Kolam by Sudha Balaji

For Navaratri and Friday Pooja more emphasis is given to kuthu vilakku .  The decoration of the vilakku varies from family to family.  I share how it is being done in our family for the past many decades. On Thursday, the kuthu vilakku is cleaned and washed thoroughly ( along with other lamps ). It is tradition to place the kuthu vilakku on a plate so that excess oil if any is collected in it and the Pooja mandapam is not affected by oil. Sandal wood paste is mixed with rose water and applied on the five faces of the kuthu vilakku and also on the top.    Then turmeric powder and kumkum are applied over the sandal wood paste. Five wicks are placed on the five faces and then oil is filled.  Some have the tradition of filling oil and then placing the wicks.  What I follow is better because oil may stick to our fingers when we place the wicks after filling the oil.  The wicks are then dipped in the oil so that it easier for the ...

Navaratri is celebrated on the next day after Mahalaya Amavasaya , called Padwa. On  Pattimai as we say in Tamil all the dolls are taken out from the loft where we usually store them safely.The dolls are cleaned well after removing the protective cloth we cover them with The steps are arranged in odd numbers 3,5,7,9 or even 11 according to the space available. Lord Ganesha dolls are kept at the top on the first step. Dolls of other Gods are also kept on the first step On the second step dolls of Dasavatharam, Rama with Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman are kept. On the third step dolls of Gurus like Raghavendra Swami, Sai Baba, Sankracharya , Mahaperiyava, Swami Vivekananda are kept Kalasam is on the third step ( Kalasam is a small silver or brass vessel decorated with a fruit like pomegranate or moosambi with a flower on the top.  Betel leaves are inserted on either side of the fruit. It is not necessary that we use coconut for the kalasam for this festival If we have three step...