Celebrating the women who have made an indelible mark on our world

Navaratri 2024

What is Navaratri?

Navaratri is the Hindu festival celebrating the goddess Durga, the goddess of strength and protection. We dedicate these nine nights to Mother Durga and her nine forms: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.

Each form of Durga represents the strength and power of the divine feminine, reflected in the strength and power of the women of the world. We honor Durga and pray for the victory of good over evil in our world.

As Hindus for Human Rights, we channel Durga in our work for equality, justice, liberation, and human rights. This Navaratri we wish to highlight the courage of women all over the world; from human rights defenders to athletes to journalists. We stand in solidarity with the women of South Asia and beyond, from India to Uganda to the USA. These nine women we have chosen to celebrate and honor this Navaratri represent our vision of the divine feminine: brave, resilient, strong, outspoken, and true to themselves.

While the women we choose to honor are incredible examples of female prowess, we believe that the beauty and strength of womanhood can be found in everyday actions.

Who is a woman that inspires the divine feminine in your life this Navaratri?

Who are we celebrating this Navaratri?

  • Mahrang Baloch is a human rights defender from Balochistan, a region divided amongst modern day Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. She is the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights movement created in response to the unlawful forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of the Baloch people by the Pakistani authorities. Balochistan is the poorest province in Pakistan, and has a long history of exploitation and violence at the hands of the Pakistani government; Mahrang Baloch and the BYC represent resistance to this violence and the resilience of the Baloch people. In December 2023, Mahrang was one of the key organizers in the Baloch Long March, a roughly thousand mile long journey in which hundreds of women traveled from Turbat, in the southwest of Balochistan, to Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, to protest the extrajudicial killing of young Baloch men. Protestors of the Baloch Long March experienced unlawful detainment, harassment, police violence, tear gas and baton use, and more. More than 300 protestors were indiscriminately arrested. Mahrang continues to be a beacon of hope in the fight for Baloch self-determination, rights, and safety, and we applaud her tireless efforts and commitment to political freedom for the Baloch people. 

  • Bisan Owda is a Palestinian journalist and storyteller who has gained global recognition for her raw and unflinching portrayal of life in the Gaza Strip. Through her candid videos, Owda offers a window into the everyday struggles and moments of hope that define life during genocide. Her work reflects the harsh realities of war—marked by destruction, loss, and uncertainty—yet also captures the resilience, strength, and humanity of the Palestinian people. Owda’s content resonates deeply with her audience because she realistically portrays the pain and tragedy instilled by Israel’s genocide, while also emphasizing the enduring sense of community, joy, and hope that persists in even the darkest of circumstances. Her storytelling has not only raised awareness about the human impact of the conflict but has also earned her prestigious accolades in the field of journalism. Owda has won both the Peabody Award and the Edward R. Murrow Award for her Al Jazeera show, It’s Bisan From Gaza and I’m Still Alive. Her ability to blend personal narrative with hard-hitting journalism has captivated millions, and she has garnered a massive following of over 4 million people on Instagram. Through her platform, Owda continues to share stories that highlight both the fragility and resilience of life in Gaza, making her one of the most influential voices reporting from the region.

  • Manizha Seddiqi is an Afghan human rights defender and women’s rights activist. Between September and November 2023, Manizha along with three other prominent women human rights defenders, Parisa Azada, Neda Parwani, and Zholia Parsi, were arbitrarily detained and arrested by the Taliban. Seddiqi’s arrest is symptomatic of a larger issue within Afghanistan, in which the Taliban repeatedly and increasingly violates the rights of women and girls, particularly regarding their education, political participation, and engagement in public life. Seddiqi is a part of the Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women. This movement will host impromptu protests around Kabul – a life-threatening and extremely dangerous act considering the banning of women from public life. The movement also advocates for women political prisoners, calling for their complete and unconditional release, as well as calling upon international institutions to push against the illegitimate Taliban regime and their misogynistic, draconian policies.

