Hello Friends, good day to you.
Navaratri is a very big festival in India. In Tamil year it comes thrice in a year. One Aashada Navarati, another Vasantha Navaratri and finally Saradha Navaratri. The third one is the one which we celebrate for 10 days.
It comes in the month of Puratasi in tamil (i.e. between 15 Sep to Oct 16). The new moon day is very famous in this period which is also called as Mahalaya Amavasai in Tamil, it is from this day Navaratri festival begins. Nava denotes number 9 and ratri is the term of night in Tamil. We celebrate this for 9 days and on the 10th day we do special pooja and start any new work.
In houses we buy dolls made of clay and also plastic and clay idols of God. We will make a step kind of arrangement in our house to arrange this dolls as exhibit. On Amavasai day we must clean the place where we are going to exhibit the dolls. This is termed as Golu in Tamil. The step arrangement would normally be five to seven steps.
We will cover the steps with a blue cloth. Then we take the Ganesha idol and place it in the top step in the center with Lakshmi and Saraswathi idols on either side of Ganesha. We also decorate with some flowers. In the rest of the steps we will have Dasavathara of Vishnu, Ragavendra, even we can have our national leaders Gandhi and Nehru according to our wish. Then in the last step we create a provision store with some rice and other provisional items, these idols are available in plastic too.
We can also buy some Tanjore dolls which are famously known for its dancing head and place them in the last step. Then we can provide lighting also for the exhibits. Once we are done with this the Golu is almost complete. Then we get ready for pooja and other things required.
On Amavasai day we need to do this pooja, its is very simple we need to chant Lalitha Sahasaranamam slogans. We need to cook some sweet and rice before we start with the slogan. We will place the cooked sweet and other stuff in front of God and start chanting the slogan.
The nine days of Navaratri is split as first three days for Lord Durga (young girl) next three for Lord Lakshmi (middle aged) and the final three is for Lord Saraswathi (elderly).
Lord Durga gives energy and strength , Lakshmi gives wealth and Saraswathi gives education. So pray well and put application for more success.
On 9th day it is Saraswathi pooja we place our books, and items with which we do work such as knife, vessel and we also clean and vehicles and put kumkum and santhan on it. We put garland to the God and do Saraswathi pooja.
Next day Vijayadasami, in the morning we take a book and study for a while. Then we take the Ganesha and others idol and put it a box to store.
All these while where is the enjoyment part, here it is, one day in between these 9 days invite your friends to your home for Golu and to take thambulam (betal with kumkum and turmeric). Give the women guests bangles and form a group and sing some songs or slogans with kids. Ask some kids to dance and sing. Talk with your friends provide them with some snacks. While they return back gift them with some plates or bowl based on your expenditure.
Then another day call your relatives to your home sisters, brothers, in laws and give them saree, blouse or dress with the thambulam. This is a nice time for all the relatives to come together and provides happiness to all.
You can also visit your friends, relatives house where they have kept Golu and enjoy the festival there.
This Navaratri is celebrated across India. In Calcutta it is celebrated as Kaali Pooja, in Mysore they celebrate it as Dasara and Durga Pooja in some places and Saraswathi Pooja in Tamil Nadu. Some celebrate it very grandly and some celebrate it in simple ways based on their wealth.
Well friends I am feeling very tired now, so its time to say good bye to you all until the next time.
Meet you all with the next festival update.
cool... golu looks perfect amma
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