Essence of Navrathri

The festive season has begun today :)

This year Navaratri is celebrated from 28 September 2011 till 05 October 2011.

The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit ; "Nava" means nine and "Ratri" meaning nights. Navrathri is also known as "Dusserah". Dusserah as the word suggests, indicates liquidation of 10 sins which means 10 sense organs through which the mind communicates and gains knowledge from the world.

All the nine days are spent praying and doing poojas to the deities Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. The first three days, prayers are dedicated to Goddess Durga. The next three days, prayers are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. The last three days, prayers are dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi.

By praying to Goddess Durga, negative forces like greed and jealousy are destroyed. By praying to Goddess Lakshmi, one can attain material wealth of love, kindness, devotion, patience, endurance, charity and ahimsa (non-violence). By praying to Goddess Saraswathi, one can achieve mastery over art, education, harmony, meditation, music and melody.

The 10th day is called Vijaya Dashami or Vidhyarambam. Vijaya Dashami is the auspicious day for starting formal education. On the Vijaya Dashami day, devilish feelings of human nature, also known as ego, is destroyed and any person who worships during these ten days shall attain victory against all sins.

It is expected to offer prasadam to the deities during these ten days and also offer prasadam to visitors along with tamboolam to ladies which should contain kumkum, chandan, bangles, turmeric, flower, mirror etc.

During this Navrathri festival, it is customary in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, as well as in some Tamil communities within Sri Lanka, to display a "Golu" (Kolu, or Bombe Habba or Bommai Kolu or Bommala Koluvu). This is an exhibition of various dolls and figurines in odd (usually 5,7, 9, or 11) numbered tiers ("padis").

Personally I feel Navrathri represents colors, dolls, celebration, excitement and togetherness. It has always been fun keeping dolls and I have being doing it from my childhood. I always find it nice when we get visitors to have the prasadam and enjoy the Golu.

Golu is generally hosted by the lady of the house. Last year was my first Golu after marriage, with dolls from India and Little India (Singapore). It was the first time I had my own "kutty" Golu and it was fun doing things all alone.

Here are some pictures of our 2010 Golu : http://www.flickr.com/photos/photospree_ramya/sets/72157625062334603/

Hope you all can make it this time for our "Golu" and enjoy the decorations, dolls and sumptuous sundals.