Unlocking Navarathiri’s Magic: 5 Traditions — Golu, Festive Feasts, and More
Celebrating Navarathiri: Where Tradition and Magic Create Joyful Moments.
Navarathiri, a nine-day festival similar to Diwali, features the cherished tradition of ‘Golu,’ where homes are adorned with clay dolls. This article explores the charm of Golu, festive cuisine, and community spirit. Please note that the experiences and traditions shared in this article are based on personal experiences and may vary for others due to India’s rich culture and diversity.
1. Golu Aspiration
Navarathiri is a festival that lasts for nine days, similar to Diwali. It features a special tradition known as ‘Golu,’ where people set up clay dolls on steps in numbers like 3, 5, 7, or 9, depending on the available space. These dolls depict various gods, goddesses, saints, animals, and birds. Celebrating Navarathiri without making a Kolu is also perfectly acceptable.
Ever since I was young, I’ve loved the Navarathiri festival, especially because of the Golu. My dad really liked Golu too. But my mom wasn’t as excited about it because there are a lot of traditions and rules to follow when you set it up. We had neighbors, an older couple, who made an amazing Golu with 9 steps. It had lots of clay dolls arranged in a beautiful way. The way the grandmother made it was very inspiring. In our house, we celebrated Navarathiri without a Golu. But I’ve always wanted to have my own Golu one day. I dream of setting up a big, beautiful Golu myself for Navarathiri.
2. Festive Cuisine
For the first eight days of Navarathiri, we usually eat normal food. On the ninth day, however, we prepare special offerings for the deities. For breakfast and other meals, my mother makes our regular dishes. In the evening, she prepares special dishes like fruit salad, sundal (a dish made with peanuts), vada, and appam. We offer a small portion of these dishes to the deities during the pooja (prayer). After the pooja, we consume the remaining food ourselves. The food that was offered to the deity is typically eaten the next morning.
3. Divine Blessing
After getting married, I initially lived with my in-laws briefly, following their traditions, which were similar to my parents’ home. Later, we settled abroad, and we decided to continue the tradition of setting up a Golu display in our home. I’ve always wanted a Golu display since childhood, so I collected Golu dolls from both India and our current country. Traditional Golu steps are typically found in India, and acquiring them in our current location was challenging. By God’s grace, we found a three-tier garden outdoor step unit originally designed for planting. It was not only more affordable but also looked perfect for our three-step Golu display. Since we have limited space and it was our first display, we decided to start with three steps.
4. First-Year Golu
We had everything ready for our first-year golu, but we couldn’t set it up due to some personal issues. So, the next year, I didn’t plan for it because of the previous year’s setback. However, everything changed when one of my friends sent me photos of her golu. Inspired by her, on the day before Navarathiri, we decided to set up a golu, and we had our very first one. It was small but wonderful, and I cherished every moment of it.
Typically, people who set up a Golu invite guests over for nine days and offer them Thamboolam. Thamboolam is given as a mark of respect and gratitude to guests and family members. It usually consists of betel leaves, betel nuts, turmeric, and kumkum. Since I was new to this tradition, I didn’t know about Thamboolam, but perhaps next year, we can invite some friends and share it with them. I realized that, with God’s blessings, we were able to have our first Golu, and it meant a lot.
During the 9 days of our Golu celebration, it’s a tradition to offer sweets and snacks each day. However, in our nuclear family, we are not particularly foodies. So, for the first 8 days, I offered fruits to the deity, which we usually consume later. On the 9th day, we typically prepare a few sweets and snacks to conclude our Golu celebration.
5 . Temple Visits
A few years ago, my family and I began visiting temples in the evenings during Navarathri. These temples feature impressive Golu displays, similar to those in India. One year, during Navarathri, we visited a temple where the priest requested help from the devotees to arrange the Golu dolls, and we all happily joined in to assist. It was a truly blessed experience. Visiting the temple brought us peace, and seeing our community come together reminded me of the celebrations back in India.
In conclusion, Navarathiri and the ‘Golu’ tradition offer a glimpse into India’s diverse culture. Experiences may differ, but the festival unites people in cultural pride and togetherness.
Your engagement till the end is truly appreciated. Until next time, stay well and keep learning.
