Navratri - preparations

Always making a list will ease your work stopping the last minute running around or anything getting missed out.

Rangoli / Kolam :-  This is the first thing that catches the attention of the guests. So plan & keep a chart of rangoli / kolam that you may like to draw. If you wish you can even make it in a plate in advance & display it.

You can check the dot, spiral, geometrical padi kolams in the kolam section of my hobby lounge. You can see it under the 'Kolam /Rangoli' label on the right hand column display.

Refreshment to offer first to the guests :-   Once your guest arrive, you offer them Chandan, kum kum. Then comes light beverage for refreshment.

1. Panagam 
2. Lemon Juice
3. Buttermilk / sambharam
4. Lemon + mint juice
5. Diluted milk with crushed banana pieces & elachi powder
6. Iced tea (available ready in bottled form)
7. Watermelon juice
8. Any other juices of your choice

(tip : when you offer sweet juice, very lightly moist the mouth of the glass, in a plate put some black salt and dip the mouth of the glass in it so that the salt get coated around the mouth. This will give a nice taste to the juice when sipped)

Offerings  - neivedhyam & Prashad

Things you should keep in mind :-

1. Make one sweet item after every 2nd day of the 9 days of navatri celebration

2. Make one sweet on Friday

3. Don't use onion on for the festive preparations

1. Black Chana (karupu kondai kadalai / blak chick pea) - [Video recipe available here]
2. Kabuli channa (Kondai kadalai chundal) - salt  - [Video recipe available here]
3. Green Gram (sweet - using Jaggery) - [Video recipe available here]
4. Green Gram (Salt)
5. Pattaani (vatana / dried yellow pea) - [Video recipe available here ]
6. Moong dal (sweet or salt) - pasi paruppu
7. Sweet Rice Puttu - [Video recipe available here]
8. Curd Rice
9. Cow peas (karamani / Lobiya) -  sweet chundal [Video recipe available here]
10. Cow peas (Karamani / Lobiya) - Salt chundal
11. Kadalai paruppu (channa dal) - [Video recipe available here]
12. Green peas (fresh or dried) - salted
13. Rajma (salted or sweet)
14. Groundnut (avoid onion)
15. Ghee Appam (nei appam)
16. Nei Payasam / Ghee payasam
17. Milk Kheer (paal payasam)
18. Atta ka halwa (Kada Prasad) - [Video reecipe available here]

PS : You can even make a mix match of sundal & variety rices (curd rice, lemon rice, tamarind rice, coconut rice) 

Tempering for the salted sundals / salads  will be

1. oil + hing powder + mustard seeds
2. Oil + mustard seeds + urad + hing powder
3. Oil + mustard seeds + hing powder + Red Chilli Flakes

Masalas :- (Grind it coarsely without water)

1. grated coconut + green chilli + ginger
2. Grated coconut + Red Chilli (fried in oil
3. Grated coconut + Green Chilli
4. Red chilli + Dhania seeds + grated coconut  (fry dhania, red chilli in little oil before grinding)

So alter the tempering items & masals to give a different taste each day

For Sweet items :-

1. Dissolve jaggery in water, filter to remove impurities, add cardamom powder.
2. Use ghee which will enhance the taste of the sweet item

• You can offer the neivedhyams to God early & pack them in compact paper packs by placing it on cling film & wrap using a paper / disposable paper containers (avoid plastics for go green measure) so that you can offer it to your guests while they leave

• Take help of your kids or friends to pack the prashad, to arrange the tamboolam (betel leaves, haldi, kumkum, banana, betel nut, flowers) so that you will get sufficient time attending your guest.

A little planning & preparation will help you make a good host.


You may check out my earlier posts  :-

1. Golu Ideas

2. Park - suggestions 

3. Gift Ideas

Happy Navratri

Jai Mata Di

Navratri / Golu Gift Ideas

Coming to the gift part, first and foremost thing I would like to stress is 'Gift' is not important for a celebration. The boosting of spirit & sweet memories are the best gifts you can give your guests as a wonderful Host.

Still sharing some ideas if you desire to gift. 

