Navaratri 2025 @ Sobha Palladian

 

Ten Days / 10 Intense chanting sessions /  16 hosts /  40++ participants!

That sums up the Navaratri 2025 celebrations in Sobha Palladian!!

Hindu religion has a wide range of festivals, traditions and rituals. Many of them have survived over centuries and many still retain the essentials in  rigor, bhakti and enthusiasm  with which they are practised & celebrated today.

Given the diversity of India, the various states, religion, language and cultures and the great many intellectual leaders  and religious people who were born and preached from these places, we literally have thousands of festivals and traditions.

The Cultural committee has done a wonderful job in celebrating a few popular festivals like the recently conducted ONAM and Ganesh Chaturthi  and Holi, Deepavali, Christmas events in a grand scale.  However, it is impossible to give prominence and celebrate every other festival we have in india.

 

So, it is left to smaller groups to take up the baton and organise and observe other traditions , like Saraswati Puja,  Karva Chauth, Golu & Navaratri. And what motivates folks to attend these festivities is not just their devotion but also the delicious prasadams and bhog that are distributed.

Golu and Navaratri tradition has been practised every year since the early residents moved into SP.  A few families put up a grand display of ‘Golu Bommai’ each year.

 

Navratri is traditionally celebrated over nine days, concluding with Dussehra or Vijayadashmi.

The word Navratri means nine nights. During this period , people worship nine different forms of Goddess Durga. Each day is dedicated to a different avatar of the goddess like Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, and so on.

 

Devotees observe fasts, wear different colored clothes each day, and take part in Garba and Dandiya Raas, which are traditional dance forms.

In South, we celebrated with Golu – a colorful display of idols and dolls.

 And as per South Indian tradition we celebrated each day with the chanting of ‘Lalitha Sahasranamam’.

Each day one resident hosted the chanting session in their home and also distributed prasadam at the end of the session.

 

This time the response was overwhelming. While the core group consists of around 12 regulars, this year we had more than 25 attendees each day. And the enthusiasm and devotion and the chorus recital of Lalitha Sahasranamam was amazing!

People turned up and were seated on time – 100%

The Lalitha Sahasranamam chanting starred on-the-dot at 4.30 PM each day.

People wore the specified colored attiire each day as specified.  Bright, vibrant &  colourful pattu (silk) sarees with matching jewellery & accessories.

And if one were to roughly compute the prices of all the sarees and jewellery worn over these ten days, the amount would easily fetch an apartment in Sobha Palladian !!

And here is a snapshot of each day’s happenings…..

Day 1 @ Seshambal & Prabha’s. # 2051

Dress color : White / Ivory.  White – For Peace & purity

Pratipada Puja for Maa Shailiputri

Prasadam : Black chana shundal and Mysuru Pak !

Shaila means mountain and putri means daughter. Since Goddess Parvati is the daughter of the Mountain God, she is given importance on this day.

And as we enter their apartment, we are greeted by a wonderful Golu display. A twin tower Golu, 5 steps each displaying all the traditional dolls.  

Check out the beautiful Tanjavur paintings on the wall and the bright red saree clad ‘KuttuVilllakku’ (Blass lamp) in the centre of the two towers.

And the first day of Navaratri started on a strong note.  We had a house-full attendance !!

And for more photos ....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cDoAU475Hfzx46b1A

Day 2 @ Jayashree’s (4041), co-hosted by Preeti (1061) & Vinaya(1063)

Dress color : Red.  Red – For Energy, & strength 

Dwitiya  Puja for Maa Brahmacharini

Prasadam : Badam milk, Kabuli chana shundal & Assorted Indian sweet packet from Asha sweets !

Goddess Brahmacharini is a form of Durga Devi and she is the one who reduces anger. Hence, the second day is dedicated to this Goddess.

Day 2 @ Jayashree’s home was red in full bloom !

Gorgeous silk sarees covered every inch of her hall!

More Photos ??  Check them out .....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KN8QUHm1pcKZyLGT7

Day 3 @ Dhyuti & Mohana’s # 4055

Dress color : Blue.   Royal Blue –  For Courage & protection 

Tritiya  Puja for Maa Chandraghanta

Prasadam:  Masala Milk, Pattani  shundal (green peas)  & Occarai (a Tirunelveli speciality sweet made from Bengal gram, jaggery) !

