Navratri is a celebration of strength, courage, and wisdom – nine forms of energy that inspire millions. For women entrepreneurs in India, these energies aren’t just mythological; they are lessons learned in the world of business.
From taking the first leap to scaling strategically, from fighting bias to embracing technology, every step of entrepreneurship mirrors the powers of these goddesses.
This Navratri, we bring you nine success stories of women entrepreneurs whose journeys echo each day’s theme and offer practical business lessons for anyone looking to start or grow a venture.
Day 1 – Shailaputri: Strength & New Beginnings
Preet – Tailoring Dreams from Home
Preet began her entrepreneurial journey with a single hand-sewing machine at home. She started with small tailoring orders, often stitching late into the night, learning how to manage deadlines, and negotiate prices. With each blouse and kurta stitched, she built not just skill but also confidence. Today, her tailoring business is her family’s steady source of income, showing how small side hustles can become full-fledged business.
Business Lesson: Launch with what you have. You don’t need perfect conditions to start; small, smart first steps often lead to scalable growth.
Day 2 – Brahmacharini: Discipline & Devotion
Swati – Boutique Owner & Makeup Learner
Swati was already running a successful boutique, but she knew that fashion alone wasn’t enough to keep customers coming back. With discipline and dedication, she began training in makeup artistry. Adding a new dimension to her business. Today, her boutique serves as a one-stop destination for style and beauty, attracting clients who value convenience and trust. Her consistency in learning new skills ensured that her boutique not only survived but also grew stronger.
Business Lesson: Skill-building is growth-building. For women entrepreneurs running small businesses, investing in yourself before chasing scale is the smartest move.
Day 3 – Chandraghanta: Courage & Calm
Rajeshvari – Fearless Entrepreneur at 47
At 47, Rajeshvari from Surat defied the odds. She decided to start her own beauty services business when most people around her believed it was “too late” to begin. With courage in her heart and a calm focus in her execution, she rapidly expanded her customer base, boosting her income by nearly 125% in a few months. Her story challenges the notion that entrepreneurship has an age limit.
Business Lesson: Bravery is not just entering the market – it’s sustaining growth with calm, consistent execution. For inspiring women entrepreneurs, courage combined with planning leads to long-term success.
Day 4 – Kushmanda: Creation & Innovation
Manasi – Diet Food Business with 500+ Happy Customers
Manasi saw the growing demand for healthy diet food and decided to create a service that combined taste with nutrition. Starting small, she experimented with recipes, portion sizes, and packaging. But one thing remained constant, always listening to customer feedback. Over time, she built a community of over 500 loyal clients who trusted her for consistent quality. At 50, she proved that innovation doesn’t need massive capital – just creativity, courage, and customer focus.
Business Lesson: Originality is your edge. For women entrepreneurs in India, niche creation and product innovation can turn even a small business into a trusted brand.
Day 5 – Skandamata: Nurturing Growth
Shameena – Small Provision Store in Alleppey
Shameena’s provision store started as a small neighbourhood shop. But her warmth and customer-first approach made her store more than a place to buy essentials; it became a community hub. With a small loan, she expanded her stock and introduced more variety. She always ensured that her customers always found what they needed. Today, her store is thriving, not because of flashy marketing, but because of the trust she nurtured.
Business Lesson: Growth often comes from care. For successful women entrepreneurs, treating customers like family ensures repeat sales and steady expansion.
Day 6 – Katyayani: Warrior Spirit
Aarti – Redefining Success in a Male-Dominated Cab Business
Aarti stood out for her determination, in Gurgaon’s competitive cab industry. As one of the few female drivers, she faced scepticism and bias almost everyday. But instead of giving up, she expanded her fleet and managed her operations with professionalism. Her courage and persistence paid off with a 67% increase in turnover, proving that no industry is off-limits for women entrepreneurs who are willing to fight for their space.
Business Lesson: Don’t shy away from tough industries.
For women entrepreneurs scaling with loans, courage and a little turns barriers into opportunities.
Day 7 – Kalaratri: Destroying Fear & Doubt
Shabana – Vegetable Business with a Scooty
Shabana once sold vegetables from a static stall, limited by location and time. With a productive loan, she bought a scooty and turned her business mobile. Today, she covers multiple neighborhoods daily, reaching more customers and increasing her earnings significantly. By breaking her own fear of trying something new, she created a smarter, scalable model.
Business Lesson: Growth means removing bottlenecks. For women entrepreneurs small businesses, investing in mobility, tools, or resources can multiply reach and revenue.
Day 8 – Mahagauri: Purity & Authenticity
Rishika – From Home Kitchen to Corporate Success
Rishika’s food business started with small orders from her home kitchen. But with the help of a Mahila Money loan and her commitment to authentic taste, she scaled up to corporate catering. Sales grew by 140%, and she now runs a thriving enterprise that balances tradition with modern efficiency. Her journey shows how authenticity can be your strongest business asset, even as you adopt digital payments and new systems.
Business Lesson: Stay authentic but evolve smartly. For inspiring women entrepreneurs, purity of craft combined with adaptation is the recipe for growth.
Day 9 – Siddhidatri: Wisdom & Fulfillment
Anushree – Strategic Growth with a Business Loan
Anushree was already running a saree business but struggled with limited capital. With a Mahila Money loan, she restocked inventory, expanded her product line, and boosted her income from ₹25,000 to ₹40,000 a month. Her story is not about overnight success but about making wise financial decisions that lay the foundation for long-term stability.
Business Lesson: Growth without strategy can stall. For business growth for women entrepreneurs, wise use of credit and reinvestment in high-impact areas builds lasting success.
Final Word: Nine Days, Nine Legacies
Navratri reminds us that women entrepreneurs carry every shade of strength — courage, creativity, discipline, and wisdom. These nine stories prove that building a business isn’t about luck; it’s about strategy, consistency, and courage.
Whether you’re launching a new venture, scaling a side hustle, or stepping into uncharted territory, these women are proof that determination paired with smart choices can turn ideas into legacies.
This Navratri, let’s celebrate the success stories of women entrepreneurs in India who are not just running businesses but shaping the future of our economy.
Read more:
How This Delhi Woman Built a ₹12 Lakh/Year Home-Based Art and Craft Business from Her Living Room
How Hyderabad Makeup Artist Nisha Earned ₹1 Lakh in 2 Days
How a Single Mother Entrepreneur Found Her Calling as Dr. Mital, the Skin Doctor
How Tehseen Built Three Businesses with Small Business Loans for Women Entrepreneurs
If you are a woman entrepreneur who wants to take your business to new heights and is in need of working capital and entrepreneurship resources, come speak to us on Mahila Money. For more such #JiyoApneDumPe live conversations, download the Mahila Money App on Play Store or visit us on www.mahila.money
