K.A.Viswanathan

Navarathri is the period of nine days and nights that draws relevance from Indian mythology. The Navarathri festival celebrates the victory of Goddess Parvati over the demons causing misery to the Gods and saints. The tenth day is the ultimate defeat of the demons, marking conquest of good over the evil. It begins on the first day (Pradhamai) after new moon (Amavasya) in the Tamil month Purattasi and ends with celebrating Vijaya Dasami on the 10th day. This year Navarathri begins  on September  25 to October 3.

This nine day festival is celebrated in various manners in different parts of the country. In South India, a doll festival or the "Golu" festival marks Navarathri. The Gujarathi community  celebrates by playing Dhandias at night and visit temples. Every nook and corner of the street ,one can see Pandals erected  to play Dhandia during the festival.

The Golu festival in South Indian house is marked with a beautiful display of dolls in the homes. The dolls are placed in odd numbered steps (called padis), usually as 5,7 or  9. The Golus vary in theme from house to house – from the elaborate, extravagant ones to the simple, traditional and artistic ones. No Golu display is however complete without a zoo or a garden, laid out in front of the steps.

The Navrathri Golu commences with the keeping of a Kalasam', the holy brass or silver pot filled with water and topped with a coconut or a pomegranate on mango leaves. This Kalasam is kept on the first step. This sets the auspicious mood of the festival. The dolls are usually handed down from mother to daughter, often the dolls on display being family heirlooms handed down over generations.

Dolls would be mostly of Hindu Gods Krishna, Devi, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi, Shiva and so on. Ladies are invited in the evenings, when hymns are sung and offerings made to the Goddesses. The Golu festival is mainly  a festival for women and children to come together and enjoy the festivities.On the 10th evening of Vijayadasami' or victory of good over evil', any one doll from the display is symbolically put to sleep.

Dasavataram set depicting the 10 Avatars of Lord Vishnu and so on. There would also be dolls of animals, a fat "Chettiar. It is a traditional practice to have the wooden dolls of Marapaachi', a traditional couple, symbolic of fertility.

Ladies are invited in the evenings, when hymns are sung and offerings made to the Goddesses. Nine different rice dishes are made and offered. It is a time for visiting and singing together and partaking of the prasadam also called Chundal. The Golu festival is mainly  a festival for women and children to come together and enjoy the festivities.

The 300 year old Marubai Gavdevi temple , a Maharashtrian temple at Matunga  also celebrate Navrathri Golu  in  South Indian style . Marubai is the traditional Gaondevi (village Goddess) of Matunga, believed to be a “Swayamboo”( came on its own South Indian  and Maharashtrian ladies join together and celebrates the Golu on all nine days in this temple ,singing bhajans and offering Haldi Kumkums.

 

Other temples at Matunga like Shankara Mattam and South Indian Bhajana Samaj conducts different types of poojas and havens daily for the good of the mankind and  calls it as Sri Sharada Navaratri Mahotsavam.