Navaratri means "nine nights". It is a festival dedicated for the worship of divine mother or sakthy. It is celebrated all over India in different ways. Out of the 9 days, the first 3 days are dedicated to goddess Durga(the one who protects us from all evil sources), the second 3 days for goddess Lakshmi(the one who provides prosperity and wealth) and the last 3 days for goddess Saraswathi(the one who blesses us with knowledge and wisdom). The 10th day is commonly called as "Vijayadasami" or "Dussehra".
( Image source - http://vedichealing.com)
Navaratri begins on the day after Malaya Amavasya(new moon day) in the tamil month of Purattasi (September - October).
In Tamil Nadu, some people have the tradition of keeping "Golu" - an arrangement of idols and dolls. This custom of keeping golu is a practice passed through generations of a family. Apart from the olden dolls, every year as a custom people also buy new dolls. An odd number of steps are set up and different dolls are arranged. The dolls are set up based on a standard way of arranging. The top most steps are usually meant for gods and goddesses. The bottom steps are meant for animal dolls, dolls of human personalities, kids dolls etc. My favourite doll has always been the chettiar bommai with all the spices around. In addition to the traditional dolls, other attractive ideas like park, lake etc are also set up. Nowadays, people set up a theme based golu. This is a festival best meant to display one's creativity ideas.
( Golu Image from my brother's place)
Houses are cleaned before the start of the festival and as a custom tradition, the golu arrangement is officially started on the malaya amavasya day. In my parents place, this festival is celebrated in a very elaborate manner. We still have dolls maintained through many years. In olden days, people used all available furniture, steel boxes and anything apt enough for steps. I still remember the way my mom and aunt used to arrange steps using wooden tables, chairs, big containers etc. In recent years, we get ready made golu stand made of steel - having 3, 5, 7 or any odd number of steps.
( Golu Image from my brother's place)
People recite slokas pertaining to the goddess durga, lakshmi and saraswathi and offer neivedhyam everyday both during morning and evening. In the evening, it is mostly one of the sundal varieties as it will be used for distribution to the guests who visit the golu. Nowadays due to work and time constraints, people visit homes only on particular days that too only once. When I was a kid, we used to have guests visiting on all the 9 days and we kids also visit the same home again and again. Some days we will have countless number of guests and if the sundal or any dish made for neivedhyam is in shortage, my mom and aunt always used to stock some sweets or savouries as backup. Those days still remain as fresh memories in my mind:)
( Golu Image from my brother's place)
Girls in the house holds are well dressed up in their traditional attire and they take up the responsibility of inviting neighbours and friends to visit the golu at home. I have very fond memories of inviting people and also visiting golu in other houses during these 9 days. The guests are given the prasadam made on the day along with turmeric/kumkum, betel leaves, coconut, fruits, flowers, bangles, comb, mirror and any return gifts like utility items, decorative items, blouse bits based on the individual preference. The guests especially kids sing slokas/bhajans wherever they visit.
On the 9th day, it is Saraswathi Puja, which is marked for the worship of goddess saraswathi, the divine source of knowledge. We apply sandal and kumkum on the books, stationery items, keys, instruments, vehicles etc and do puja for them.
On the next day i.e. Vijayadasami, we have the ritual of taking up these items kept for puja and start using them, as this day is considered to be auspicious for beginning any new assignment. In Tamil Nadu, many schools begin school admission on this day by doing "Vidyarambam" for the new kids. Vijayadasami or Dussehra is considered to be the celebration of good over evil. In the evening of Vijayadasami, the people who keep golu, change the position of few dolls to a resting position to mark the end of the festival. The next days, all dolls will be taken and kept inside.
Special pujas, sloka recitals are done during these 10 days across India. Some temples also keep golu as part of their celebrations. Though this festival is celebrated as per the family customs, even if we are unable to do it in an elaborate way, we can worship the goddess in the simplest way possible. We can recite easy slokas, offer any dish or fruits as neivedhyam and visit nearby temples. In my in-laws side, we don't follow the custom of keeping golu, but we invite neighbours and friends during these days for receiving thamboolam.
