Topic started by R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on Sat Oct 2 05:15:12 EDT 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hi all,

Now that navarathiri is approaching, would need ideas from all of you for keeping the park or zoo or anything in the golu.

Only last time, we have started keeping all bommais in the padi. But, did not do anything for the park. So, pls pls suggest and share your experience ASAP.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Responses:

• From: Maanasi (@ adsl-68-90-203-141.dsl.rcsntx.swbell.net) on: Tue Oct 5 11:03:10 EDT 2004
  
  hi , i was also just searching for golu ideas .golu is all about creativity .the theme can be even a nursery rhyme .chk out in google .you have a lot of ideas .For park you can get all necessary items at Michaels Art sand Crafts stores.
  
  
• From: Maanasi (@ adsl-68-90-203-141.dsl.rcsntx.swbell.net) on: Tue Oct 5 11:03:18 EDT 2004
  
  hi , i was also just searching for golu ideas .golu is all about creativity .the theme can be even a nursery rhyme .chk out in google .you have a lot of ideas .For park you can get all necessary items at Michaels Art sand Crafts stores.
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Tue Oct 5 12:21:09 EDT 2004
  
  Thanks Maanasi. I got some useful info. at chennaionline.com. Just thought of getting more ideas, anyways, thanks for ur tips too.
  
  
• From: jk (@ ppp-68-122-224-180.dsl.pltn13.pacbell.net) on: Tue Oct 5 21:58:45 EDT 2004
  
  Hi,
  I am thinking of a sesame street theme - Number of the day could start with 1 and go thru 9 representing the nine days..only thing I dont have enough sesame street character toys :-(
  -jk
  
  
• From: Kamakshi (@ 213.42.2.23) on: Sat Oct 9 01:18:31 EDT 2004
  
  Hi R,
  When exactly is Navarathri starting,thursday or Friday ? Also, can you describe the full process of setting up the kolu, the rules like how many padis, what are the must items for prasadam etc.
  I've heard that,everynight we should show karpooram & also feed the dolls with a spoon of milk & lie them down, is this correct ?
  
  How many days before must we start keeping the dolls & setting the padis & on which day should it be dismantled ? From childhood I've been interested in this but we've never done in our family; can we just start keeping the dolls or some prayer/ mantras are also to be done?
  
  If it is not much of a trouble, hope you can please explain 'cos some friends are also telling that if we keep one year, we have to do so every year.
  Thanks,
  Kamakshi.
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Sat Oct 9 06:35:39 EDT 2004
  
  Hi Kamakshi,
  
  In India, the Navarathiri starts from next Friday only, but before that, Mahalaya amavasai will come every year which is the previous day. That day only, you have to sort out the bommais and padis etc. The next day, will start celebrating golu.
  
  Here in US, to compensate the Indian time, they are starting one day advance!! It does not matter, anyway.
  
  And yes, if you start doing one year, you should keep on doing rest of our life, that is what I heard.
  
  contd..
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Sat Oct 9 06:36:21 EDT 2004
  
  Both my parents & in-laws does not have this tradition. So, did not do pooja for kalasam; if you do pooja, then you have to do pooja too every year to the Goddesses. I just keep the artificial kalasam in the step which is available in the market.
  
  Since I am interested, have been doing since last year. Atleast, you should be keeping minimum number of steps and some simple neiveidhyam. They both are a must.
  
  It ends on Vijayadasami, the 10th day. The belief is that the durga devi killed the asuran on the 10th day! On that night, after aarati showed to all golu bommais, put them to sleep on the padi itself which means the festival is done. The next day, you can start packing up the entire bommais and padis carefully.
  
  contd..
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Sat Oct 9 06:37:04 EDT 2004
  
  About padis, it shd be minimum atleast 5 (3 is ok), then proceed with 7, 9 etc. About prasadam, everyday we make different varieties of sundal and payasam.
  
  In India, people make puttu on Friday and ellu sweet on saturday which is so auspicious. But, now, we are all so busy. So, there is no such rules to do. You can make any sundals like channa dhal, kondakadalai, moong dhal, pattani, mochai, thuvarai, navadhaniya etc. Lots of recipes are coming out about sundals. As long as there is no onion or garlic, it is better.
  
  On the 9th day-saraswathi pooja, we do black channa sundal and other sweets which is so auspicious for the same Goddess. It is obvious, that everyone keep their books and do pooja.
  
  contd..
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Sat Oct 9 06:37:37 EDT 2004
  
  Both in the morning and evening, it is good to chant all devis' stothras like Mahishasura mardhini slokam, kanakadhara stothram, lalitha sahasaranamam, lakshmi ashtothram etc. Since it is about durga, lakshmi saraswathi you can chant anything on them. First 3 days is for durga, next 3 days is for lakshmi and the last three days is for saraswathi.
  
