Navratri 2025 | The Hindu festival of Navratri takes place twice a year: first in the month of Chaitra (March or April), and again in the month of Ashvin (September or October). The festival—which celebrates and honours Hindu goddesses like Kali and Durga over nine days—is scheduled to begin on March 30 and culminate with the Rama Navami celebrations on April 6.

　　In India, millions of worshippers throng the numerous Devi temples during this time, including the Chamundeshwari temple in Karnataka, the Mahalakshmi temple in Maharashtra, and the Kalkaji temple of Delhi. Many of these temples have their own unique customs, rituals and mythologies, but the story behind the Dhari Devi temple in Uttarakhand is a cut above the rest.

　　Located on the banks of the Alaknanda River, the temple is one of 108 shakti peethas in India and has captured worshippers’ attention due to the shifting forms of its resident goddess.

　　Legend Of The Goddess Kali Idol

　　Sandwiched between Srinagar and Rudraprayag in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, the Dhari Devi temple is dedicated to an avatar of the Hindu deity Kali. Every year on Navratri, people from near and far visit this sacred shrine in great numbers to receive the goddess' blessings. She is said to be the protector of the Char Dham yatra, so worshippers typically seek her approval before embarking on the iconic pilgrimage.

　　The stone-carved idol of Dhari Devi has two halves: the top half of the idol is that of the deity Dhari, while the lower half of the idol is located in Kalimath village, where She is worshipped as a manifestation of Kali. According to legend, the idol changes its appearance three times a day. In the morning, it has the face of a girl, followed by that of a young woman in the afternoon, before reverting to the face of an old lady in the evening. Many worshippers and priests have attested to this transformation.

　　Another fascinating legend about the temple has sources in mythology and the present. The mythological account says that when a severe flood washed away the original temple, Dhari Devi’s idol was trapped against a rock near the village of Dharo. Villagers heard the idol's wail and a divine voice directing them to install the idol at a new place, which became the temple’s present-day location.

　　Present-Day Myth Behind The Dhari Devi Temple

　　A more current account of the deity’s power dates back to 2013. On June 16, the goddess' original temple was removed and shifted to a concrete platform hundreds of metres from the Alaknanda River to build a hydroelectric dam.

　　Hours after the idol was moved, the region faced what would become one of the country’s worst natural disasters. The 2013 North India floods were caused by a multi-day cloudburst, resulting in devastating floods and landslides that killed many people. Locals and devotees believe that Uttarakhand had to face the goddess’ ire as She was shifted from her original abode to make way for an infrastructural project that was left in ruins after the flood.

　　Subsequently, a new temple was constructed in the original location and the idol was permanently installed there. Stories like these are common in the region, with many attributing their safety and wellbeing to Her divine intervention.

　　Architecture Of The Dhari Devi Temple

　　The Dhari Devi temple also stands out for its striking design , which combines North Indian and Garhwal architectural styles. Made with locally available stones and rocks, the intricate artwork highlights the craftsmanship of the artisans. The sanctum sanctorum is adorned by several beautifully crafted shikaras (mountain peaks), each of them depicting characters from Hindu mythology and celestial creatures. The main entrance is adorned with carved sculptures and intricate motifs.

　　In the sanctum sanctorum, the rock idol of Dhari Devi is surrounded by flowers, incense sticks and oil lamps. The temple walls are decorated with paintings and carvings that depict stories from ancient scriptures and folklore.

　　How To Reach The Dhari Devi Temple

　　The nearest airport is Dehradun’s Jolly Grant (DED) while the closest railway station is in Rishikesh, 117 km away. You can take a bus or taxi from either of these places to reach the temple.