CHENNAI: It is time for family and friends, where sundal and songs complement golu-hopping and worshipping the godesses in all their furious glory. During this festive season, Roshne Balasubramanian, Abinaya Kalyanasundaram and Sooraj R Mohan speak to the people of Chennai, to find out their best memories of Navaratri and what it means to celebrate the Dusshera holidays as a child, and how it has changed now.
Sriram, founder, Nalandaway foundation
I vividly remember setting up golu dolls in make-shift steps at home. Thengai mangani sundal is my favourite food during the season and my dress of choice is the traditional veshti sattai. When kids come home to sing during the festival, I always find it endearing. While dancing is a major part of the festival, I am not much of a party person and don’t know any Navaratri grooves. But, if there’s a song that I associate with the festival/would like to groove to — Mariamma mariamma from the film, Karagattakaran!
Kavithalaya Krishnan, theatre and film actor
My fondest memory of Navaratri is a train set I assembled along with my father when I was 10. He worked for the railways and, the train we assembled was tiny and had a very cute little engine; it became a part of our Navaratri celebrations! But the fun didn’t stop there. I used to love eating the green peas sundal (and still do!). Saraswathi Pooja is a day that we looked forward to because we didn’t have to study that day! Since we were a joint family, we all used to pluck flowers together and repeat the verses that my father used to chant. Navaratri was always about fun and being cheerful.
Srirama Santosh, founder, doodlemonk
What’s more special than having a family reunion, musical evening and delicious sundal, all together during one time of the year? That’s the Navaratri I can remember and thank god, amid so many changes around us, and with most things turning digital, the golus have not gone digital. That tradition is still alive! Though the different types of sundals and the delicious aval pori urundai make the season special and all about yummy food, for me it also gives a lot of positivity and good vibes. This year I have come out with a series of Navaratri doodles with a theme — ‘Eco friendly Navaratri’ — from serving the sundal in thonnai’s to decorating the house with mavilai thoranam, there is so much we can do. But this is what I love the most — asking friends who don’t know to sing, to sing when they come home! (laughs)
Anitha Kuppusammy, Tamil folk and Carnatic singer
My favourite part about Navaratri was a ride on the rattinam (the spinning wheel at Marina Beach). We are eight siblings and used to get very limited pocket money. Since I loved to take a ride on the rattinam again and again, I had to steal some coins. I used to hide them in my dress and once when I was talking to my grandparents and I got up to leave, all the coins fell down and it was such an embarrassing moment that I can never forget that.
Chinni Jayanth, actor-cum-mimicry artist
A three-step golu, with a ‘fenugreek park’, the Chettiyar and maligai kadai and lots of sundal is how I remember Navaratri. But when I was 7, my mother took me to a house opposite to Music Academy where I saw a 20-22 step golu! The house belonged to the legendary SS Vasan, which I realised only after I grew up. The nine-day Navaratri kutcheri in Kothamangalam Subbu’s house is another memory that is close to my heart. Though I love music, as a child when I was asked to sing a song in front of the golu dolls, I used to sing ‘Jack and Jill’ and, ‘Ringa Ringa Roses’ (laughs). Everyone used to laugh but, one can sing anything to get their hands on that hot sundal!
Ritika Kankani, fashion designer
Nine days of endless Dandiya fun and pooja excitement, is how I define Navaratri. My Navaratri memory is filled with those and the excitement we get when we look forward to dressing up for the night! I usually prefer short lehengas for the season, especially the ones where the anklet is shown. My favourite ritual is of course visiting the golus and I also like how aarti is done in North India.
Nina Reddy, JMD, Savera Hotels
My fondest memory of Navaratri is Bathkamma. In Hyderabad, where I grew up, we celebrate Navaratri differently. Bathkamma is the floral decoration of goddess Durga in turmeric. The women make them and dance around them singing devotional songs. Then we carry the idol to the nearest water stream and immerse it there. I still get excited when I dress for it. My favourite dish during this season are Pennies, Putharekulu, Garelu, and Sakinam
Sahithya Jagannathan, model and TV anchor
The most important part about Navaratri used to be the sundal. We used to plan and visit houses based on the best sundal we can expect! And since Navaratri is mostly for women, my brother would be left out in the process. So I always used to take home some sundal for him. This worked out for the best because when I would tell the women about this, they would give me extra! And I always used to be redeemed for it with chocolates from him (laughs).
Bhargav Prasad, columnist and blogger
My favourite Navaratri memory has been setting up an amusement park with hotwheels gear when I was nine. My favourite dishes have been contemporary sundals, like soya sundal, and paneer sundal. I like to dress not-for-the-occasion. You visit someone’s golu to contribute something: singing, photography, or dancing. I have only my poor taste in fashion to contribute and if dancing in the shower counts, then of course, I am a killer! (laughs)
Badrunnisa Mahadevan, social worker
Navratri is an expression of artistic skills. The most unforgettable and enjoyable part are the colourful golu on display. The radiant lights emitted from them literally speak to you. And of course the sweets, savouries and the lip-smacking sundal!
Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam, Carnatic vocalist
Navaratri is such a festive time in the country — I feel lost if I have to travel abroad during the festival. We always have Golu at my mother’s place. I love the Thanjavur bommai and the Chettiar bommai. I love dressing up the marapaachi bommai. Navaratri is a significant religious festival and it’s much easier to connect with the divine during this period. That makes it very special for me.
Haricharan Seshadri, playback singer
I started learning Carnatic music when I was 7. Navaratri was all about the customary visits to friends and houses. My duty was to go there and sing, sometimes for half an hour! I would sing any one of the Kamalambas, singing praises to Devi. And they used to give me all the snacks. As a musician, on Saraswathi pooja and Vijayadashami, we seek blessings from our Guru. We students sing songs in front of our guru, and he teaches us a new song. Of course, now after I got into films, Navaratri is totally different — it has become about dance, performances and a lot of grandeur.
Bhavna Balakrishnan, TV host
I have grown up enjoying Navaratri to its fullest. My family believed in telling stories through dolls and golu, and my parents always ensured there was a golu at home. I would learn a lot about all mythological stories. The day I used to dread was when my mom would make me wear paavadai sattai and take me to about 15 houses! The good things about it were the sundal and games with other kids, but the worst part...I was a dancer and learnt music, so every place I would have to sing. I would practice my golu songs one month before Navaratri! Vijayadashami was a nightmare! From 6.30 am, I would have go to all my classes with my mom — classical music, Bharatanatyam, casio, slogham class, and also school — it used to be ridiculous!