Navratri tambola is a game for the breaks between the garba and dandiya rounds. Print up to 600 unique Navratri tambola tickets in amber with crossed dandiya sticks on every one, then call the numbers and give prizes such as the Garba Line, the Chaniya Line and the Nine Nights Full House. The pack has a caller sheet, a prize list and a rules page, and you can also play it live on phones.
Navratri tambola to print (PDF)
These four pages show a Navratri tambola set: a page of tickets titled “Navratri Tambola”, the 1 to 90 caller sheet, the prize list with the festival prize names and the one-page rules. Click a picture for the PDF, or use the generator at the top of the page to change the title, the date, the paper size and the number of tickets.
What is in the Navratri tambola pack
Everything below is made in your browser, and nothing you type is uploaded. Put the name of your garba group or your society in the title box.
| Page | What you get | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets | Real strips of six: each strip uses every number from 1 to 90 exactly once | Up to 600 tickets, amber with a crossed-dandiya motif and pink trim, with your title and the group name on every ticket |
| Caller sheet | A 1 to 90 grid to cross off as you call | Keep it to check every winning claim |
| Prize list | The six Navratri prizes, from Dandiya Five to Nine Nights Full House | Space to write each prize and the winning ticket number |
| Rules page | A one-page script to read out before the first number | Covers claims and what happens after a wrong one |
Navratri tambola prizes and what they mean
The Navratri theme names each prize after something at the nine nights, so reading the list out loud adds to the festive mood. Here is what each prize means and how to win it:
| Prize | How to win | Navratri link |
|---|---|---|
| Dandiya Five | Early Five: the first five numbers marked on a ticket | The first five numbers are the first clacks of the sticks |
| Garba Line | Top Line: all five numbers on the top row | Garba is the circle dance around a lamp or an image of the goddess |
| Chaniya Line | Middle Line: all five numbers on the middle row | The chaniya choli is the bright outfit worn for garba |
| Aarti Line | Bottom Line: all five numbers on the bottom row | The aarti is the lamp prayer that opens or ends each evening |
| Four Dandiyas | Corners: the first and last number of the top and bottom rows | A pair of sticks, one for each corner |
| Nine Nights Full House | Full House: all fifteen numbers marked | The festival lasts nine nights, and the full house is the grand finale |
Number calls for your Navratri tambola
Navratri has numbers that guests know without thinking: the nine nights, the two sticks, the three goddesses. Use these calls to turn the numbers into small facts:
| Number | Call it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The garbo | A decorated clay pot with a lamp inside, the center of a garba circle |
| 2 | Two sticks | In dandiya raas every player holds two sticks |
| 3 | Three goddesses | The nine nights are traditionally divided among Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, three nights each |
| 4 | Four Navratris | There are four Navratris in a year, and the autumn one is the best known |
| 9 | Nine nights | The festival runs for nine nights, one for each form of Durga |
| 10 | Dussehra | The tenth day, when the festival ends with Vijayadashami |
| 90 | Top of the shop | The last number on the board |
How long does a Navratri tambola game last?
A Navratri tambola should fit in the gap between the aarti and the dance, so it helps to know how long a game runs. The table shows when each prize is usually won and how many minutes the whole game takes at the default speed of 10 seconds a call.
| Tickets | Typical crowd | Early Five | First full line | Full House | Time at 10 s a call |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 tickets | a society garba group | call 13 (12 to 15) | call 39 (35 to 45) | call 74 (71 to 76) | 12 min |
| 30 tickets | a ladies’ Navratri kitty | call 12 (10 to 14) | call 36 (31 to 41) | call 72 (69 to 75) | 12 min |
| 60 tickets | a community garba night | call 11 (9 to 12) | call 31 (26 to 36) | call 69 (66 to 72) | 12 min |
| 120 tickets | a large garba ground | call 10 (9 to 11) | call 28 (24 to 31) | call 66 (63 to 69) | 11 min |
The numbers come from real simulations of this generator: 300 games for each ticket count, with the typical call number and the middle half of results in brackets. More tickets mean the first prizes arrive sooner, but with 18 to 120 tickets the Full House still comes around call 66 to 74, because someone must complete all fifteen numbers. Between the garba rounds you may have only 10 minutes, so choose 6 seconds a call and play for the Garba Line and the Nine Nights Full House.
