Navratri is one of the most important festival in all parts of India, especially very famous in northern parts of India and west Bengal. It is the Hindu festival dedicated for Goddess Durga.
When is Navratri Celebrated?
There are 4 occasions in a year we celebrate Navaratri
Vasantha Navaratri – During the Tamil month “Chithirai”
Ashtada Navratri – During the Tamil month “Aadi”
Saradha Navratri – During the Tamil month “Puratasi”
Shyamala Navratri – During the Tamil month “Thai”
Out of the 4 Navratri, The Navratri that comes on the tamil month of “Puratasi” is considered to be so auspicious. The Day 1 of Navratri starts on the Pradhamai day which is the next day of new moon day in that month. Usually New moon day in any month is considered so auspicious and especially Malaya Ammavasai (Puratasi Ammavasai) is a very special day. Most of us have a custom of setting up Golu steps and decorating the steps with Golu dolls and other decoration items on the New Moon day. From Pradhamai day till Navami day all the 9 evenings, we celebrate different avatar of Goddess.
Significance of each day
Navratri , literally means 9 nights and 10 days and we worship nine different forms of Shakthi during these 9 days. 10th day is called as Vijayadasami or Dusshera
First 3 days of the Navratri, we dedicate to 3 different forms of Goddess Durga
Second 3 days of Navratri, we dedicate to 3 different forms of Goddess Lakshmi
Last 3 days of Navratri, we dedicate to 3 different forms of Goddess Saraswathi
9th day (Navami day) is Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja. Whatever job we are doing, music or instruments we play, our skills are blessings of Goddess Saraswathi. Thats why on this auspicious day, we keep our books, instruments, tool box, cash box etc under the lotus feet of Goddess Saraswathi and seek blessings from her. We will do pooja the next day and then only take out the books, instruments etc.
10th Day (Vijaya Dasami) – This day is considered as the day of Victory. The books, cash box, tool box under the lotus feet of Goddess Saraswathi are taken out on this Vijaya Dasami day and it is a belief that the next 1 year all our skills will flourish. For very young children, vidhyarambam (Aksharabyasam) will start on this day.
Prasad, Decoration, Fruits & Flowers
Recently I studied a detailed article about Navratri which has detail on the decoration, Neivedhyam, flowers for pooja, fruits etc and I feel this would be more helpful if I share this here.
Mainly in Gujarat and Maharashtra, during Navratri, there is a tradition of wearing different color dresses during these 9 days. Given below are the colors for each day.
26, September, 2022
White
27, September, 2022
Red
28, September, 2022
Royal Blue
29, September, 2022
Yellow
26, September, 2022
Green
1, October, 2022
Grey
2, October, 2022
Orange
3, October, 2022
Peacock Green
4, October, 2022
Pink
South Indian Style Navratri with Golu
We South Indians have a unique way of celebrating Navratri festival. Most of us have a tradition of keeping Golu (Display of dolls). Golu is display of dolls in a stair/steps arrangement. Usually the steps start from 3 and it can extend to 9. Golu features clay dolls of Gods’ and Goddess’, statuettes, figurine, and themed dioramas.
Is there any Significance or order in keeping dolls?
Yes, Certainly. Each step in the Golu has a greater spiritual significance. They are a metaphor for ‘ascending towards enlightenment’. The top 2-3 step features statuettes of deities and gods, while the lowest steps are covered with figures of animal and fruit. The middle layers usually depict scenes from daily life, like shopping, dancing, and just a having a good time. Keeping Golu is considered as a tradition passed on from earlier generations in the family. Some clay dolls and hand grafted bead dolls are passed on from one generation to other and its considered as so precious treasure. This tradition is also found in other parts of South India such as Andhra Pradesh where it called Bommala Koluvu, and Karnataka where it is called Gombe Habba or Gombe totti.
We do aarti and worship God/Goddesses for nine days. On the occasion Haldi – Kumkum is arranged. People give gifts, celebrate feast and exchange wishes. Singing the praise of God is also part of these 9 days. Its a tradition to invite friends and relatives to see our Golu and also we will be invited and we will go to our friends/relatives place to see their arrangement of Golu. The guests/children will sit in front of the Golu and sing lovely classical songs in praise of the deities.
Three main things to learn from Golu
Celebrating Art : – We as a family sit together and plan on how to display the golu in an artistic way. Many people use different themes each year.
Celebrating Womenhood : – This festival is mainly for all 3 Goddess (Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi) and women all over the world celebrate with great pomp
Engaging Kids : – This is one big festival where we involve kids and make them understand and learn different themes/ stories of life.
Sundal & Navaratri
Navratri and Sundal are inseparable. Whenever we think of Navratri, immediately our mind equates with Sundal and vice versa. Sundal or cooked pulses, which is a must Prasadam for Navrathri, is given as Prasadam all the Golu days. The traditional sundal varieties are Chickpeas, channadal, peanut, moongdal, Green gram dal, karamani (cowpeas), mochai (Field beans), Dry Green peas(Pattani), Sweet Corn and Navratna sundal. We can make sweet version of sundal using cowpeas, moongdal and mixed dal.
We generally prepare sundal, sweet puttu, different rice varieties or payasam varieties on each day of navratri for neivedhyam and also we share the neivedhyam with our guests who would come and visit our Golu and get thamboolam from us. Offering neivehdyam first to God and then to our guests bring happiness to our hearts and in turn we get blessings from all 3 Goddess and also from elders.
