September 30th is the day when the nine-day festival called Navaratri, Navrathri and Dasara begins for those in Chennai. Just as how North India believes the war between Ram and Ravana went on for nine days, the South believes this is the time to worship different forms of Goddess Shakti (the Mother Goddess).
Ladies first clean up the house to welcome the Goddess into their homes, and proceed to put fresh kolams (rangoli) at the entrance, and in the puja room clean twice every day.
The highlight of the festival is the “Golu”, which is the arrangement of dolls across nine steps in all homes. Dolls ranging from Gods, Goddesses, also spans towards some famous figurines like the Thalai aati bommai (a dancing lady) Marapachi dolls (male and female pairs of dolls) few of Ganesha in different positions and other such interesting dolls.
The festival comes to an end on the 9th day which is the Saraswathi Puja. The tenth day is ofcourse the Vjayadasami, an auspicious day for studying, which is the most children begin their 1st day at school. The festival signifies power, wealth, prosperity and knowledge.
Activities:
Going by the age old tradition, women and children are invited home during these nine days, and given prasadam (sundal, made with various pulses, and daals of different varieties), kum-kum, blouse piece, beetle nut and leaf along wit a small gift. It is considered auspicious to do this, and said to bring more fortune to the house hosting the Golu. Ladies sing songs, enjoy the Golu, spend a bit of time and make their way to the next venue. These are only given to girls and married women. In the evenings, a "kuthuvilakku" (small lamp) is lit, in the middle of a decorated "kolam"(Rangoli), before the Golu and devotional songs and shlokas are chanted. After performing the puja, the food items that have been prepared, are offered to the Goddesses.
Ladies first clean up the house to welcome the Goddess into their homes, and proceed to put fresh kolams (rangoli) at the entrance, and in the puja room clean twice every day.
The highlight of the festival is the “Golu”, which is the arrangement of dolls across nine steps in all homes. Dolls ranging from Gods, Goddesses, also spans towards some famous figurines like the Thalai aati bommai (a dancing lady) Marapachi dolls (male and female pairs of dolls) few of Ganesha in different positions and other such interesting dolls.
The festival comes to an end on the 9th day which is the Saraswathi Puja. The tenth day is ofcourse the Vjayadasami, an auspicious day for studying, which is the most children begin their 1st day at school. The festival signifies power, wealth, prosperity and knowledge.
Activities:
Going by the age old tradition, women and children are invited home during these nine days, and given prasadam (sundal, made with various pulses, and daals of different varieties), kum-kum, blouse piece, beetle nut and leaf along wit a small gift. It is considered auspicious to do this, and said to bring more fortune to the house hosting the Golu. Ladies sing songs, enjoy the Golu, spend a bit of time and make their way to the next venue. These are only given to girls and married women. In the evenings, a "kuthuvilakku" (small lamp) is lit, in the middle of a decorated "kolam"(Rangoli), before the Golu and devotional songs and shlokas are chanted. After performing the puja, the food items that have been prepared, are offered to the Goddesses.
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