Navratri, all dolled up

In Tamil culture, the nine days of Navratri are split into three parts, with the first three days dedicated to goddess Parvati, the next three to Lakshmi and the final three to Saraswati.  

According to Dr N. Krupanandam from the Hyderabad Maanagar Tamil Sangham, devotees divide their festivities between home and the temple, with the temple being the base for worshipping and performing pujas to the goddess’ avatars.

At home, Tamilians create their signature Kolu. This is a representation of Indian heritage, history and culture through miniature dolls, placed on an odd-numbered stepped platform. These can represent gods, but is also used to recreate classical and contemporary societies. These also serve as a context for the tradition of storytelling and handing down of cultural knowledge, with grandparents usually explaining what the Kolu represents.

Another tradition that’s widely followed here is the Kanya Puja, during which life is celebrated through the embodiment of the girl child.