Thanjavur: Come Navaratri, it is time for kolu, not only in houses in Thanjavur district but also in temples. Goddess Periyanayagi will be in various ‘alankarams’ during ‘Navaratri’ at the Big temple. This year ‘Navaratri’ festival at the temple started on Wednesday when Periyanayagi was in ‘Manonmani alankaram’. On Thursday, She was in ‘Meenakshi alankaram’. Hundreds of people witnessed the ‘alankaram’ and worshipped the goddess.
According to archakas in the temple, Periyanayagi will be in ‘Sadas alankaram’ on Friday, ‘Gayathri alankaram’ on Saturday, ‘Annapurani alankaram’ on Sunday, ‘Gajalakshmi alankaram’ on Monday, ‘Saraswathi alankaram’ on Tuesday, ‘Rajarajeswari alankaram’ on Wednesday, Mahishasuramardhini on Thursday when the Goddess will be in the form of slaying Mahishasuran and ‘Vijayadasami alankaram’ on Friday.
The South zone cultural centre has arranged cultural programmes every evening. Archakas said that it took three hours to do the ‘alankaram’ every day to the six feet tall Amman, who looked gracious and beautiful after the ‘alankarams’ are completed.
‘Kolu’ has also been arranged at Punnainallur Mariamman Kovil and at Adhikumbeswaraswamy temple at Kumbakonam. Goddessess in these
temples will be taken in procession on Vijayadasami day and a function called ‘flinging arrows’ will take place symbolising slaying of the demon Mahishasuran.
