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The festival of NAVARATHRI is celebrated in different forms and names in our country.In Tamilnadu it is celebrated as NAVARATHRI GOLU
Here the dolls are arranged in steps on Puratasi Amavasai.This festival is also known as SHARADHA NAVARATHRI.The nine days are divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the Goddess.

The first three days is for Goddess DURGA ,the next three days for Goddess LAKSHMI and the last three days for Goddess SARASWATHI .The tenth day on which the goddess kills MAHISHASURA is celebrated as VIJAYADASAMI,as the victory of good over the evil.


In Tamilnadu the tenth day is known as AYUDHA POOJA .On this day people worship books,instruments,machineries,vehicles....On VIJAYADASAMI it is considered auspicious to start anything new.Here we can find lot of children joining schools,music classes and dance classes.

The 10 DIVINE FORMS of the Goddess are known as

1.Kali
2.Thirupurasundari
3.Thirupurabairavi
4.Thumavathi
5.Bhuvaneswari
6.Chinnamastha
7.Rajamathengeswari
8.Tharambigai
9.Balamugi
10.Kamalatharini

In India the NAVADURGA TEMPLES are found in Tamilnadu and North India

1.Siva Durgai-Pateeswaram,Tanjore
2.Vishnu Durgai-Thirukovilur,Cuddalore
3.Raagukala Durgai-Thiruvarur,Tanjore
4.Vana Durgai-Kadhiramangalam,Tanjore
5.Kanaga Durga-Vijayawada,Andra Pradesh
6.Sulini Durga-Kollur,Karnataka
7.Rawthra Durga-Kolkata,West Bengal
8.Saantha Durga-Chandigarh,Punjab
9.Mangala Durga-Ujjaini,Madhya Pradesh

All the above informations are my collections from religious magazines and books.Iam indeed very happy to share it with you all.

Navarathri is celebrated throughout our country but in different ways.I have compiled this by gathering information from my friends who have been doing it for generations in Tamilnadu.

HOW TO DO THE POOJA

Take a Marapalakai-wooden plank

Draw a Kolam

Place a banana leaf(the tip portion) and spread raw rice

Take a Sombu wrap thread,keep turmeric and kumkum pottu

Pour clean water to fill 3/4 of the Sombu

Add Vettiver,Cardamon,Pachai Karpuram,Javvadhu,Chandanam in the water

Drop a 1 rupee coin into the water

Place some Mango leaves on the Sombu along with coconut which is covered with turmeric powder-Manjal Thengai

This is the Kalasam for which we should do pooja for the 9 days with flowers,deepam and neivediyam along with Sundal and distribute it

In Vedic books the Goddess to be worshipped,the Flowers to be used,Kolam to be drawn,Neivediyam to be done,Raaga and Instruments to be used are also clearly given for each of the nine days.Eventhough we cannot follow them strictly we can atleast know the origin of these pooja and improve our knowledge.

My next post will have details on how to perform pooja for each of the 9 days

As mentioned in my earlier post I've compiled the pooja procedure for each day.Again it is all according to your convenience.

