Sharad Navratri 2023 will be celebrated from October 15 to October 24. This annual commemoration celebrates the nine different avatars of Goddess Durga and is marked in different ways across the country. The celebration of Sharad Navratri in South India is known as Golu, and to mark this day, people often celebrate this festival with an elaborate set up of dolls that capture several stories from Hindu mythology. Golu 2023 will also be celebrated on October 15, and the commemoration is sure to be filled with various fun activities and events. As we prepare to celebrate Golu 2023, here is everything you need to know about this observance, the significance of Golu, Golu 2023 Dashavatar setup and more. Navratri 2023 Full Calendar: From Ghatasthapana to Dussehra, Check Date-Wise Schedule of Puja Days for Shardiya Navratri.

When is Golu 2023?

Golu is the Navratri celebration in South India. While North India has four different Navratri celebrations to mark the beginning of all the new seasons, South Indians only celebrate one Navratri - which is marked as Golu. Golu 2023 will be celebrated from October 15 to October 24. The doll set up for Golu is put together on the first day, and the idols are decorated and revered for the following nine days.

Significance of Golu

The commemoration of Golu is believed to be a great opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the rich and unique stories of Hindu mythology. In addition to displaying the Golu dolls to capture several stories and folklore, people also visit each other’s homes to mark this festive time. Additionally, special delicacies are also made on each of these nine days and offered to Goddess Shakti. It is believed that these different delicacies help appease Goddess Durga. One of the most important parts of setting up Golu, which often requires consistent guidance, is the setting up of certain stories. Durga Puja History and Culture: Ahead of Durgotsav 2023, Know Everything From the Legend of Maa Durga Vanquishing Mahishasura to Dhunuchi Dance on the Dhak's Rhythmic Beats.

Dashavatar Order for Golu 2023

While stories of Ramayan and Savitri Satyavan are fairly easy to set up, people often have a hard time decorating and putting together the Dashavatar in the correct chronological order. The Dashavatar is an important story that is captured in Golu and tells the story of Lord Vishnu and his ten avatars that span across several Yugas. The Dashavatara Order is Matsya(FishGod); Kurma(Tortoise God); Varaha(Wild Boar With the Globe); Narasimha(Lion God); Vamana (The Dwarf Pandit); Parashurama(The Warrior God With Axe); Rama; Balarama; Krishna; and Kalki. In recent times, people often include Buddha as the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu and Lord Balarama is often replaced by Lord Krishna in this scenario.

The celebration of Golu is a great time for people to come together as a family and create happy memories. In addition to the storytelling, the celebration also includes singing songs that appease Goddess Durga and give people the chance to showcase their love and appreciation for different arts and crafts. Here's wishing everyone a Happy Golu 2023!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2023 09:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).