We avoid doing few things during this festival like cutting nails, hair cut, stitching etc. Some people follow fasting during these days and also avoid eating onion/garlic.
SLOKAS FOR RECITAL
I have listed below some of the commonly recited slokas during this festival:
Listed below are some simple and easy to prepare recipes for this festival, as posted in my blog:
Navaratri begins on the day after Malaya Amavasya(new moon day) in the tamil month of Purattasi (September - October).
This year the festival is from Thursday, 7th October to Friday, 15th October 2021.
Whatever be the way of arrangement, we use a clean white dhothi cloth and spread across the steps. Alongside the steps, decorative arrangements are made. Kolam is drawn in front of the golu arrangement and lamp is lit everyday through this festival. Every night, mangala arathi is taken for the golu.
Girls in the house holds are well dressed up in their traditional attire and they take up the responsibility of inviting neighbours and friends to visit the golu at home. I have very fond memories of inviting people and also visiting golu in other houses during these 9 days. The guests are given the prasadam made on the day along with turmeric/kumkum, betel leaves, coconut, fruits, flowers, bangles, comb, mirror and any return gifts like utility items, decorative items, blouse bits based on the individual preference. The guests especially kids sing slokas/bhajans wherever they visit.
On the 9th day, it is Saraswathi Puja, which is marked for the worship of goddess saraswathi, the divine source of knowledge. We apply sandal and kumkum on the books, stationery items, keys, instruments, vehicles etc and do puja for them.
On the next day i.e. Vijayadasami, we have the ritual of taking up these items kept for puja and start using them, as this day is considered to be auspicious for beginning any new assignment. In Tamil Nadu, many schools begin school admission on this day by doing "Vidyarambam" for the new kids. Vijayadasami or Dussehra is considered to be the celebration of good over evil. In the evening of Vijayadasami, the people who keep golu, change the position of few dolls to a resting position to mark the end of the festival. The next days, all dolls will be taken and kept inside.
Special pujas, sloka recitals are done during these 10 days across India. Some temples also keep golu as part of their celebrations. Though this festival is celebrated as per the family customs, even if we are unable to do it in an elaborate way, we can worship the goddess in the simplest way possible. We can recite easy slokas, offer any dish or fruits as neivedhyam and visit nearby temples. In my in-laws side, we don't follow the custom of keeping golu, but we invite neighbours and friends during these days for receiving thamboolam.
We avoid doing few things during this festival like cutting nails, hair cut, stitching etc. Some people follow fasting during these days and also avoid eating onion/garlic.
SLOKAS FOR RECITAL
- Lalitha Sahasranamam
- Abirami Anthathi
- Mahishasura Mardini stotram
- Kanakadhara Stotram
- Lakshmi Ashtakam
- Soundarya Lahari
- Devi Mahatmiyam
KOLAM IDEAS
For easy to draw kolam designs, check the below links from my kolam page:
NEIVEDHYAM DISHES
- Aval ladoo - poha ladoo
- Aval kesari - poha kesari
- Carrot Kheer
- Corn flour halwa
- Lemon rice
- Maa Ladoo
- Rava kesari
- Sakkarai pongal
- Semiya Kesari
- Sweet corn sundal
- Sweet paniyaram using wheat flour
- Vella aval - poha with jaggery
- Ven pongal
- Semiya Payasam - Vermicelli Kheer
- Badam Kheer - Almond Kheer
- Aval Payasam - Aval Payasam with jaggery
- Arisi Thengai Payasam
No Onion No Garlic Dishes
Please check the below link for all dishes which are prepared without onion and garlic and can be made on any festival day. This includes breakfast dishes, side dishes, lunch menus etc.
DISCLAIMER
As Navaratri is celebrated in different ways across India, the customs and procedures also vary in each family. I have prepared this post purely based on the way we follow in our family. Please use this only as a reference for an insight into the festival. I shall update this page as and when applicable with new ideas and links to my recipes.
As Navaratri is celebrated in different ways across India, the customs and procedures also vary in each family. I have prepared this post purely based on the way we follow in our family. Please use this only as a reference for an insight into the festival. I shall update this page as and when applicable with new ideas and links to my recipes.
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