It is believed that Mata Chandraghanta  has a third eye and fights against evil demons. During puja, jasmine flowers are offered to please her. 

Here again we saw a splendid array of dolls in a seven step Golu. 

Along with the traditional figures of gods and goddesses and the mandatory social themes there were two ‘Annex’.  One depicting Bhakt Prahalad enduring the atrocities showered on him by hi s father Hiranyakashapu and  the second, Hanuman’s visit to Sri Lanka.

If you look carefully, you can spot Ravana’s durbar where Hanuman towers over him sitting on his giant coiled tail, the Ram-Sethu with Hanuman carrying Ram & Lakshman on his shoulder,  & the Ashoka Van to name a few.

Well depicted scenes – especially the small water tank where Asuras try to drown Bhakt Prahalad !!

And the Marapachhi Bommai, the musicians and the Amul baby / the saree clad Kuttuvilakku &  and the Kolam on water!

And the ladies in Blue turned up in encouraging numbers .

And for more photos …

https://photos.app.goo.gl/M6uep5tsi7FjJkvi6

Day 4 @ Jayashree’s hosted by Ranju (3066) & Ruchika(3024)

Dress color : Yellow  . Yellow – For Happiness & positivity

Chaturthi  Puja for Maa Kushmanda

Prasadam :  Masala Milk, Sabudana Khichri, Suji halwa

This day is dedicated for Goddess Kushmanda. Her name means ‘cosmic egg’ and she is known to spread energy and warmth to everyone.

 
And once again Jayashree’s home was jam packed. And this time the fiery red was replaced with golden yellow !

Check it out ??

 https://photos.app.goo.gl/cLrgSkJsTZovvvhD6

Day 5 @ Jayanthi’s # 2001

Dress color : Green    For Prosperity & growth

Panchami  Puja for Maa Skandamata

Prasadam :  Kabuli Chana , South Indian Rava Kesari

Mata Skandamata is one who rules over Budh (planet Mercury). She is revered as praised for both fierce and loving.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6rrENqipctmcA34j9

Day 6 @ Nirmala’s # 3002

Dress color : Grey     Grey – For Stability & wisdom

Sashtami :Maa Katyayani Puja.

Prasadam :  Dry fruit payasam, Pattani (Chickpeas) shundal, sweet appam&  Maa laddoo.

 A mega 9-step Golu invites all the participants into Nirmala’s home.

This Golu transports us form the beginning of time with Brahma, Vishnu , Shiva and follows thru the Matsya avatar to Kalki avatar age.

And it traces the evolution of India’s Space program.

Remember Nirmala works for ISRO and was one of the lead scientists involved int the recent successful Chandrayaan mission.

On 14 July 2023, Chandrayaan-3 was successfully launched on LVM3 and was inserted in the lunar sphere of gravitational influence on 5 August 2023.^[51] On 23 August 2023, the lander Vikram successfully soft landed in the lunar south pole region, achieving humanity's first soft landing in the region and making India the fourth country to soft land on the Moon after Soviet Union, United States and China

In this Golu you can see the very first attempt where a rocket was hauled on a bullock cart on Trivandrum beach for it test launch.  Yes, you can see the bullock cart!

And ISRO’s vision for 2025 and beyond!  And the father of Indian Space Mission Dr Vikram Sarabhai watches this display from above !

Our salute to Nirmala plus Kalai (3005)  & Kiruba (5016)  for their contribution to our space program!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7Qny5Ms3x5BHuQhCA

  

Day 7 @ Jayashree Nataraj’s  # 1031

Dress code : Orange    Orange – For Power &  enthusiasm

Saptami. Maa Kalaratri Puja

Prasadam :   Daliya-Coconut milk  payasam, Kadala parupppu shundal

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DSzqVvYgoBs5BJmu6

Day 8 @ Janhavi’s (5001), co-host Sangeeta Mahadevan (5024)  

Dress color :  Peacock Green      Peacock Green – For Harmony & balance

Ashtami         Maa Mahagauri   Saraswati Avahan, Mahagauri Puja, Sandhi Puja

 Prasadam: Kabuli Chana Shundal, Hayagreeva (made from Yellow channa dal, jaggery , grated coconut, nutmeg & cardamom) – some what similar to ‘puran poli’ fillings. And the famous Big Mishra Dharwad peda pack.

