27 September 2011

Navarathri Festival

The nine-day festival of Navrathri, or Navarathri, in Hindu religion dedicated to the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga. Navratri 2011 dates are from September 28 to October 6, 2011. Sharadiya Navratri begins on the first day of the bright half of Ashvin or Ashwayuja [September-October] as per traditional Hindu calendar. Navrathri is also dedicated to the worship of Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi.


Navarathri festival
`Navarathri" is a major Hindu festival, which is celebrated during `Dussehra` or `Navarathri` throughout India, especially in Southern India. This is a major festival of South India, which is celebrated for 10 days during September or October month.

Navaratri is a festival that lasts nine days and nine nights. The word “Navaratri” actually means nine [Nava] nights [ratri]. This is celebrated in different styles throughout India. Navaratri occurs during the first 9 days of the bright half of the month of Aashwayuja in the Indian calendar. Navarathiri Pooja is not a pooja that is done only for one day. It is done for 9 days. Nava means “nine”. Since, the pooja is done for 9 days, the pooja is so called as “Navarathiri” Pooja. This pooja is mainly done towards the Goddess – Shakthi and she is the main deity for this pooja. This 9 days of pooja is segregated into 3 parts and each parts contains 3 days of each. Therefore, in these 9 days, first 3 days of pooja is for Sri Durga Devi, the next 3 days, pooja needs to be done for Sri Lakshmi and the final 3 days for Sri Saraswathi. Further one more day the pooja is extended and on that particular day, we have to do pooja for all these 3 deities


The 9 Forms of The Mother Goddess
Nava – that also means ‘new’ – denotes ‘nine’ the number to which sages attach special significance. Hence, we have Nava-ratri [9 nights], Nava-patrika [9 leaves / herbs / plants], Nava-graha [9 planets], and Nava-Durga [9 appelletions].

Doll Arrangement- "Kolu"
Golu or Kolu, doll arrangement, is an essential part of Navrathri and Dussehra celebrations in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The Bommai Golus are proud possessions of a family and they are handed down through generations. Apart from the traditional Navrathri Bommai Kolu display, nowadays there is an emphasis on Golu themes with different ideas.

The Navrathri or Dussehra kolu is displayed on stairs created from wood. The number of steps depends on the availability of the dolls. The maximum number is nine – representing the nine days of Navratri. Usually, the steps erected are even numbers – 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11.
Kolu – the royal court of Goddess Durga is created 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 steps. 



Navarathri Decorations
The most important dolls in the kolu arrangement are the Raja-rani or the marapaachi bommais. These are expensive dolls and a set of them is found in all traditional households. Another important idol is that of Goddess Saraswati. A Kalasham is also placed along with the Kolu. Marapachi Dolls are an indispensable part of Navaratri Bommai Kolu doll arrangements. Marapachi Bommai literally means wooden toys. Golu or Kolu is the display of dolls during Navratri in South India especially in Tamil Nadu, Marapachi Dolls are a pair of male and female dolls which forms the most important part of Navarathri Golu arrangements. They are sold as a couple – male and female. The dolls are mostly made of reddish wood. They are finely carved and are available in various sizes. During display, the wooden couple is beautifully adorned with colorful attires and jewellery.
Marapachi Dolls-A must
 in every Kolu 
Marapachi dolls are a proud possession for many people and are handed down generations. There is also a tradition of parents gifting their married daughter Marapachi bommai so that she can start Navratri Kolu display in her house
There are no hard and fast rules for arranging the dolls. Nowadays, the arrangement depends on the availability of dolls. In most places, the entire nine steps will be filled with statues of various gods and goddesses in Hindu pantheon. For some, the Navratri Kolu is a simple arrangement of various deities in three steps.
*The topmost three steps are dedicated to various gods and goddesses. In some areas, people place a ‘Purna Kumbham’ on the topmost step.
*The next three steps – 4, 5 and 6 – are dedicated to Gurus, saints, religious personalities and other highly respected figures in the country and world.
*The seventh step is dedicated to various social activities and festivals. People depict marriages and important festivals in this step.
*Business, crafts and other economic activities are depicted in the eighth step. Creative women depict a buzzing market place and other activities.
*The ninth step is dedicated to dolls made of wood. Dolls of men, women, children, animals and birds are placed in this step.

During Bommai Kolu, the entire neighborhood, friends and relatives gather in a house and sing bhajans dedicated to Goddess Durga. Special sweets are prepared during the period.
On the Vijayadashami day [the tenth day], the dolls are taken out. 