  After the slokas are done, I use to do neiveidhyam payasam in the morning and sundal in the evening. In the night, use to take aarati to the God. But, feeding and putting them to sleep-have not heard abt it. My aunty all use to do, have not see them like this. It will stay still till the 10th day, that is for sure.
  
  Finally, you have to call people on any day. What I do is use to call people on one day; that day, will prepare some spl sweet and sundal so that can give it to everyone. Rest of the day, prepare some payasam alone in a small qty since we are all becoming very health consicious.
  
  contd..
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Sat Oct 9 06:38:04 EDT 2004
  
  You might be aware that people those who know music will sing some song. Can give them some small gift with vethalai, pakku, small mirror, kumkum, manjal, seepu alongwith sundal.
  
  So, this is the basic. After that, doing decoration or buying new dolls every year is upto you.
  
  Good luck with your golu!!
  
  Bye
  
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Sat Oct 9 06:59:33 EDT 2004
  
  One last point forgot to say-
  
  In the night or evening of Vijayadasami, after the doll(anyone is enough) is put to sleep, have to move the Kalasam towards North. - to mark the end of that year's Navarathri - Golu
  
  
• From: B (@ c-24-118-173-106.mn.client2.attbi.com) on: Sun Oct 10 11:11:30 EDT 2004
  
  Does anyone have any ideas about how to construct gopu steps (padi)? I heard there is something in Home depot but cannot find any. Is there any other way to construct this other than card-board boxes and all that?
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Mon Oct 11 12:35:37 EDT 2004
  
  We bought some wooden planks from home depot, then, cut them into some steps and got assembled. In future, we can add more steps, if we want. But, it is not removable. Since it's a smaller one, does not occupy space at all.
  
  
• From: Kamakshi (@ 213.42.2.26) on: Wed Oct 13 02:21:59 EDT 2004
  
  Hi R,
  Thanks so very very much for the prompt & very detailed reply.
  One more doubt, can the golu be kept even if the lady is expecting her 'monthly' days during the course of the Navrathri; on 'those' days, can the husband do the naivedhyam etc. or the golu shouldn't be kept at all. Please clarify.
  And is it ok to light just one kuthuvilakku or should they be lit only as a pair. Must we light all the 5 deepams in each kuthuvilakku or one deepam per vilakku will do? What exactly is the significance/ symbolism of this kuthuvilakku over an ordinary lamp ?
  Sorry for too many queries, hope you can answer when you get time.
  Bye.
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Wed Oct 13 11:43:33 EDT 2004
  
  Yes, of course, can keep the golu as long as there is someone(ur hub.,) to do the neiveidhyam.
  
  Basically, you can use any vilakku to lit for golu. In my mother's house, she uses one vilakku whereas my MIL uses two vialkkus. So, it depends on your family what they have been doing so far.
  
  And big functions like house warming ceremony, homam etc. or some festivals like navarathiri, karthigai deepam etc. we use kuthuvilakku TOO with our usual vilakku.
  
  Abt significance, pls check this URL.
  http://forumhub.com/tnhistory/15896.26845.08.41.44.html
  
  Regards and Bye.
  
  
• From: Kamakshi (@ 195.229.241.187) on: Sun Oct 17 01:21:44 EDT 2004
  
  Thanks a lot R, for the super link about kuthuvilakku, didn't know it had so much meaning...
  Any idea, which site has names of Tamil months, stars etc. Basically a Tamilian calendar, but in English as I can't read Tamil. I tried panchangam.com & a few others but couldn't find anything. Maybe, you can share if you come across such a site, ok.
  
  Hope your golu/navrathri is going well, have you kept the park/ zoo you wanted to keep? BTW, Vijayadasami is on 23(Sat.) right, but it happens to be the 9th. day, so when is Saraswathi Puja? I'm slightly confused.
  Thanks so much again, for your time. Bye.
  
  
  
• From: R (@ bgp529959bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net) on: Tue Oct 19 04:34:21 EDT 2004
  
  Thanks for asking, yes., a group of friends came and we all had a nice time!!
  
  Saraswathi pooja falls on this Friday and obviously, vijayadasami will be the next day. Yes, this year, we are doing saraswathi pooja on the 8th day and dasami on the 9th day since mahalaya amavasai started on wed., But, we have started keeping the golu on Friday whereas, it would begin the very next day itself. That is why..
  
  About calendar, in general, I have my own Pambu panchangam with me which gives exact details, so I dont refer any of the sites at all.Sorry..
  
  I have kept pet farm zoo, atlast. Without park or anything, the festival will never complete.
  
  Bye.
  
  
• From: Kamakshi (@ 213.42.2.28) on: Tue Oct 19 05:46:03 EDT 2004
  
  Thanks R, for your response.
  Cheers, Bye.
  
  
• From: saravanan (@ pngfwpr01.png.intel.com) on: Wed Oct 20 18:41:47 EDT 2004
  
  what is means by yogi,nyani,sitther,muniver,rishi?
  
  

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