  • Vinesh Phogat is one of India’s top wrestlers. Phogat comes from Indian wrestling royalty, with Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari as her cousins, and she has gone on to be a three time Olympian with three Commonwealth Games golds, two World Championships bronze medals and a gold medal each at the Asian Games and Asian Championships. Phogat’s journey to the gold wasn’t easy, though. She had to overcome misogyny and sexism, battling norms in her home village that believed women should stay at home and wrestling was a man’s sport. In January 2023, Phogat was one of several women wrestlers involved in a protest demanding the dissolution of the Wrestling Federation of India after it was made public that coaches had been sexually harassing female athletes for years. Phogat’s political activism doesn’t end there; she also joined the farmer’s protests in 2024 demanding a minimum price on crops. 

  • Sheetal Devi, aged 17, is the world’s first para-archer without arms. She was born with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder leading to underdeveloped limbs. The condition resulted in her arms not fully forming. In the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Devi and her archery partner, Rakesh Kumar, brought home India’s first medal for para-archery. Devi’s career began in 2023, and since then she’s been on a fast upward acceleration. She won a silver medal in the open women’s compound archery event at the World Archery Para Championships, and was the first female armless archer to win a medal at the Para World Championships. The medal helped Sheetal obtain a quota for India for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. In October 2023, she won gold medals in the individual compound and mixed team events and the silver medal in the women's doubles competition at the Asian Para games. 

    Sheetal Devi’s medals and achievements

    • World Archery Para Championships 2023 silver medal - women’s individual compound open archery

    • Asian Para Games 2023 gold medal - women’s individual compound open archery

    • Asian Para Games 2023 gold medal - mixed doubles compound open archery

    • Asian Para Games 2023 silver medal - women’s doubles compound open archery

    • World No. 1 women’s compound para archer in the open category in 2023

    • Khelo India Para Games 2023 gold medal - women’s individual compound open archery

    • Arjuna Award 2023

    • Best Youth Athlete of the Year 2023 by the Asian Paralympic Committee

    • Best Women Para Archer of the Year 2023 by World Archery

    • Paris Summer Paralympics 2024 bronze medal – mixed team compound open category 

  • Rebecca Cheptegei was a Ugandan marathon runner, who recently competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics. She recently passed away after her former boyfriend doused her in petrol and set her on fire, causing severe burns. Rebecca is remembered for her generosity and kindness; she was known to financially support other runners in the community so that they could follow their dreams. This senseless violent act against Cheptegei occurred in Kenya, where gender-based violence is becoming an increasingly large concern; in 2022 at least 34% of women said that they had experienced physical violence. The tragedy of Rebecca Cheptegei’s death points to a broader issue of how we treat women and girls, and the guardrails – or lack thereof – in place to protect them. Her murder should catalyze a call to action for changes in international standards around women’s safety and health. However, at the same time, Cheptegei must be remembered as more than just her passing, and the violence she experienced at a man’s hands. She was a daughter, a mother, a friend, a mentor, and an incredible runner, finishing 44th in the recent 2024 Paris Olympics marathon and winning gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2022. 

  • Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi was a 26 year old Turkish-American human rights activist and supporter of an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine. Eygi was shot in the head by Israeli forces when partaking in a weekly protest against the illegal settlements in the West Bank near the village of Beita. She was volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement, the same activist group that Rachel Corrie – who was bulldozed by Israeli forces in 2003 – had volunteered with. Eygi is remembered by her friends and family as a “fiercely passionate human rights activist” who was “gentle, brave, silly, supportive, and a ray of sunshine”. In a statement released, Eygi’s family wrote, “Like the olive tree she lay beneath where she took her last breaths, Aysenur was strong, beautiful, and nourishing. Her presence in our lives was taken needlessly, unlawfully, and violently by the Israeli military.” As we search for justice for Eygi’s untimely and unfair death, we must continue our calls for a Free Palestine and an end to the illegal occupation and bombing of Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria by Israeli forces as well as the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Eygi’s death is a saddening reminder of United States complicity in the Israeli genocide, and may her spirit encourage us to continue calling for accountability and an end to the violence from our own government. 

