Navaratri 2026 was welcomed in a grand manner. The tradition of arranging dolls, or Gombe Habba, dates to the Vijayanagara Empire, where it flourished from the 14th to the 16th century. This tradition spread across Karnataka in the 18th century. At New Horizon, this tradition began in 2025, aligning with the Silver Jubilee Celebrations. This is the second year of bringing this rich tradition to the campus. 

Two decks, each with nine rows, have been adorned with dolls depicting the rich history of Indian mythology. The Divine Mother, or Adi Parashakti, occupies the prominent position at the top. The other deities arranged on the decks include Ashta Lakshmi, Navadurga, Kolkata Durga Matha Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on Nandi, along with Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan, Ranganath Swamy, and Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai. The display also features the famous Thanjavur bobblehead dolls and some iconic Channapatna toys. 

What stands out this year is the collection of dolls representing various dance forms of India, ranging from Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam. The other deck also features a range of fashionable dolls depicting traditional attires from different parts of India. The traditional dolls include collections from Puri Jaganath, episodes from Krishna Katha. 

The in-house Panditji at New Horizon performed the daily puja, accompanied by the chanting of prayers. All the staff members participated in unison and wore colour-coded attire for the respective days. They offered flowers and rice grains to the deities and took part in the aarti. As the puja came to an end, prasad was distributed to the staff members present. 

The spiritual atmosphere and the rituals created a sense of divinity and helped everyone invoke the blessings of the Divine Mother.