Navaratri, or the Divine Nine Nights, is celebrated with great enthusiasm across different parts of India. In Bengal, it is celebrated as Durga Puja, in Gujarat as Navaratri with Dandiya Ras, in Mysore as Dasara, and in South India, Navaratri is marked by a display of dolls, known as Golu. Each of the nine days is dedicated to one of the forms of the Divine Mother, or Shakti. The final day is called Vijayadasami, the day symbolising the triumph of good over evil.
The feminine aspect of divinity plays a crucial role in the Yogic culture. Various aspects of Devi are worshipped, especially during certain times of the year, such as the nine days of Navaratri. Although Navaratri celebrates three fundamental aspects of Devi, there are many more facets to her. One manifestation of Devi is Mahishasura Mardini—the Slayer of Mahishasura, the demon who is half-man and half-buffalo, essentially representing the bestial instinct in man.
The spiritual import and significance of Navaratri can be understood as follows:
Ratri, or night, is when you take rest. ‘Ratri’ means that which gives you deep rest or relief from three things, known as the 3 Taapas or Tapatraya. Taapas refers to three types of fire or botherations—the physical, the subtle, and the causal.
The botherations are Adi Bhautika—worldly botherations or those from the Bhutas; Adi Daivika—botherations at the level of the Devas; and Adhyatmika—botherations at the level of our soul. Navaratri provides deep rest that can relieve you from all these three botherations, making it a time of prayer and rejuvenation.
The nine forms of Durga propitiated during these nine days are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidaatri.
Golu is the festive display of dolls and figurines in South India during Navaratri. These displays are typically thematic, narrating a legend from a Hindu text, scenes from court life, weddings, everyday settings, and even miniature kitchen utensils. Across South India, they are known as Golu, Gombe Habba, Bommai Kolu, or Bommala Koluvu.
The dolls are generally arranged in an odd number of padis (tiers or steps). The lower steps depict more mundane themes, evolving step by step to reach the gods placed on the higher steps. This arrangement represents the divine presence and symbolises abundance, prosperity, and protection.
A Golu Display in Melbourne
The nine days of Navaratri are busy for families, particularly for women and children. They are invited to various homes and, dressed in traditional finery, they go from one home to another, participating in what is often referred to as ‘Golu hopping’, and socialising. Sometimes, they are asked to sing a song or two.
Families prepare for the Golu with great fervour, putting up creative displays for everyone to see. Some families in Melbourne put up Golu displays every year with much fanfare. A few of these deserve special mention, as a nod to their untiring efforts:
- Usha and Balakrishnan in Lynbrook
- Yamini and her husband, Monash academic Dr Srinivas, in Ferntree Gully
- Srividya and Satish
- Lakshmi and Sudhakar
- Prakash and Vasuprada
- Shankarnarayan and Sudha
- Shobana and Krishnan in Glen Waverley
- Sridevi and Dr Rajaram, RMIT Dean, in Noble Park
- Shilpa and Vasudevan in Clyde North
- Jaya and Radhakrishnan in Bayswater
- Bama and Raja in Clarinda
- Padma and Haribabu in Clayton South
- Dr Lakshmi and Dr Mani on Toorak Road
The gatherings hosted by Dr Lakshmi and Dr Mani are almost like a jamboree or carnival, an event eagerly awaited by their near and dear ones each year. Their hospitality and welcoming nature are legendary, becoming a part of local folklore!
During Navaratri, the Divine is propitiated, connections are renewed, bonds are reinforced, and stomachs are well-fed. There is never a dull moment over these nine days!
Navaratri, or those Nine Days, is pure bliss!
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