We South Indians have a unique way of celebrating Navratri festival. Most of us have a tradition of keeping Golu (Display of dolls). Golu is display of dolls in a stair/steps arrangement. Usually the steps start from 3 and it can extend to 9. Golu features clay dolls of Gods’ and Goddess’, statuettes, figurine, and themed dioramas.
Is there any Significance or order in keeping dolls?
Yes, Certainly. Each step in the Golu has a greater spiritual significance. They are a metaphor for ‘ascending towards enlightenment’. The top 2-3 step features statuettes of deities and gods, while the lowest steps are covered with figures of animal and fruit. The middle layers usually depict scenes from daily life, like shopping, dancing, and just a having a good time. Keeping Golu is considered as a tradition passed on from earlier generations in the family. Some clay dolls and hand grafted bead dolls are passed on from one generation to other and its considered as so precious treasure. This tradition is also found in other parts of South India such as Andhra Pradesh where it called Bommala Koluvu, and Karnataka where it is called Gombe Habba or Gombe totti.
We do aarti and worship God/Goddesses for nine days. On the occasion Haldi – Kumkum is arranged. People give gifts, celebrate feast and exchange wishes. Singing the praise of God is also part of these 9 days. Its a tradition to invite friends and relatives to see our Golu and also we will be invited and we will go to our friends/relatives place to see their arrangement of Golu. The guests/children will sit in front of the Golu and sing lovely classical songs in praise of the deities.
Three main things to learn from Golu
Celebrating Art : – We as a family sit together and plan on how to display the golu in an artistic way. Many people use different themes each year.
Celebrating Womenhood : – This festival is mainly for all 3 Goddess (Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi) and women all over the world celebrate with great pomp
Engaging Kids : – This is one big festival where we involve kids and make them understand and learn different themes/ stories of life.
Sundal & Navaratri
Navratri and Sundal are inseparable. Whenever we think of Navratri, immediately our mind equates with Sundal and vice versa. Sundal or cooked pulses, which is a must Prasadam for Navrathri, is given as Prasadam all the Golu days. The traditional sundal varieties are Chickpeas, channadal, peanut, moongdal, Green gram dal, karamani (cowpeas), mochai (Field beans), Dry Green peas(Pattani), Sweet Corn and Navratna sundal. We can make sweet version of sundal using cowpeas, moongdal and mixed dal.
We generally prepare sundal, sweet puttu, different rice varieties or payasam varieties on each day of navratri for neivedhyam and also we share the neivedhyam with our guests who would come and visit our Golu and get thamboolam from us. Offering neivehdyam first to God and then to our guests bring happiness to our hearts and in turn we get blessings from all 3 Goddess and also from elders.
thank you so much for the detailed info…Could you please tell me the way the deities have to be arranged in the steps…I heard that the 1st 3 steps are for GODS, then comes business people, then animals, etc…Not sure if I'm correct…If you know the details, kindly post it…Will be very useful for us…
We can make any variety rice like lemon rice, tamarind rice, coconut rice and also a sundal with sweet. Rice is not mandatory. its our wish. but generally we make a sundal and sweet and share with the sumangalis.
We don’t have the practice of keeping Golu but I keep the devi idols all the 10 days and follow the neivedhyam, flowers fruits and colours as given by you. Mam, day 1 starts from today as per the calculation. So it means ven pongal and karamani sundal is to be made today. Please clarify.
Thank you soumya, i am planning to fast this year and prepare naiveedyam.
Is it required to prepare all or can we prepare one sweet and one sundal and offer
I never found such a page before with so many details and thanks for the same.love it…
thank you so much for the detailed info…Could you please tell me the way the deities have to be arranged in the steps…I heard that the 1st 3 steps are for GODS, then comes business people, then animals, etc…Not sure if I'm correct…If you know the details, kindly post it…Will be very useful for us…
Me too! Thank you.
thnx alot for te info
Thank you so much for your post. You made my preparation simple and easier.
thanks a lot for the wonderful information. happy navarathri to you and ur family
Thank you so much its really helpful
Glad to know! 😊
Mami thank u for d information…admiring d beautiful traditional kolu in your house
Very nice and useful collection of recipes. Thanks Mami
Love your blog so organized and detailed, so full of great information. keep up the good work.
mami can you tell me what we need to cook if we are calling sumangalis for the eating and what we ahve to do before giving tambulam
We can make any variety rice like lemon rice, tamarind rice, coconut rice and also a sundal with sweet. Rice is not mandatory. its our wish. but generally we make a sundal and sweet and share with the sumangalis.
We don’t have the practice of keeping Golu but I keep the devi idols all the 10 days and follow the neivedhyam, flowers fruits and colours as given by you. Mam, day 1 starts from today as per the calculation. So it means ven pongal and karamani sundal is to be made today. Please clarify.
sorry my laptop was in service center so couldn’t able to clear any comments. Yes you are correct.
hi sowmya
what sundaal type for day 2,3 and 8 itis missing in table
Yes, Sundal are not required for all the days. For example, for day 3, we make Sweet Puttu for neivedhyam and for distribution to friends and family.
Thank you soumya, i am planning to fast this year and prepare naiveedyam.
Is it required to prepare all or can we prepare one sweet and one sundal and offer
Sure Sona. We can prepare one sweet and one sundal.