Patti danda gejje vastra for Navratri

For festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi ( Vinayaka Chavithi ) traditionally we use turmeric powder for cotton garland for festivals like Navratri and Varalakshmi Vratham we use kumkum  I have shared images using turmeric powder .  We have to replace it with kumkum .  Mix it in rose water as we say.  It is available in small plastic bottles in any shop

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For Navratri and Varalakshmi Vratham we make 25 spheres out of the cotton and for Naga Chaturthi and Ganesh Chaturthi we make 21 spheres.  This garland is a variation of the traditional gejje vastra we use for Pooja to make it suitable for festival decoration in tune with modern trends.

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After making the spheres , fold into two such that any two spheres are placed side by side as shown in the photo below.  Apply glue between both the spheres and paste decorative trinkets so that the cotton garland becomes one.

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Now the two edges of the garland usually may not stick to the image or doll of God or Goddess.
So what we do is we dip cotton ball dipped in kumkum mixed in water and press them to both ends gently.  The garland is then lifted and pressed on the image of God so that it garland stays. 
Since cotton is light and the trinkets we use are light this should be sufficient, the second image below shows how it is done.

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Another idea for a cotton mala ( these decorations are part of Varalakshmi Pooja vidhanam and Navratri festival ). Make a traditional cotton garland. 

1. Cut so that we get two ball pieces.
2.  Paste three such pieces one above the other at different angles
3. Stick kundan or chamki for more beauty
4.  We get flower like shapes
5.  Stick the flowers to a base to get a garland

The pictures below should make the steps clear.
A simple craft idea and beautiful too !

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Make a traditional cotton garland or hara

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Cut to get two ball elements as shown in the image
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Stick them as shown in the the next two photos
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Stick chamki or kundan to enhance the beauty and a cotton flower

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Stick the flowers on a golden lace which acts as base
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Why cotton garlands for Pooja

There is a tradition of offering vastra or new clothes to the images of God in our Pooja vidhanam.  Symbolically we offer cotton as the new vastra and hence the traditional gejja vastra or patti danda are offered .  Over a period of time the traditional cotton garland has diversified due to our interest in making more beautiful decorations for Pooja.

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