GOLU AS I SEE IT !
"WOW ! Not bad at all,you are making good progress" I mumbled to myself. The pre Navrathri work was taking up most of my time.
"Please the mother Goddess for nine days.Sing hymns in her praise and chant her divine name a thousand times," my mother says till today. When I was young, I would listen to her, in rapt attention as she rendered lovely musical compositions all in praise of the Divine Mother.
"Shall we play a game of pallankuzhi ?" Durga whispered sweetly into my ears. Swiftly, I turned around and finding no one, I went about my evening chores with her in my mind. With golu to commence from the next day, I was busy with pre golu arrangements.
Only earlier in the day I had brought down the pallanguzhi from the loft above. "She must have seen me doing that and now she wants me to play with her, " thinking aloud, I started to write.
"She has come. It's her. I know too well. She is here.Ya Devi ! What will I do ? I am not ready as yet ", jumping with enthusiasm, in recognising her presence, I lit the oil lamp at the altar, prayed fervently, made a glass of fresh lime juice for myself and called Gurumoorthy the potti kadai owner.
Amma...the voice from the other end sounded very clear.
" Sundal kadalai vagaigal thaane...Naalaikku ellaam ara ara kilo anuppidaren, " saying he disconnected abruptly. Nevertheless, my purpose achieved, I heaved a sigh of relief. Gurumoorthy is known to keep his word....
When I recall my childhood days, Navrathri Golu was celebrated with much fan fare. Resources were limited but the house I grew up in boasted of an abundance of an array of mud dolls. We lived in a joint family and the love for art was infused in me from the day, I started observing and learning.
Today when I start planning for the golu, I am reminded of how an agile grandmother and a creative mother went about arranging and decorating the golu steps.
The carpenter was called in and the wooden kitchen planks got a transformation. My mother made alternative arrangements in the kitchen and the big pooja room wore a festive look. The kitchen planks must have been eight to ten feet wide. The five steps were covered with a soft white cloth which was reused every year. I think of it now and I am really amused. Over the years the colour of the cloth changed from white to cream with fine dotted prints of turmeric and kumkum gradually spreading all over. The cover however remained the same.
I use a new covering sheet every year. From plain coloured cloth sheets to printed sheets and gift colour paper, I have used them all. This year as I will celebrate yet again I realise that, the triumph of good over evil has to do more with introspection and cleansing one's own inner self.
While talking about festivals, the first festival that always comes to my mind by default is the Navrathri Golu. As we all know, the Navratri Golu is a nine day festival that begins on Mahalaya Amavasya day and ends on Vijaya Dashami day.
The carpenter was called in and the wooden kitchen planks got a transformation. My mother made alternative arrangements in the kitchen and the big pooja room wore a festive look. The kitchen planks must have been eight to ten feet wide. The five steps were covered with a soft white cloth which was reused every year. I think of it now and I am really amused. Over the years the colour of the cloth changed from white to cream with fine dotted prints of turmeric and kumkum gradually spreading all over. The cover however remained the same.
I use a new covering sheet every year. From plain coloured cloth sheets to printed sheets and gift colour paper, I have used them all. This year as I will celebrate yet again I realise that, the triumph of good over evil has to do more with introspection and cleansing one's own inner self.
While talking about festivals, the first festival that always comes to my mind by default is the Navrathri Golu. As we all know, the Navratri Golu is a nine day festival that begins on Mahalaya Amavasya day and ends on Vijaya Dashami day.
Legend has it that Goddess Durga was entrusted with the task of slaying Mahisasura and restoring peace to the universe. By praying to Durga lakshmi and saraswathi, the festival glorifies Mahashakti. Mahisasura is symbolic of the evil in the self. Durga represents the good in us. Essentially the festival helps us to introspect within ourselves. It is an opportunity to cleanse the mind and fill it with good thoughts. It is an opportunity to learn the essence of calm that comes naturally when one is engrossed in prayers, chanting of the Lakshmi sahasranamam, good conversation and exchange of the thamboolam.
I always go with the festive flow. The flow is crazy, getting crazier and more creative with every passing year and friends are way too enterprising. No externally imposed rules to do this or do that, helps me to space out my priorities during this time of the year. However, It is a self imposed regulation to prepare a Maha neivedyam and as I perform the aarathi every day, I truly feel good. The atmosphere is charged with positive vibes and post Navratri the aura remains till the next Navratri.
How is that possible ? You may ask. Well ! the lofts being full I am now compelled to keep a part of my golu collection on display throughout the year.
Healthy competition at this time of the year in the form of rangolis and decorations, helps fostering mutual inspiration, builds camaraderie and hence we should all go for it. That is what my mother says and she still stresses upon this most important aspect.
Festivals are not just about blindly following rituals. If our ancestors have set down certain rules, we should abide by them, not because the Gods will be displeased if we fail to follow them but because the Gods will be pleased if we are able to awaken the divine consciousness within ourselves. The awakening is not possible without taking a new step towards a spiritual advancement, without trying something new, without the will to create and work so that it makes a good difference to the individual, the society at large. That is how I celebrate festivals happily. God is in Good.