DAY-1

Goddess Worshipped-Maheswari

Kolam-Any kolam using rice flour

Flowers-Jasmine and Vilvam leaves

Neivediyam-Venn Pongal

Music- Songs in Thodi Ragam

Instrument-Mridangam

Goddess in North India-Saila Puthri

DAY-2

Goddess Worshipped-Gowmari

Kolam-Any kolam in squares using wheat flour

Flowers-Mullai and Tulasi leaves

Neivediyam-Puliyothare

Music-Songs in Kalyani Ragam

Instrument-Flute

Goddess in North India-Brahma Sarini

DAY-3

Goddess Worshipped-Varahi

Kolam-Flower kolam using pearls/beads

Flowers-Champangi and Maru leaves

Neivediyam-Sakkarai Pongal

Music-Songs in Kambodhi Ragam

Instrument-Veena

Goddess in North India-Chithira Ganda

Day-4

Goddess Worshipped-Sri Mahalakshmi

Kolam-Sprinkle turmeric water with rice and make step kolam

Flowers-Jadhi and green leaves

Neivediyam-Kadamba Rice

Music-Songs in Bhairavi Ragam

Instrument-Kotu Vadiyam

Goddess in North India-Koosh Maanda

DAY-5

Goddess Worshipped-Vaishnavi Devi

Kolam-Any birds figure using Groundnuts

Flowers-Parijadham and Vibudhi Green leaves

Neivediyam-Curd rice

Music-Songs in Banduvarali Ragam

Instrument-Jallari

Goddess in North India-Skanda Matha

DAY-6

Goddess Worshipped-Indirani

Kolam-Devi's name using any cereals like green moong,toordal,urad dal

Flowers-Hibiscus and Sandal leaves

Neivediyam-Coconut Rice

Music-Songs in Neelambari Ragam

Instrument-Beri

Goddess in North India-Kathyayani

DAY-7

Goddess Worshipped-Brahmi

Kolam-Any type of house kolam using flowers

Flowers-Thazhampoo and Thumbai leaves

Neivediyam-Lime Rice

Music-Songs in Bilahari Ragam

Instrument-Padagam

Goddess in North India-Kaala Rathri

DAY-8

Goddess Worshipped-Narasimhi

Kolam-Lotus kolam using coins

Flowers-Roses and Pannir leaves

Neivediyam-Pal/Milk Rice

Music-Songs in Punnagavarali

Goddess in North India-Maha Gowri

DAY-9

Goddess Worshipped-Chamundi

Kolam-Any weapons like Sulam,vel using any fragrant powders like sandal,Diraviya podi

Flowers-Lotus and Marukozhundu leaves

Neivediyam-Kalkanddu(diamond sugar) Sakkarai Pongal

Music-Songs in Vasantha Ragam

Goddess in North India-Sithithathri

Pooja done on all the nine days is good according to ancient vedas,if not,doing pooja on the Ninth Day known as Mahanavami is equally good.This is the day when Goddess Durgadevi killed Mahishasuran and is celebrated as Durga Pooja in West Bengal in a grand way.

I was indeed surprised that so much of details were followed by our ancestors.Though many of us are not aware of the flowers,instruments used and not available today we can atleast know that they were used once upon a time.

Get ready for some Sundal Varieties which are done in Tamilnadu in my next post

As I had mentioned in my earlier GOLU is an important event in Tamilnadu.I remember my days of chidhood when we used to unpack,arrange dolls,buy new ones,set theme parks and invite our friends and it used to be real fun.But all households do not follow this and so after my marriage no more of Golu work.I would like to share my experiences and how we used to arrange the dolls.

The GOLU starts on PURATASI AMAVASAI also known as MAHALAYA AMAVASAI which is on September 29th this year.

The steps arranged depends on the collection of dolls and usually in odd numbers

Ready made steps are available and I remember our dining table used along with bricks and wooden planks as steps

Decorate the steps according to your creativity

Kalasam,usually a brass pot is used,is prepared and placed either in the middle of the top step or on the last one

Arrange the dolls,usually all Gods and Goddesses occupy the top step,followed by national leaders etc

Dolls made of mud and wooden dolls were a must those days but today dolls are made with paper.

Buy atleast one new doll every year

After arranging the dolls draw kolam in front of the steps and this can be done everyday

Light the Kuthuvillaku and do pooja with bettleleaves,nuts,fruits and flowers with any NeivediyamThis should be done everyday in the morning and evening

Aarathi should be taken every night for the Golu steps

Give Thambulam and Sundal to whoever visits

As mentioned in my earlier post I've compiled the pooja procedure for each day.Again it is all according to your convenience.

