Navaratri Celebrations in Tamil Nadu..
In temples of Tamil Nadu, Navaratri is celebrated for Durga’s dwelling in each temple. The temples are decorated, ceremonial lamps are lit, and Vedic chantings are performed.
The festival begins with Devi Paksha which falls in the Ashwin month (September -October) and ends with Vijayadashami. Devotees sculpt idols and toys of Gods and Goddesses. These are kept on a raised platform or dais called Golu/Kolu, designed in the form of tiny steps, and kept in households and temples.
This custom is explained by the fact that Navaratri is a period which occurs four times during the year, one per season, including the Magha Gupta Navaratri (or Winter Navaratri). In present-day Tamil Nadu, there is also a rare tradition of installing the golu at Gokulashtami among the Khedawals.
Tamil Nadu state celebrates the festival in an entirely different way. They bring a special religious feel in this festival by worshiping Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Almost each house of Tamil Nadu arranges the popular doll shows during Dussehra.
While the ‘nav ratris’ or nine nights are dedicated to the three goddesses – Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati equally, the goddess of learning and knowledge Saraswati is the most significant in South Indian traditions.
Only if we could travel back in time, we could witness the legends that are closely etched to the liveliness of this festival. Owning its name as one of the most ancient traditional festival of Tamilnadu, Navratri idolises the goddesses Saraswati, Durga and Lakshmi and cherishes the presence of such brave deities. From back in that age till now, Tamils kick off this festival firstly by revelling in the soothing Vedic chants followed by giving out their heart to the stunning classical dance performances specialised in Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam performed in prismatic shrines, palaces and community centres.
Witness the outpouring devotion of thousands of worshippers in this, 9 days festival, which is celebrated in the post monsoon season. Essentially, this religious event is observed four times in a year, but it is Sharada Navarathiri devoted to Goddess Durga which is honoured throughout the country in the autumn season.
Saraswati Puja is also performed on the 9th day of the festivities where books and musical instruments are worshipped and are kept at the fore of Kolu, followed by dwelling into the spiritual music.
The last day of this famous festival of Tamil Nadu is known as Vijayadashami where as per the rituals, one of the idols is laid to rest from the embellished Kolu toys signifying the end of Navratri.
Like any other part of the country, Navratri is celebrated in Southern India with as much fervour. It is a time when people invite friends, relatives and neighbours to their homes to catch up and reconnect. While the ‘nav ratris’ or nine nights are dedicated to the three goddesses – Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati equally, the goddess of learning and knowledge Saraswati is the most significant in South Indian traditions.
In Tamil Nadu, the first three days of the festival are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the next three days to Durga, and the last three days to Saraswati. Figurines or traditional dolls called Kolu or Golu are arranged at homes, shops and temples. Kolu consists of a makeshift staircase on which the dolls, which have been passed on from many generations, kept. They depict particular themes like environment, space, mythology etc.
Music and dance festivals are organised in temples as well by sabhas or music clubs. In several villages of South Tamil Nadu, Pulikali (tiger dance) is performed. Performers paint themselves as tigers — donning bright yellow and black — and dance to the beats of instruments. Kai Silambu Attam (a dance form) is performed in temples where the dancers wear ankle-bells and hold anklets or silambu in their hands.
“JAYA JAYA DEVI DURGA DEVI SARANAM KANAKA DURGA DEVI SARANAM”
COMPILED BY
R. HARISHANKAR