Navratri games for the evenings between the dances
Navratri games have to be short, because the main event is the dancing. Tambola fits the gap perfectly: it can be played while the dhol players rest and the dancers catch their breath, and it can be stopped and resumed without losing its place. Printed tickets are easy to carry in a chaniya choli, and the live game works for guests who do not want to hold paper.
Garba night games for societies and clubs
Garba night games for a society or a club can follow the nine nights: one game for each night, with a prize for each. Use a different title for each night, such as “Night 1” to “Night 9”, and the tickets become a collection. The winners of the nine nights can compete in a final on Dussehra.
Dandiya tambola: a quiet game for the dandiya break
Dandiya tambola is a good option for guests who need a rest from the dance. Give them a ticket and a seat, and let the dancers rotate in and out. For the history of the dances, see Wikipedia’s articles on garba and dandiya raas.
Navratri kitty party: a themed month
A Navratri kitty party can be a themed afternoon with nine colors, one for each day, and a tambola game with the colors as prizes. The colors differ from region to region, so check what your group follows. See also kitty party tambola for a general game.
How to run a Navratri tambola in six steps
- A week before Navratri: decide which night or nights to play, and how many tickets you need.
- Print: type the group name and the night into the title box and print the tickets.
- On the evening: keep the tickets, pens and prizes at a table near the garba ground.
- During a break: invite guests to the table and read the prize list.
- During the game: call a number every 10 seconds and keep the dhol quiet while you read.
- After the game: check each win against the caller sheet and hand out the prizes.
Prize ideas for a Navratri tambola
- A pair of dandiya sticks or a decorated pair for the Dandiya Five
- A pack of bangles or a set of oxidized earrings for the Garba Line
- A dupatta or a hair accessory for the Chaniya Line
- A decorated diya or a small aarti thali for the Aarti Line
- A bigger gift, a bandhani dupatta or a gift voucher, for the Nine Nights Full House
Type any of these into the “Extra fun prizes” box and they print on the prize list:
- Nine Nights: the first guest to mark the number 9
- Dussehra: the first to mark the number 10
- Two Sticks: the first to mark the number 2
- Best Dressed: a bonus prize for the best chaniya choli or kediyu, no ticket needed
Host tips for a smooth game
- Hold the game at the start of the evening, before the dance floor fills up and gets loud.
- Use a microphone for the caller, because garba grounds are noisy.
- Print the tickets in large size (3 per page) for older guests who watch from the side.
- Give small prizes each night, so that regular players have something to collect.
Wikipedia’s Navaratri article describes the nine nights, the legends and how different regions celebrate.
Play Navratri tambola live on phones
Press Create game in the live game below, share the link and every guest opens a different e-ticket on their phone. Numbers are called automatically at the speed you choose, read aloud in English or Hindi if you like, and you can check any winning claim by ticket number. No app and no sign-up. It lets guests who are resting at home or watching from a car play along.
Navratri tambola: frequently asked questions
What are good Navratri games for a society?
Tambola, a dress competition and a dance quiz are easy to run. Tambola is the best seated game, because it fits into the breaks between the garba rounds.
Can we play Navratri tambola every night?
Yes. Print a new set each night with a different title, such as “Navratri Night 3”, and give a small prize each night. The tickets are unique every time you press New tickets.
How many tickets do I need for a garba ground?
One for each family or each interested guest. A society garba usually needs 30 to 60 tickets, and a large ground 120 or more.
How many tickets can I print?
From 1 to 600 in one go, with 3, 6, 8 or 12 tickets per page. Press New tickets for a completely different set, and choose Letter or A4 paper, in color or black and white.
Are the navratri tambola tickets free?
Yes. The tickets, caller sheet, prize list, rules page and live game are all free for home, club and classroom use, with no sign-up.