  • Dr. Banojyotsna Lahiri is a PhD scholar, activist, and the partner of political prisoner Umar Khalid. She herself was imprisoned in Tihar jail for nearly four years without trial. Lahiri publically advocates for the release of Umar Khalid, who is a longtime activist imprisoned under the controversial Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for allegedly inciting the 2020 Delhi Riots. In addition to advocating for his release, Lahiri also advocates for his right to a trial, which he has not yet received. Lahiri uses her voice to share both her and Khalid’s side of the story – a perspective that is commonly silenced in the Indian media – and describe how Khalid was seemingly scapegoated to silence progressive dissent against the BJP government, and because of his Muslim name. Lahiri describes how the Indian media “Made [Umar Khalid a terrorist] in the same day”, stating “We were just normal human beings, normal citizens of the country… [and] suddenly you can see your witch hunt happening on live TV.”  Despite all the hardships both herself and Khalid have faced, Lahiri still continues to fearlessly and persistently advocate for Khalid and for the rights of individuals – students, in particular – targeted by the UAPA, with an air of wit, humor, positivity, and kindness. 

  • Sabrina Siddiqui is a White House reporter for the Wall Street Journal, where she covers the Biden presidency. Siddiqui came under attack in the summer of 2023 when Narendra Modi visited the United States and she questioned him about his human rights record; most notably, that "there are many human rights groups who say your government has discriminated against religious minorities and sought to silence its critics”, asking “what steps are you and your government willing to take to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities in your country and uphold free speech?” Following her query, Siddiqui faced online harassment, including threats, slurs, and accusations that Siddiqui asked the question out of her own personal bias. Her online attackers range from anonymous trolls to government officials with ties to Modi’s BJP. Since the barrage of hate sent her way, Siddiqui has thrived flawlessly in her career as a reporter, continuing to cover Biden’s presidency with grace, professionalism, and maturity — though the same cannot be said for her attackers. Siddiqui’s bravery in standing up to Narendra Modi and for human rights is truly inspiring, and her journalistic integrity in finding out the utmost political truth is admired. 

  • The recent "Reclaim the Night" protests across India reflect the ongoing demand for safety, dignity, and justice for women. These protests have been fueled by the tragic case of Moumita Debnath, a 31-year-old female trainee doctor who was sexually assaulted and murdered at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. Her body was discovered on August 9, 2024, after she had retired to sleep in a seminar room following a 36-hour shift. While the incident has brought particular attention to the vulnerabilities faced by female medical staff in the healthcare sector, it has also sparked a broader, multifaceted movement for women’s safety and against sexual violence. This widespread response underscores the varied and deep-rooted nature of the problem, as women across different regions and social backgrounds continue to confront violence in many aspects of their daily lives. Dr. Debnath’s memory has captured a region, yet at the same time, it pushes us to remember the countless Dalit and Adivasi women who are especially vulnerable to sexual violence because of their caste identity. The "Reclaim the Night" protests have spread to major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and even Dhaka, where thousands of women have taken to the streets to demand better safety laws and greater accountability. Reclaim the Night protests, in particular, point to the nearly universal inability of women to walk alone at night without fearing harassment, assault, or even death. Activists argue that this case is symptomatic of India's failure to effectively address sexual violence. Despite legal reforms introduced after the 2012 gang rape in New Delhi, activists assert that more needs to be done to enforce these laws and protect women. While the horrors of the case in Kolkata make clear that more than a decade later violence against women remains endemic and pervasive, the thousands of women uniting across India and calling for their safety, as well as justice for Dr. Debnath, show the power in numbers and resilience and rage of women.