khanna finds herself immersed in the energy and memories that have always made the festival special for her. "Navratri carries a purity in the air that always brings me closer to God," she says, adding, "At my nani's house, we would sow seeds of jawar, light a lamp that stayed through all nine nights, and gather every evening for songs and bhajans. It always filled the home with divine energy."

For Raashii, the rituals of kanjak puja remain the heart of the festival. "As children, we would go from home to home on Ashtami and Navami, where our feet were washed and we were treated with halwa and puri. I remember feeling so special, almost like a little goddess," she ...