A beautiful and intricately decorated Mahalaksmi Idol adorns the Puja shelf.

This is the Kolhapur Mahalakshmi (also called Ambabai, consort of Lord Venkateshwara). Kolhapur is one of the major shakti peetam.  

People believe that a visit to Kolhapur Mahalakshmi temple is compulsory after visiting Tirupati.

The temple thoughtfully provides a darshan of Tirupati too !! As we walk along in Q towards the sanctum sanctorum, we pass by a small shrine of Tirupati Venkateshwara. We take his blessings before entering the Mahalakshmi shrine.

Once again, the room is packed, this time in peacock bule sarees.

And the patio came to life with bright smiling faces!!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bYPSNnBm2cvmWwEn6

  Day 9 @ Padma’s #5031, co hosted with Moti Sai Vasudevan

Dress color :   Pink  for Love & devotion

Navami     Maa Siddhidatri   Durga Ashtami,

Prasadam Multigrain Shundal, Aravana payasam, Jackfruit payasam.  Organic laddoos and ribbon pakoda.  Jack fruit came from Padma’s own estate.

Goddess Kamakshi flanked by Gaja Lakshmi (left) and Saraswati (right)

Check out the simple, elegant South Indian traditional Yezha Kolam ( geometric curves drawn with Rice paste).

Yezhai Kolam – not to be confused with the popular Christmas song ….

https://in.video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=yezhai+kolam+song&type=E210IN1357G0#id=1&vid=2a61372fa8bcc9d6056402977f6a49c1&action=click

 And we had full attendance – The seniors and the smiling young@hearts !

Check out more photos @ https://photos.app.goo.gl/6BcxbAjymJqvGeVWA

 Day 10 @ Aparajita’s

We concluded on Saraswati Puja  day with the chanting of Lalitha Sahasranamam followed Durga Saptha Shloki.

Prasadam    Groundnut Shundal, Red rice milk payasam.

 Many of us performed Saraswati Puja as well as Ayudhha Puja.

And at Sobha Palladian, the MC team and all the support staff performed Saraswati Puja at the MC room.

 The entire 10 day event was meticulously compiled and directed by Ms Seshambal Satyavasu, who also was the prime lead for the chanting sessions. And apart from leading the weekly chanting sessions she has also conducted regular classes in Narayaneeyam, Bhagavat Gita and Sundarakandam .

Little Ashvika (Ammu, 2054))  led the tradition of singing a song at the end of each chanting session.  Many others followed with enthusiasm and bhakti.

Little Varnika (Leela’s daughter) sang the geetam Shree Gananatha along with Ammu.

Prabha, Sukanya, Ashalatha, Harsha, Sandhya, Moti Sai Vasudevan , Akila (Padma’s sister) and one special invitee @ Nirmala’s, sang  many devotional songs to mark the end of each session.

Another highlight was the superb rendition of  Shree Suktam & Durga Suktam   by mother & daughter duo – Sangeeta & Anuradha.  Amazing performance!!  

Ms Jayashree Srinivasan encouraged many of her friends and initiated them into attending the Navaratri events and they participated enthusiastically. She also co-hosted a few of them in her chanting sessions – Preeti, Vinaya, Ranju & Ruchika Sunil. Our thanks to Jayashree for her enthusiasm and initiatives.

And I must recognise  the super-seniors who regularly attend our weekly chantings without fail.  Thank you for your support, encouragement and your blessings.

And of course, a big thank you to all the participants for turning up in such encouraging numbers each day and making this event very memorable.

The daily Google photo albums will preserve these moments!   

Wishing all of you an abundance of new learnings, knowledge and wisdom !

Stay Healthy & God Bless!

Jayanthi / Krish// 2001 SP

2 Oct 2025