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| Sri Vedanta Desikar |
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| Ghatotagaja |
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| Traditional Tamilian Wedding |
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| Vishwarupam |
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| Ratnaharam Nitya Soorigal |
Navaratri is a time when many homes in the southern states of India, especially in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, have a festivity of nine days of celebrations with colours, vratams, music, and food.
A significant part of the Navaratri festival in this region includes the tradition of the Bommai, which is a creation of an assembly of dolls that signify the richness and diversity of life. (Bommai means 'doll', and Golu means 'display' or 'artistic display'). The term 'Golu' is used in Tamil, while 'Kolu' is the equivalent term in Telugu. It is believed that this creation is born from the Mother Divine, and Navaratri is the time to remember, revere, and worship the source – the Devi.
Navratri is celebrated four times a year:
In a one-year period, four Navarathri are observed and devoted to the attribution of the lotus feet of the Mother Goddess. Of the four Navarathri, two are Navarathri, namely one that comes during September-October as per the English Almanack and Poratasi month, or Kanya month in Tamil, and Aswin or Asvija month in Kannada or Telugu during Shukla Paksha of the lunar month after the Mahalaya Paksha or Paksha masa.
It is considered more sacred than the other three because it is observed nationwide in various rituals and forms. (Paksha Masa is total attribution for the observation of ancestors). It is believed that remembrance and observation of ancestors first please God or Goddess.
God/Goddess blesses the family that primarily remembers their ancestors and carries on the culture and tradition. The second blessed Navarathri comes during Shukla Paksha of the lunar month of Chaitra, corresponding to mid-March to mid-April.
The timing of these Navratras is associated with the autumn season and the increase in diseases and illnesses that occur due to changes in time, seasons, and crop harvests. During this period, the combination of less water, extreme heat, and humidity leads to reduced water availability on the land. This results in less water on the land due to extreme heat and humidity.
The tradition of Bommai Golu, or Bommala kolu, is a creation of the assembly of Goddess Durga containing a multitude of idols of gods, goddesses, men, animals, businessmen, and children.
The Bommai Golu tradition begins with setting up steps in a corner of the house. The number of steps could vary from 3 to 11. Many families place nine steps, each representing the nine days of Navratri. The steps are then covered with a decorative cloth and made ready for the Bommai Golu.
The setting up of the Bommai Golu starts with a kalasham (ceremonial metal pot or jar) with fresh water covered with coconut and mango leaves. The kalash is placed on the topmost step in the centre and is considered to represent the Goddess Durga. Idols of deities are placed to the left and right of the kalash.
Kushmanda means pumpkin. A pumpkin has many seeds, and each seed contains the potential for many more pumpkins. The pumpkin is representative of the creative power and its eternal nature. The whole creation is like a pumpkin. As Kushmanda, the Devi contains the entire creation within her. She is the Devi of supreme power who can provide you the highest prana (creative energy).
Golu could also depict ancient stories depicting scenes from the Ramayana and the Bhagavatham and Puranas.
At some places, clay idols of Goddess Durga are ornamented with different weapons in her eight arms, riding a lion, with demon Maheshasur lying dead at her feet. For eight days these idols are worshipped and then immersed in a river or sea shore on the ninth day with immense fanfare.
This period is also believed to be sacred for the recitation of sacred scriptures such as Durga Sapsadi from Markanday Purana, Devi Sahasaranam, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Annapurna, Kali, and Rajarajeshwari Sahaaranams. This narrates how Goddess Maha Sakthi was blessed and provided with weapons by our Trinity of Gods to annihilate Maheshasura, the demon who had forced Gods to leave heaven and take refuge on earth. Musical recitations (Kirtans) by famous musicians: Renowned musicians offer musical recitations (Kirtans) for the benefit of the Goddess and devotees.
The nine forms in which the mother is alankaram, or decorated, are:
Mother Shailputri, or Sati or Bharmi who was the daughter of Himalaya (King of the Mountain), wife of Lord Shiva, and mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya;
Brahmachaarini, or Indrani – who gives the message of pure love to the world;
Chandraghanta or Varahi: who establishes justice and wears a crescent moon on her head;
Kushmaanda or Narasimhi – who provides the basic necessities to the world and safeguards it;
Gaja Lakshmi: who gives the gift of differentiation of right from wrong to the world and ensures power;
Kaatyayini or Koumari – who persistently battles against evil and deceitful entities;
Kaalratri, or Kali - killed Raktabeej (a demon who produces a demon from every drop of blood that falls from his body). Goddess eventually licked the blood before it could reach the ground and hence conquered him);
Mother Chaamunda, who killed two demons – Chanda and Munda – and restored tranquillity;
Maha Gouri, or Durga – who also liberates the world of evil forces;
Sidhidaarthi, or Saraswati, is a treasure house of mystic powers (Yantra Tantra) and knowledge (Gyaan).
Rajarajeshwari, also known as Kamadenu, ensures the victory of Good over Evil and blesses humanity with abundance and prosperity on the tenth day, which is called Vijay Dashmi or Dussara (dasva rath, meaning tenth day-night).
The other version of the legends relates to the Ramayana. It was after the fierce battle with the demon Ravana for the night and day that Raja Ram killed him on the tenth day. Dashmi, also known as Dussehra, is celebrated as the day of victory. In some parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and northern India, the effigy of Ravana is made, and arrows are shot by the people to symbolize victory, and arrows are shot by the people to symbolize victory, and finally, the dummy is burnt.
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