Festival Navarathri Poem by Indira Renganathan

Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi
Decked up glittering with prayers

Dining
On the top of nine steps
With their friendly celestial beings down
Respectively

Accompanying a band of humans
And super-humans, flora and fauna

Environmentally resourceful
Of hill, river, park, play-ground
Amazingly even a city
Neat like the old of new excavation

At a concert of wedding music
Braided long with Jasmine
Draped with silk skirt and saree
Bejewelled

Over a feast of 'Sundal' varieties
Blessing by turn of three days each
In nine days

Partying on the tenth, the 'weapon-day'
Over the victorious demon-slaughter
Goddess Mahishasuramarthini ventured


Note: Navaratri has been a historic tradition within Tamil Nadu,
with Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga goddesses the focus.
Like the rest of India, the festival has been an occasion for performance arts,
particularly Hindu temple dances such as Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam.


Another notable Tamil tradition is a celebration of the festival
with Golu dolls. These include gods, goddesses, animals, birds
and rural life all in a miniature design. People set up
their own creative themes in their homes, called Kolu,
friends and families invite each other to visit their homes
to view Kolu displays, then exchange gifts and sweets.

In temples of Tamil Nadu, Navaratri is celebrated for Devi's dwelling in each temple.
The temples are decorated, ceremonial lamps are lit, and Vedic chantings are performed.

Sundal is a snack made of pulses