Lighter vein...........
When we invite people it is customary to sing a kirtan (a song in praise of the gods and goddesses). For those who have a knowledge of music, the festival is a dais to exhibit their musical skills and revel in the praise showered ( i.e. if the singer sings well). For the uninitiated, it is a nightmare. I have seen women who talk in a hoarse voice all ten days of Navarathiri. No, it is not because their vocal cords have been strained due to excessive singing, but because they would like to escape from the torture and pretend as if they have a soar throat.
You might wonder if it would not be much simpler to admit to the lack of knowledge of music. But wait, it is a shame to say, "I don't know how to sing". It is as sinful as a cuckoo bird not knowing how to cuckoo.
Many parents have hired music teachers to teach their girls to sing, only for Golu. And then you have to be careful about not repeating a song very often and also make sure the audience around you have not heard you sing the same song earlier. You see they would have heard you at some other house. You have to remember what song you sang, where and who were all present there.
Otherwise you would be mistaken for not knowing many songs. At times it would be like an exam. Preparing for a professional music concert is far more easier.
For children these mini music concerts are equally disturbing. They will have to face their mothers wraths if any of the neighbors' or friends' or relatives child sings better. Their mothers would feel terribly let down by their wards.
And of course, there have been instances when over enthusiastic, over zealous amateur singers trouble others with their not so sweet voice and not so very good music sense. The trouble with these not so good singers is that they refuse to accept their shortcomings and are adamant about punishing everyone's ears!!!!!!
Children anxiously await Saraswathi Puja as this is one day when parents do not ask them to study. All their books are kept in the Puja. They are really thrilled as they receive a respite from their boring studies once in a year!! But children, smart as they are would demand for their books and demand to allowed to study on that day, knowing fully well that they would not be allowed to do so. They just want to hear their parents say that they need not study for they get to hear this only once a year and it is like music to their ears.
Golu
Golu means display. Navarathiri in Tamilnadu is celebrated with colour, gaiety and splendor in Hindu homes. The Golu is arranged on the Mahalaya Amavasya - the New moon day. The Golu lasts for 10 days till Vijayadasami, when the idols are once again packed with care and sent to the attic where they reside for the entire year till the next Golu.
Idols of Hindu gods, goddesses, sages, poets, mythological characters, war heroes, national leaders, animals, etc are displayed on a row of steps called Golu Padi. The number of steps on which the dolls are arranged are usually in odd numbers ranging from 5 onwards. Idols are generally not arranged in three steps are as it is not considered auspicious.
Wooden steps are used for Golu Padis. Sometimes a makeshift Golu Padi is constructed with carton / wooden boxes etc.
The Golu Padi is then covered with white cloth (as it forms a good background for the colorful idols) and decorated with paper flowers and other decorations. The idols are then arranged on this Golu
Padi
The place of the Golu is decorated with colorful lights, serial lamps, festoons and other decorations. Rangolis (colorful patterns with colourful powders) and floral rangolis are also drawn in front of the Golu.
Theme Golus are also becoming popular. Golus of various temples, temple rituals, dance forms, national integration, depiction of the Hindu epics like Ramayanam , Mahabharatham, Sivapuranam, Hindu Mythology are some of the very popular themes.
There will also be a park depicting children playing, an animals park, a temple atop a hill, a river or a pond, a small town with beautiful houses, streets, markets etc. A shop selling kitchen utensils, groceries, fruits and vegetables owned by an elderly couple who are referred to as Chettiar and Chettichi will definitely have a place in the Golu.
Modern themes like a cricket field with the players also have found their way into the traditional Golu.
The idols are usually made of clay, paper mache, and wood. Plastic dolls are also now added to the Golu. Women and children let loose their power of imagination and use all their creative skills in making the Golu innovative and compete with their neighbours in beautifying it. The men folk also give a helping hand.
Women in their rustling Kancheepuram Pattu Pudavais (Silk saris), dazzling gold and diamond jewellery and fragrant jasmines adorning their beautiful black hair (in Tamilnadu a proper festive dressing is incomplete without a string of jasmine flowers in the hair) visit their friends and relatives in the evening inviting them to visit their house and receive Thambulam. This invitation is accorded by offering KumKum (vermilion).
For young children of ages less than ten years, the Navarathiri days are time for a fancy dress party. Mother's dress up their kids as Krishna, Radha, Andal, Meera, Pattu Mami, and other characters, in the evenings. Small girls in their beautiful pattu pavadais (long silk skirt falling upto the ankles with beautiful zari borders and zari motifs) look like beautiful butterflies.
This is a time which is looked forward to eagerly by the women as they get a chance to show off their new silk saris, jewellery, and engage in lengthy discussions on saris and gold ornaments. As deepavali follows Dasara, the ladies also get a chance to discuss with their friends about new arrivals and the latest fashion and plan their deepavali purchases accordingly.
Thambulam
Giving Thambulams is as important as the Golu itself and is an integral part of Golu. Thambulam is a gift consisting of betel leaves, betel nuts, turmeric, vermilion, flowers and some fruit.
Coconut, a cloth for a blouse, glass bangles, a bindi / kumkum container, a small mirror are also added to the Thambulam. Affluent people also add small trinkets, small pictures or idols of hindu gods, goddesses, sloka books, and other such useful items.
Soondal
And last but not the least the delicious, mouthwatering Soondals! The Thambulam is accompanied by Soondal (a dish of cooked pulses). Children look forward to these Soondals. Trying to remember who gave what Soondal and assigning marks and awarding the best Soondal certificate is a game children and elders enjoy during this time.
subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.
Topic: Navrathri means 9 nights & is celebrated for9 days (Read 4512 times)