NAVARATRI 2023

 Navaratri chants......

Navaratri celebrations are always special for Indians delightful memories,

watery mouths, graceful dance inside a decorated divine home.

 

For south buddies especially Keralalites it’s the day of the Pooja holiday. Where we younger

ones place the books and other knowledge carriers in front of our Saraswati Amma.

Chanting mantras for refreshment and for gaining the spirits to achieve more focus on

our learning abilities.

Amma was busy with her pooja preparations in the shop purchasing fruits,

aval(dried form of rice), Pori, sugarcane, raisins, rose water, perfuming incense sticks

and other decorating items for creating an energetic divine experience.

The energetic minds and peaceful bodies for a precious restart for the next year. 

She kept her tools of stitching by wishing for a bright work experience and consistency.

As a person recently dedicated to social media YouTube videos, I have become aware of the deep and cheerful Navaratri days. As we all know all we Indians have varying customs in a wide shade bonded inside an umbrella.

Throwback

At this annual ceremony, I remember my Priya teacher who is famous in the school for asking questions every day. She says “There is no need for you guys to have a pooja holiday all the days you celebrate by keeping your books closed in front of Devi” with her naughty white face.

whereas my brother and I had decorated our space and beautifully placed

each fruit in front of the idols and

kept the stack of books wrapped in newspaper.

The lights of Deepa and the fragrance of rosewater, Chandanam,

Kumkuma and Incense stick

made the home feel like the divine vibes of temples. 

My brother repeatedly asked me “I looked at my phone and read the text.

Are there any problems?” and Amma with her yelling face “If I tell you to learn some chapters you are

least concerned and it’s not the time to read means your temptation is at its peak”.

 We were jovial to engage in pooja work but the only sad thing remained unchanged that we

missed due to the heavy rain. The eye-decorating Bomma Golu (orderly positioned idols based on a storytelling narration) and sweet story narrations from epics with Laddoos and snacks we used to see in a neighbouring house of Sheeba Aunty.  

We became and we felt special through the delightful moments of Navatari.