Navratri Bommai Golu 2019 Date and Significance: Navratri, the nine-day Hindu festival, which is celebrated with great fervour and valour across India, began on September 29, 2019, and will be celebrated until October 7. One of the few things that make Navratri all the more special has to be the fact that it is celebrated with immense diversity across India. The South Indian celebrations during Navratri is called Golu or Bommai Kolu. It is the festive display of dolls and figurines, that narrate the stories of Hindu mythology. From the Dashavatara, which displays the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu to Goddess Parvati and more, the Navratri Bommai Golu showcases various Gods and Goddesses.

While people in the Northern and Western parts of India celebrate Navratri with Dandiya and Garba, and Pujo adds to the fervour in the East, South Indians celebrate this 9-day festivity by decorating odd-numbered steps in their homes, or societies. The doll arrangements carry different stories and are arranged in 3, 5, 7 or 11 steps. In most cases, each step is dedicated to one legend or folklore, that is often taught to the younger generations. Navratri 2019 Celebrations in India: From Durga Puja in West Bengal to Mysore Dasara in Karnataka, Know How the Different States Worship Goddess Durga Across The Country.

Golu celebrations often involve daily aarti of the festive setup, playing religious bhajans, singing Carnatic songs that reiterate the folklore and preparing dedicated bhog, which is said to please the gods. The festival of Navaratri is mainly celebrated by South Indians from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. Bommai Kolu in Tamil means Divine Presence, while its Telugu meaning is Court of Toys.

Golu celebrations begin on the first day of Navratri, when after Ganapati Puja, a welcoming ritual is performed for goddesses Saraswati, Parvati and Lakshmi by Hindu ritual called Kalasa Aahwanam. This ritual, similar to Ghatasthapana in North India, is followed by setting up of the dolls and figurines. The steps on which these figurines are displayed is traditionally covered by a white cloth.

Apart from Pujas, Aartis and devotional aspects of Golu, people also invite each other home and sing songs together praising the almighty. Every evening, the festivities include lighting the lamp, chanting of shlokas, singing songs to please the gods and goddesses and followed by the Naivedya of the prasad. The prasadam is often made with nine different types of legumes through the nine days. Every night, women in the family also perform special aarti, which is believed to act as a lullaby for the figurines.

In addition to this, there are specific pujas that are done during Golu as well. The ninth day of Navratri, Saraswati Puja is conducted to pray to the Goddess of wisdom and enlightenment and seek her blessings. Books and musical instruments are placed in the puja and worshipped as a source of knowledge. Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy Navratri.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2019 05:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).