Navratri Kolu Festival 2008 - Durga Puja - Dandia

Navratri Festival - Festival of Nine Nights (Nav - Nine Ratri - Night) often referred to as "Navratri Kolu Festival" major festival of Hindus celebrated by South Indian People. This festival is celebrated as "Durga Puja", "Dandia", "Dusshera or Dassera" by North Indian People. At Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, this festival is celebrating splendidly nine days every year. This year Navratri Kolu Festival begins on 30 September 2008 and ends on 9 October 2008.

Navratri Kolu Festival - Festival of Dolls. In the Second Pragaram of Meenakshi Amman Temple, the left side is fully decorated with color lights and various dolls and on the right side so many vahanas referred as vehicles carrying God and Goddess during festivals or utsavams are standed. Apart from this the whole Meenakshi Amman Temple towers (Gopurams) and Golden Lotus Tank are illuminated with color lights which looks like the heaven in the earth.

Significance of Navratri:

1st day to 3rd day of Navratri - Dedicated to Durga Matha (Durga Puja), Goddess of Power and Energy
4th day t0 6th day of Navratri - Dedicated to Lakshmi Matha (Lakshmi Pooja), Goddess of Wealth
7th day to 9th day of Navratri - Dedicated to Saraswati Matha (Saraswathi Puja), Goddess of Knowledge and Intelligence
10th day - Vijayadasami, symbol of victory. On this occasion, Lord Rama killed Ravana. Goddess Durga killed the devil (Asura) Mahisasuran. Hence, most of the people wish to start the education of their children on this day which would bring the brainpower and knowledge.