Navaratri (Dusshera) is one of the important festivals for Hindus. On these 9 days, Durga maatha and other avatars of Ambaal are worshipped. While in Bengal and in North India, people celebrate by having Pandals and Garba dance, in Tamilnadu, people celebrate it by having Golu at their home and invite neighbours, friends and families to participate. Temples too celebrate it in a grand manner by having Golu at temple premises, “abhishekam” and special “alangaaram” for Amman everyday during this period.
This year(2021), I was fortunate to witness the celebration at Karaikal. Karaikal is home to Karaikal Ammaiyaar, the only women Nayanmaar. This year too, Karaikal Ammiyar temple has setup a large Golu and stalls depicting various “purana” incidents. Not only Karaikal Ammiyar temple, other temples in Karaikal like Kailasanathar Kovil, Perumal Kovil (both of them near by Karaikal Ammaiyaar temple) also celebrate the festival in a grand manner by elaborate alangaaram and abhishekam for Ambaal.
Incase if you are planning to visit Karaikal during the Navaratri period, do not miss to have darshan of Golu and they deity in those temples. Below are few pictures taken yesterday. I was also informed that this years celebrations are subdued due to covid. Else there will be cultural programs everyday during the Navaratri period.
Life & Thoughts of Hariharan Anantharaman 