Kalasham/Kumbam


How to perform the rituals:
A Kalasham is prepared at home and the water is changed daily for nine days. The kalasham is placed on grains on raised platform or in the Puja room. Goddess Durga is worshipped during the first three days, Goddess Lakshmi for the next three days, and Goddess Saraswathi during the last three days. [Some people make clay figures of the Goddesses during the period].


Each day fresh flowers and fruits are offered to the Goddess. Arati is performed and bhajans are recited.
* Purna Kumbam or Kalasham is kept on a kolam in such a place that there is space behind to keep the Bommai Kolu. You can attach a face of Goddess to the Purna Kumbha and decorate the Kumbham with jewelry, turmeric, sandal paste, flowers etc.
* Those who do not keep Kolu, keep the Kalasham in the Pooja room.
* Betel leaves, Betel nuts, a coconut is placed in front of the Kalasham. Cooked rice or boiled and sweetened milk is kept as prasadam or neivedya in front of the Kalasha.
* This Kalasham is to be kept for next nine days – it symbolizes Goddess.
* A lamp is lit every evening and morning for nine days.
* Normal puja is performed. Other women are invited on any one of the evening.
* The first three days is dedicated to Goddess Durga.
* The next three days is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi.
* The final three days is dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi.
* Fresh kolams are done on all nine days.
* Shlokas that are recited on nine days include Durga Ashtotaram, Devi Mahatmiyam, Shyamala Dhandakam, Lakshmi Sahasranama, Lakshmi Ashototaram, Lalitha Sahasranama, Saraswathi Stotram, Saraswathi Ashototaram.
* Sholakas are recited while performing the puja.
Sweets and neivedya prepared are shared with neighbors, relatives and friends The lamp is diffused after the puja daily.
On the Vijayadashami day [the tenth day], the dolls are taken out. after making them sleep.



"Navarathri Kolu` festival is celebrated in a very beautiful and colourful manner in all South Indian states. During this festival, a mini-exhibition of toys and dolls are set up in many Hindu homes. The origin of this unique festival is not known clearly but it is said that it existed at least for the past five hundred years i.e. from the days of the Vijayanagar kings of Hampi in Karnataka. The reference of the festival `Navarathri Kolu` is found in the inscriptions of these kings. The Tanjavur Maharaja Sarfoji`s Saraswathi Mahal Library old Marathi record mentions that dolls representing eighteen different castes were supplied at that time. This proves its antiquity. Even the royal families of the Tanjavur and Pudukkottai kingdoms of Tamil Nadu used to celebrate the `Navaratri Kolu` festival in a very grand manner.

The most surprising fact is that the `Navarahtri Kolu` festival is not confined to India only, it is also celebrated in many other Asian countries, mainly in Sri Lanka and Japan. In Japan, the `Navarathri Kolu` is known as `Hina Masturi`. During this festival they display beautiful Japanese dolls and miniature tableware in rows, exactly like the kolu in India. Whether it is in India or in any other country, `Navaratri Kolu` is mainly a ladies festival. 



Kolu Bommai


More on Bommai Kolu.
“Bommai” is the word for dolls and “Kolu” means displaying. The number of tiers or steps are usually in odd numbers : one, three and five, seven – going up to nine, if space permitted.
The idea here is to capture visual themes along a mythological thread – using Gods and Goddesses from the Epics and Puranas. Navratri represents those nine nights when Goddess Durga fought the evil forces of Asuras, and defeated them on the tenth day – celebrated as Vijaya Dasami. Vijaya Dasami is also the day Lord Rama won his battle against demon king, Ravana. 

The nine-day event sees a lot of neighbourhood togetherness. Women go visiting and are offered haldi-kumkum with betel leaves and fruits. Another interesting way a community shares in the good times.



The most popular Chettiar Bommai 


The preparation for the `Navarathri Kolu` festival starts months in advance. The `Kolubommai` or `kolu` dolls are tenderly wrapped in cotton rags, which are generally kept carefully in huge wooden trunks. So, during the preparation, the dolls are taken out with care, dusted, mended and given a fresh coat of paint if needed. Each `Navarathri Kolu` festival must have at least few new dolls. The creative housewives are given the responsibility to make new dolls every year. The new dolls replace the old worn-out ones and they are sold and purchased on the eve of the festival. 
Dolls on Display in the busy Streets


Shopkeepers selling Dolls for "Kolu"
Wedding Set on Display - Dolls made of Mud/Clay
The scene of rows of tiny shops selling kolu dolls on the roadside pavements is very common during the festival. These dolls are imported mainly from the major doll making centres such as Madurai, Tanjavur and Banrutti [Panruti] in Tamil Nadu. It is high time of business for these shopkeepers when women and children come to them. Earlier, as many people used to live in joint families, the houses were big so they celebration of `Navaratri Kolu` festival used to be very grand and elaborate. A whole room was used only for this festival. The dolls were displayed on the kolupadis or kolu steps made of wood and covered with a thick cloth, milk white or blood red in colour. The number of steps had to be an odd number like three, five, seven or nine. The more the number of steps, the more is the joy.