DAY-1

Goddess Worshipped-Maheswari

Kolam-Any kolam using rice flour

Flowers-Jasmine and Vilvam leaves

Neivediyam-Venn Pongal

Music- Songs in Thodi Ragam

Instrument-Mridangam

Goddess in North India-Saila Puthri

DAY-2

Goddess Worshipped-Gowmari

Kolam-Any kolam in squares using wheat flour

Flowers-Mullai and Tulasi leaves

Neivediyam-Puliyothare

Music-Songs in Kalyani Ragam

Instrument-Flute

Goddess in North India-Brahma Sarini

DAY-3

Goddess Worshipped-Varahi

Kolam-Flower kolam using pearls/beads

Flowers-Champangi and Maru leaves

Neivediyam-Sakkarai Pongal

Music-Songs in Kambodhi Ragam

Instrument-Veena

Goddess in North India-Chithira Ganda

Day-4

Goddess Worshipped-Sri Mahalakshmi

Kolam-Sprinkle turmeric water with rice and make step kolam

Flowers-Jadhi and green leaves

Neivediyam-Kadamba Rice

Music-Songs in Bhairavi Ragam

Instrument-Kotu Vadiyam

Goddess in North India-Koosh Maanda

DAY-5

Goddess Worshipped-Vaishnavi Devi

Kolam-Any birds figure using Groundnuts

Flowers-Parijadham and Vibudhi Green leaves

Neivediyam-Curd rice

Music-Songs in Banduvarali Ragam

Instrument-Jallari

Goddess in North India-Skanda Matha

DAY-6

Goddess Worshipped-Indirani

Kolam-Devi's name using any cereals like green moong,toordal,urad dal

Flowers-Hibiscus and Sandal leaves

Neivediyam-Coconut Rice

Music-Songs in Neelambari Ragam

Instrument-Beri

Goddess in North India-Kathyayani

DAY-7

Goddess Worshipped-Brahmi

Kolam-Any type of house kolam using flowers

Flowers-Thazhampoo and Thumbai leaves

Neivediyam-Lime Rice

Music-Songs in Bilahari Ragam

Instrument-Padagam

Goddess in North India-Kaala Rathri

DAY-8

Goddess Worshipped-Narasimhi

Kolam-Lotus kolam using coins

Flowers-Roses and Pannir leaves

Neivediyam-Pal/Milk Rice

Music-Songs in Punnagavarali

Goddess in North India-Maha Gowri

DAY-9

Goddess Worshipped-Chamundi

Kolam-Any weapons like Sulam,vel using any fragrant powders like sandal,Diraviya podi

Flowers-Lotus and Marukozhundu leaves

Neivediyam-Kalkanddu(diamond sugar) Sakkarai Pongal

Music-Songs in Vasantha Ragam

Goddess in North India-Sithithathri

Pooja done on all the nine days is good according to ancient vedas,if not,doing pooja on the Ninth Day known as Mahanavami is equally good.This is the day when Goddess Durgadevi killed Mahishasuran and is celebrated as Durga Pooja in West Bengal in a grand way.

I was indeed surprised that so much of details were followed by our ancestors.Though many of us are not aware of the flowers,instruments used and not available today we can atleast know that they were used once upon a time.

Get ready for some Sundal Varieties which are done in Tamilnadu in my next post

I was new to blogging during Navarathri festival last year.Though I posted recipes for the occasion I found out that there were lot of searches about the pooja procedures and from then I tried collecting whatever information I came across about the pooja.Finally I discussed with a friend who do the Navarathri Pooja in a traditional way and compiled the post.I hope these information will be useful for those in need of the pooja procedures.As Iam translating from Tamil,please excuse me if there are any mistakes and do let me know for the correction

Also read my previous post Facts on Navarathri Festival

HOW TO DO THE POOJA

Take a Marapalakai-wooden plank

Draw a Kolam

Place a banana leaf(the tip portion) and spread raw rice

Take a Sombu wrap thread,keep turmeric and kumkum pottu

Pour clean water to fill 3/4 of the Sombu

Add Vettiver,Cardamon,Pachai Karpuram,Javvadhu,Chandanam in the water

Drop a 1 rupee coin into the water

Place some Mango leaves on the Sombu along with coconut which is covered with turmeric powder-Manjal Thengai

This is the Kalasam for which we should do pooja for the 9 days with flowers,deepam and neivediyam along with Sundal and distribute it

In Vedic books the Goddess to be worshipped,the Flowers to be used,Kolam to be drawn,Neivediyam to be done,Raaga and Instruments to be used are also clearly given for each of the nine days.Eventhough we cannot follow them strictly we can atleast know the origin of these pooja and improve our knowledge.

My next post will have details on how to perform pooja for each of the 9 days

The following tips will be useful while making sweets at home for Deepavali

While making Badusha if the sweet turns by itself when in the oil,it is ready to be taken out

To keep the Murukku and other savouries crisp and fresh for longer time without getting any smell,keep salt tied in a cloth inside the storing container

When making payasam add thick coconut milk to enhance the taste

When making Adhirasam add the jaggery syrup to the flour and not vice-versa

Keep a lighted candle in the kitchen while frying in oil to avoid the smoke staying in the kitchen

NAVARATHRI FESTIVAL

Dear friends, the festive season is ahead of us with Navarathri starting from Wednesday."GOLU" is part and parcel of this nine day festival where dolls are arranged in steps and pooja done everyday.We call our friends and relatives as it is considered to be very auspicious.Here are some useful tips for those who celebrate with "GOLU"

We can by using the disposable plates make different kinds of kolams on it with Navadhanyam(different types of pulses),Arisipori(puffed rice),Javarisi(sago),Salt,Small shells,Colour powders,Jigina powders....in advance and keep them in front of "GOLU" steps every day

Add a little kesari powder to the wet rice flour, the kolam will look attractive

Along with the other dolls ,display the handicrafts which you have made which will give you satisfaction

All of us definitely will have old copper and brass items which we can display as "Traditional"

Instead of giving kumkum box we can give sthem in small packets and also give camphor,incense sticks ,samprani and other pooja items which tthey can use

When displaying small plastic dolls stick them to the floor with fevistick so that they do not fall when you switch on the fan

I'll share some interesting facts of celebrating this festival which i have come acroos over the years.Some interesting "SUNDAL" varieties will also be posted for you to try during Navarathri