Few points before you buy a gift:-

• Plan it as per your budget.
• Prepare a list of Guest whom you expect will attend the golu so that accordingly you can decide on the suitable gift for them
• Seasonal gifts

Image courtesy : Google Search

SPIRITUAL GIFTS :-

1. Idols of deities
2. Mythological / Spiritual stories
3. Decorative items for deities (for those who conduct poojas)viz.,  garlands, vagamalai, throne, seat, Umbrella, Thombai, etc (you can google to see the pictures to get an idea on what they are) - Crochet Toran, Crochet Garland  for deities 
4. Small dresses & jewelleries for small idol of gods etc
5. Brass items viz., urulis, etc. 

Thombai : ,    Umbrella :
Vagamalai : ,  small Urulis : 

FANCY / DECOR ITEMS :-

1. A stone studded kum kum chests  
2. Tamboolam set or Aarati Plates  [plate, kum kum, haldi, lamp (fixed) ] This will help the receiver to use for their poojas.
3. Wooden covered agarbathi stand cum box (it will be nice to see the smoke coming out of the holes, the ash falls into the box thus helps for easy cleaning)
4. Imitation jewellery sets, pendants
5. Fancy Bangles
6. If the guest also keeps golu, find some unique dolls & gift them or festoons for decorations
7. Fancy house decor items viz., vase, fengsui dolls etc
8.  Thorans / door hangings
9. Fruit Basket / bread Basket
10. Table place mats, coasters
11. Doilies
12. Indoor Plants which comes in small pots
13. Cosmetics
14. Antique look alike pieces

SEASONAL GIFTS  :-

1. Fancy Diya sets (lamps) -will be put to use for the oncoming deepavali festival  
2. Christmas tree ornaments
3. Books - story, good housekeeping, tips n tricks, etc.
4. Home made chocolates in personalised wraps
5. Kolam books
6. Rangoli Powders
7. Art & craft kits

 OTHERS:-

1. Stationery items for kids
2. Recipe books (you can make your own & gift too)
3. Fancy Cloth / jute bags (as a part of go green measure to help them shop)
4. Your personalised art & craft gifts

I will keep updating various things as and when they come to my mind. In the meantime, you may also check the following posts on navratri / golu.

Navratri Chundal varities (Sundal)

Sweet Puttu

Navratri / Golu


Navratri Golu Ideas


Navratri Preparation

Park - tips & suggestions

Happy Navratri

Jai mata di

Navratri Golu Ideas

• There are variety of themes available from traditional to modern world viz., on saints / devotees, Temples, village life, Mythological stories, Pilgrimage, Festivals, On specific deities, Go Green, Good Thoughts, Mountains, Rivers, Clay works, Wood Works, Art & Craft etc

• You can use idols, pictures or drawings / paintings by you or by your kids or a mixture of it to display the themes

• Use a light shaded background on steps etc so that it gives clarity to your display. White or off white is the best colour for this purpose.

• Instead of going for electric illumination go for Oil Lamps or Candles to give a classic effect

• You can hang a nice saree or netted shiney duppatta material available for decoration to decorate the centre background wall going to the two sides of the golu steps.

• You can let your kids make paper butterfly and stick it here n there. Involve them in decorative works as it will also keep them engaged and let them knowledge of the tradition & golue arrangement - a helping hand for you. 

• You can make kolams in thermacol or plastic plates for each day and keep on display.  Also discuss some topics on different types of kolams (dry flour, wet flour, spirals, dotted, geometrical, various types of rangoli etc).

• Flowers floating in water along with some candles also bring a beauty to your arrangement

• If you or your children has talents like singing, dancing, story telling etc you as a colony of people can come together and arrange functions by 8 pm to bring out their talents, award each kid. Light refreshments can be distributed between various families for each day thus bring equal participation & involvement.

• If you or your children know art & craft works. Let them teach it to those who are interested to learn (elders & kids). This will make the celebration more interesting.

• Play some light classical instrumentals in the background to lit up the ambience.

• Make sure you have one senior citizen from your neighbouhood (you can bring them together and plan for it) to be present everyday evening to tell mythological stories.

• Make yourself available or your kids to give a warm welcome to the guests. A smile & welcome makes the occasion inviting.

• Offering sacred things like chandan, kum kum be given to kids.

• Plan a evening celebration exclusively for :- (never forget to invite the those living in single in all the below celebration)

1. senior citizens
2. Kids
3. Wives
4. Husbands
5. Family get together

• Make sure every night after the traditional golu poojas & visiting hours you along with neighbours or your building / colony people come together & spend some quality time together. It strengthen the relationships. Moreover such celebrations will help you get introduced to any new comers in your colony / building. 