Thanjavur-Thalayatti Bommai


Traditional Big Dolls


Religious Set of Dolls-Ramar Set


The Dasavatharam Set of Dolls


The dolls used in the `Navarathri Kolu` festival are mostly huge mud icons of various gods and goddesses painted in bright colours. The dolls were made of rosewood, sandalwood and even by ivory in the rich families. A Ramayana set, a Dashavatara set, a set of musicians playing different instruments can be seen in almost all Kolus. The other things which can be noticed include the pot-bellied Chettiar and his equally fat wife, both smiling with their mouth wide open and in this the children often tries to feed the Chettiar by throwing grains of rice into his cave-like mouth.
Grand Kolu exhibitions 
But as the time has changed, few of the rituals of the `Navarathri Kolu` festival has also changed. Families have become smaller and neutral and the western affect has influenced the Kolu festival also. The big houses have turned into two or three bedroom flats and the modern workingwomen can hardly offer much time in preparing the dolls. Those who inherited it from their mothers, grandmothers or great grandmothers have placed them in the glass boxes and decorated their living rooms with these dolls.

But, luckily, few of the South Indian families in Indian and even in foreign countries have kept this age-old traditional festival alive. Few of the corporate houses also sponsor some local clubs and associations to organise kolu competitions during the Navaratri. Attractive prizes are also kept for the best kolu dolls.

Now, the present day `Navarathri Kolu` festival is just a miniature replica of the kolus of the olden days. There are many innovations and substitution can be seen in the Kolus of present day. As the earlier wooden Kolupadi have vanished, the iron Kolupadis are used now, which are available in few selected furniture shops. These Kolupadis are used as bookshelves after the `Navaratri Kolu`. Some other creative people also make kolu steps out of big boxes and outsized dictionaries. The white and red cloth covers of the steps are replaced with plastic sheets or paper. Even the dolls of gods and goddesses are also replaced by the dolls adorned with the traditional costumes of the different states of India and the different countries of the world. Most of the NRI families use the dolls of the airhostess. Other three popular dolls include the dolls representing the postman with his kakhi uniform and mailbag, the doctor with his stethoscope and the shopkeeper with his wares.

With the coming of technology, the designer Kolus are also made during the `Navarathri Kolu` festival. Apart from the dolls, these kolus also exhibit colourful books including pop-up books and bath books, stamps, coins, medals, paintings, charts, children`s toys and games. The Kolu room is also decorated with the help of computer graphics. Even the floor decoration process has seen many new innovations like in place of the village scenes and temples; the events from the not-too-distant past are made as the theme. For example, the general elections, the Kargil war and the Olympic Games are presented through various models and figures and with the use of thermocol and cotton.

"Thematic Kolu" -Innovative Scenes
from the Ramayana
The celebration with a thematic Kolu during Navaratri is a new development regarding this festival. In this type of Kolu, the entire kolu, both on the steps and on the floor, revolves around a particular theme. During 1997, the Kolus were prepared imitating the freedom struggle to celebrate the golden jubilee of the independence of the country.

Now, in this era, people join together and make a kolu with others in a common place; generally their workplace or it may be in any community hall or departmental store. These promote the team spirit and reflect the collective talent and imagination of the community.

The most significant part of Navarathri besides setting up of "Golu", Navarathri is never complete without the different kinds of sundal made each evening.



For Sundal Recipes, you may view my below links:







Right from con-ceptualising to arranging the dolls by giving attention to minute details and involving the whole family, is what Navaratri is all about for some people who want go an extra mile.

Goddess Saraswathi--Durga--Lakshmi


Navrathri Celebrations-"Garba Dance"


Navratri, meaning 'nine nights', is one of the most popular and widely celebrated Hindu festivals in many parts of India. Gujarat, however, is the only state that erupts into a nine-night dance festival, perhaps the longest in the world. Each night, all over the state, villages and cities alike, people gather in open spaces to celebrate feminine divinity, referred to as Shakti.