Golu means an opportunity to compete with ourselves, to do something extra and welcome Mother Goddess when she starts her journey towards the victory of good over evil. For a fortnight, she changes the atmosphere in every home. The Golu room gets a makeover. The goodness all pervading with her presence all around the year, Golu is only an annual excuse to meet friends and share the happiness. From mud dolls to papiermache and home made origami, golu is also a showcase of one's own skills
A simple fact that comes into my mind immediately, is that the whole idea of trying to think out of the box can happen only when one is forced to do something out of routine. That is how the humble golu park was born. That is how friends and loved ones started meeting one another and so started the exchange of thamboolams. That was when the need to be hospitable arose. That is how tradition, customs and good manners were taught. That was when women and girls got an opportunity to showcase their skills in and outside the kitchen....
Golu means an opportunity to compete with ourselves, to do something extra and welcome Mother Goddess when she starts her journey towards the victory of good over evil. For a fortnight, she changes the atmosphere in every home. The Golu room gets a makeover. The goodness all pervading with her presence all around the year, Golu is only an annual excuse to meet friends and share the happiness. From mud dolls to papiermache and home made origami, golu is also a showcase of one's own skills
A simple fact that comes into my mind immediately, is that the whole idea of trying to think out of the box can happen only when one is forced to do something out of routine. That is how the humble golu park was born. That is how friends and loved ones started meeting one another and so started the exchange of thamboolams. That was when the need to be hospitable arose. That is how tradition, customs and good manners were taught. That was when women and girls got an opportunity to showcase their skills in and outside the kitchen....
Can you hear the clanks of the weapons and the growl of thunder or is it me only ?...Come Navrathri and my ears start ringing with the sound of the drums and the clash of the dandiya. I hear the sound of anger, the rumble in the clouds and the final beat of the drums that will mark the celebration of the vanquish of evil.
The skies are clear in the day and overcast in the evenings. The sun is playing hide and seek. I looked out of the window...Signs, indicating that MA was indeed behind the clouds, well on her mission. The story teller in me had awakened albeit temporarily.
The skies are clear in the day and overcast in the evenings. The sun is playing hide and seek. I looked out of the window...Signs, indicating that MA was indeed behind the clouds, well on her mission. The story teller in me had awakened albeit temporarily.
Elsewhere from different parts of the state to which I owe my upbringing, artisans were giving the final touches. Starting Amavasya day the long festival begins with the rendition of the Mahalaya Chandi Path. Friends invite one another for manjal kumkumam . It is an opportunity to dress up in shimmering silks and beautiful jewellery. It is that time of the year to go traditional and keep our culture alive. Guests are welcomed with Jasmine flowers and a fruit drink. Nowadays it is common to treat guests to a mixed platter of sundal, a special sweet and a tasty snack such as sevai bonda and vadai.
It is also that time of the year when the artisans are out to earn their livelihood. We have a responsibility to support their livelihood. I have to necessarily step out and go inside the bazaar, into the mada streets in Mylapore.
We are duty bound to support the artisans. We do that in our own interest and in order to further their interests, we have to compulsively shop till we drop. That is how my golu has evolved over the years.
This is when I spend without thinking twice, because I know that this exercise can never be futile. It will certainly entail a few visits to fill my cart, an addition to the wardrobe and the overhead lofts but any accumulation that satisfies the inner self, satisfaction stemming from the fact that acts of purchasing are acts of kindness and reasons for smiles, is a sure sign of spiritual advancement.
Expenditure classified as justified, therefore, raises the happiness quotient to a level from where more than being satisfied with one’s own way of working, acknowledging and encouraging talent becomes the prime objective of the exercise with selfies taking a back seat, in favour of pictures of handlooms, handicrafts and artisans. Golu raises the happiness quotient. Golu brings people across all walk of life togetrher. Golu fosters good will and sisterhood.
When Shakti, all pervading, in the form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy is set to arrive, bringing festive cheer to homes across the world, isn't it our foremost duty to welcome her with tasty sundal, colourful lights, festoons and golu bommais ?
"Learn a lesson from the clay ," my mother says."Life is not a bed of roses but you have the power and the strength to mould it as you wish. Lead a pious life and be flexible.Try to be as eco friendly as possible. Our Earth is rich in resources. Use the resources carefully. The Earth is sacred ,and worship Bhoomi Ma." she would go on....
She would repeatedly say...
"So ! Give the Golu an eco touch.
Decorate the steps with mud dolls and wooden dolls.Remember to connect with the earth .We rise from dust to go back to dust. " her words were ringing in my ears.
Thank Goddess, but for her where would we be ? But for her strong presence in each one of us as an inner voice, where would we be ? "
Thank Goddess, but for her where would we be ? But for her strong presence in each one of us as an inner voice, where would we be ? "
The steps assembled, neatly covered and dolls set in their rightful positions Golu begins.
Her words are ringing in my ears.
"Place the kalash first on Amavasya and the mara pachi dolls to rest first on Vijaya Dashami before bringing down all the dolls on Ekadasi," saying Mother Goddess placed her arms around me and held me tight.
"I am waging a war ," she says today. "Righteousness will triumph. The guilty will be punished," she added...
Woah ! The timing couldn't have been more perfect ! I thought....
At a time, when the spiritual mood is euphoric, as the verses from Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam echo in my ears, my unflinching faith in the power of the divine Mahisasuramardini gets firmly reinforced yet again........