• If celebration happens as a community, together then expenses can be shared & joy increases. Binds the relationship & cultivate good habits & tradition to the young generation. 

Do check some more navratri / golu suggestions :-
 
Navratri / Golu


Navratri Preparation

Navratri Golu Ideas

 

Park - tips & suggestions

Wish you all a happy navratri.

Jai mata di

Tips/ Suggestions for parks - Navratri Golu

To a normal golu, some creativity, add-ons makes it interesting and an unique one. Park near golu padi attracts everyone's attention. Children crowd around it, like a bee attracted to honey. I am sharing the tips which i saw my mother doing for our golu park during my school days. As we didn't have camera that time and the family i am married into don't have the golu tradition, i am unable to post any pictures to show you the sample.

Basic Things you need for a miniature Park,

1. Sand
2. A bogini / cylinderical vessel
3. Small miniature dolls according to the theme
4. Ragi sprouts and mustard seeds
5. Mustard Sprouts
6. Ice cream / popsicle sticks
7. Small Rectangular chip tiles - to use as step on hills
8. Burnt paddy skins / உமிக் கரி - or you can get the rice skin from shop and burn it & coarsely powder it for making roads. or use used coffee and tea powder after drying them.

Mark a corner near the golu padi which will be safe and undisturbed. Clean the area, Spread the sand evenly. Select your theme. We did mixed theme hence there is a hill with temple on top, below one part is forest area with wild animals, one is a residential area, one side restaurant, one side Pond with aquatic animals.

1. Mountain/Hill : Take a vessel fill it with sand, place it in the part wherever you want the hill to be, completely cover it with sand till the sand heaps on top of the vessel looks like a peak of a mountain. Keep it on a corner of the park. pour sand over it till the vessel is completely buried under sand. Sprinkle some water to keep the sand intact.
2. Decide which theme occupy which place 
3. For temple on top of mountain : place miniature temple creating a base. Place the small rectangular chip tiles as steps leading to the temple at top. small miniature dolls can be placed on the steps here and there to show people climbing up or down. Cars or bullock carts can be placed at the foothill from where you can mark the roads using burnt paddy crop skins.
4. Lake : In the marked place,slightly remove sand, place a blue plastic sheet over which keep a flat bottomed wide mouthed small glass tray  (like a circular fruit tray) and level the sand around it. carefully fill water inside it. Float the miniature aquatic animals, boats etc. in it. Amphibians can be also placed near the bank to give it a real life habitat look. 
5. Green effect : Make this arrangement two or three days prior to kolu if you want it to look green right from first day, or just make it a day before so that each day with the growth of ragi plants, the park will have different effect. soak ragi two days prior to kolu, drain and and let it sprout. these sprouts can be sprinkled evenly on the land and  on the mountain/hill. Where you want forest, sprinkle some ragi as well as mustard seeds. Don't forget to sprinkle water over the sprouts every day. just sprinkle little water every morning and evening.
6. For Flower bed look, colour the ear buds and plant them in bunch properly on a area where no need for sprinkling much of water.
7. Plant the dolls, houses, & other items as per your theme in their place. 
8. Make fence at the end using ice cream sticks / popsicle stick.
9. For a change even chettiar set can be placed near the mountains and with few hut like dolls, can create a village effect.
10. Urili or good plastic tubs / glass bowls filled with water and floating floral arrangements can be made. 
11. For Roads in parks, you can collect and dry the used tea / coffee residues or umi kari (burnt paddy skins). and keep some vehicle toys.
12. small pebbles and stones can be partially burried amidst the grass. (ragi sprouts)

We can explain to children about the importance of man in living in harmony with nature and their fellow living beings viz., (animals, plants, birds, etc), going green, importance of wildlife, etc.

Let us try to be close to nature as nearly as possible by bringing out a natural greenery inside our kolus, our homes, this year and every year with some creative changes!

You may also like to check out the following posts :

Navaratri Chundal Varieties (Sundal)

Navratri / Golu

Navratri Golu Ideas

Navratri / Golu GIFT ideas

Navratri Preparation

Happy Navratri.