The Folk Dance joined by the Dandiya
The dance form known as ras garba [also joined sometimes by dandiya, which uses small wooden sticks], comes from Lord Krishna's worship rather than Goddess worship, from the Gop culture of Saurashtra and Kutch. Stories of relationships between Krishna and the Gopis, and their emotions, also often make their way into the ras garba music.


The children enjoy this Navarathri Kolu` festival the most as it becomes like a nine-day crash course on hard work, discipline and courtesy. They work with joy and keep the kolu room clean and neat throughout the festival. They eagerly invite and welcome the guests and show them the Kolu and the models prepared by them. 


Navarathri Gifts


Arranging Navrathri Kolu is also an event in itself it means inviting neighbors, friends and other relatives to visit your home and view the Kolu decorated. Pleasantries and small gifts are exchanged amongst women generally women exchange coconuts, cloths and sweets amongst themselves. Sumangali [married] women also exchange bags containing a small mirror, turmeric, comb, beetle leaves with beetal nut.

12 September 2011

Mahalaya Amavasya

Mahalaya Amavasya or Pitru Amavasya is the new moon day of Pitru Paksha or Mahalaya Paksha, the fortnight which is especially sacred for offering Tharpanam to the departed ancestors. It is believed that performing Tharpanams  during the auspicious Mahalaya Paksha will bless your ancestors and will free them from all their sins.

This Amavasya is particularly chosen for observing rituals dedicated to departed souls.


Pitru Paksha also known as Mahalaya Paksha


Pitru Paksha also known as Mahalaya Paksha or Shraaddh Paksha or Kanagat, is a period of fifteen days dedicated to dead ancestors and forefathers. During Pitru Paksha, Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, especially through food offerings. This is an occasion to perform rites for the departed ancestors to keep their souls indebted for years.


In 2011,  Pitru paksha starts on September 13th  and ends on September 27 th  with Mahalaya Amavasya [Sarvapitru Amavasya].  



Amavasya September 2011 date is September 27. The Amavasya Time begins at 07:29 PM on September 26 and ends at 05:13 PM on September 27. 

Pitru Paksha Shraaddham begins on Ashwin Krishna Pratipada or first day of Ashwin month and goes up to the following New Moon [Amavasya] day as per North Indian calendar. Pitru Paksha is performed for the departed immediate relatives usually up to three preceding generations. 





Mahalaya Paksha: Seek the Blessings of  the  Ancestors

Great enlightened beings, who have turned their body into light, visit the earth daily in their light form. Our departed ancestors also come and stay on this earth plane for 15 days in a year in our body, mind and soul and can change all these 3 positively. Even Gods cannot do what these ancestors can do for you; in fact, Gods ask you to go through your ancestors for blessings.


These auspicious 15 days, Mahalaya Paksha in 2011, starts from September 13th night, right after the full moon and ends on September 27th, the Mahalaya Amavasya night. This two week period is the most important period to appreciate your departed ancestors.

Rituals and offering oblations to the souls of the departed ancestors, ends on Mahalaya day. Durga Puja rituals also commence on Mahalaya day.

" If shrardham thithi falls in this period [From Purattasi to Karthigai] one should not do malaya tharpanam in the malaya paksham and should perform the Mahalaya Paksham on the next day to Shrardham " .






Pitru Paksha Shraadham 



Pitru Paksha is the occasion to repay debt to our departed ancestors by satisfying their souls by performing rites. For this purpose “Shraaddh” is performed with a belief that the dead ones would alive amongst us. Yama the Lord of death allows the souls to come down to the earth and receive offers from their descendants. This practice is made to the dead “Pitrus”. The last day of this period, the new moon day also called Sarvapitru Amavasya, is considered as the most important day in the year for performing obsequies and rites.


Legends related to Pitru Paksha
According to Hindu mythology, the souls of three preceding generations of one's ancestor reside in Pitru–loka, governed by Yama, who takes the soul of a dying man from earth to Pitru–loka. When a person of the next generation dies, the first generation shifts to heaven and unites with God, so Shraaddh offerings are not given. Thus, only the three generations in Pitru–loka are given Shraaddh rites, in which Yama plays a significant role.

When the legendary donor Karna died in the epic Mahabharata war, his soul transcended to heaven, where he was offered gold and jewels as food. Karna had done limitless charity of wealth, but had neglected to do Anna-Dana. Thus he found himself in the midst of wealth and plenty, but with no food to appease him. However, Karna needed real food to eat and asked lord Yama the reason for serving gold as food. Yama told Karna that he had donated gold all his life, but had never donated food to his ancestors in Shraaddh. Karna said that since he was unaware of his ancestors, he never donated anything in their memory. To make amends, Karna was permitted to return to earth for a fifteen day period, so that he could perform Shraaddh and donate food and water in their memory. This period is now known as Pithru Paksha.
 
Observing Mahalaya Amavasya
The fifteen days of Mahalaya Paksha consists of 15 Tithi.  They are Pratipat, Dvitiya, Tritiya, Chaturthi, Panchami, Shashti, Ashtami, Navami, Dasami, Ekadasi, Dvadasi, Trayodasi, Chaturdashi, Newmoon day [Sarvapitru Amavasya].


According to Hindu mythology, every individual's who wants to perform this Pitru Tharpanam, they should do it on the same day of their ancestor died which will fall within any one of these fifteen days.


Importance of Pitru Paksha

Importance of Pitru Paksha

The elder son or grandsons of the family performs Shraaddh in honor of the dead and offers respectful homage, during this period. It is believed that only after performance of Shraaddh ritual, the soul of the deceased relative attains Moksha. In this context, the scripture Garuda Purana says, "there is no salvation for a man without a son". The scriptures preach that a householder should propitiate ancestors, along with the gods, ghosts and guests. The scripture Markandeya Purana says that if the ancestors are content with the Shraaddh, they will bestow health, wealth, knowledge and longevity, and ultimately heaven and salvation upon the performer.
The performance of Sarvapitri Amavasya rites can also compensate a forgotten or neglected annual Shraaddh ceremony, which should ideally coincide with the death anniversary of the deceased. The ceremony is central to the concept of lineages. Shraddha involves oblations to three preceding generations—by reciting their names—as well as to the mythical lineage ancestor [Gotra]. A person thus gets to know the names of six generations [three preceding generation, his own and two succeeding generations—his sons and grandsons] in his life, reaffirming lineage ties.

Even those who died without progeny received these oblations given on this Pitru Paksha Amavasya day. All those who had failed to do deeds of charity and Anna-Dana and were thus denied these comforts in the Pitru Loka, benefited by these ceremonies. Those deceased whose date of death is not known and whose annual Sraaddha cannot be done, they also get these oblations of Pitru Paksha. Souls whose life was cut off by violent, accidental or unnatural death and to whom, therefore, offerings cannot reach in the ordinary course, to them, too, the Pitru Paksha offerings reach directly.

Things not to do
During the period of Pitru Paksha, traditionally people do not buy or wear new clothes, and don't get a hair-cut. The day they perform the ritual, male members of the family do not even shave. Women do not wash their hair on that particular day. Auspicious works like marriage, settling marriage, any kind of birth ceremony etc. are prohibited during this period.

You may click on the link and watch these videos:






About Pitru Shakti and Pitru Mukti

 1.  There are "Pitru Shakti" sacred spaces imbued with the spiritual potency of exalted Pitru Deva Beings. And then there are "Pitru Mukti" sacred spaces - places so holy that they are able to grant moksha salvation to even these exalted Pitru Devas!
 2.  For Example, Siddha Sathguru Venkataraman pointed out that Seshambadi [near Kumbakonam] and Poovalur [near Trichy] as two of the greatest Pitru Mukti [ancestor salvation] sacred spaces in the entire world.

Lord Shri Ram and Pitru Moksha Tamil Nadu
Lord Sri Ram Himself did tarpanam pooja for His father Dasaratha and His Soorya Dynasty ancestors  at more than 108 of these Pitru Moksha ancestor salvation sacred places in Tamil Nadu alone. These include Rameswaram, Nedungudi, Thilatharpanapuri, Innambur, Theerthandapuram and Kekkarai, just to mention a few.




One of the Pitru Mukti
Kshetras -Varanasi
Sacred Temple-Thirupullani -
Ramar 
Darbha sayanam


Sri Ramar doing Tharpanam


Pitru Mukti BHARAT
Considering the holy Bharata land [India] as a whole, there are more than 1008 Pitru Mukti kshetras including the well known ones such as Varanasi, Prayag, Gaya, Kedarnath and Badrinath.


Pitru Moksha Sacred places - Ideal for all Ancestor Worship Procedures

In all these Pitru Moksha sacred places, the exalted Pitru Devas themselves accept your tarpana, argya and sraddha offerings at all times,  but particularly during the Mahalaya Paksha fortnight. Furthermore, they themselves are engaged in serious worship at these "Ancestor Salvation" sacred spaces.
Thus these pitru mukti temples and sacred places are most effective for conducting your pitru [exalted ancestor] worship and pitru karma.

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