FESTIVAL TIME IN INDIA. FROM 4TH OF OCTOBER TO 12TH OF OCTOBER, THERE IS FESTIVITY ALL AROUND. IT IS A FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, DANCE AND MUSIC. IN ALL THE HOMES OF TAMIL NADU, A SPECIAL GOLU IS DISPLAYED. GOLUS ARE PART OF OUR TAMIL CULTURE. YOU FIND ALL IDOLS. COLOURFUL. RECOLLECTING MYTHS, PURANAS, HISTORY AND WHAT NOT. SOME IDOLS ARE PORTRAYALS OF POLITICIANS. SOME MOCK THE PRESENT WAY OF OUR LIVES IN A LIGHTER VEIN. EVERY HOME HOSTS THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. EVERY GUEST PARTICULARLY LADIES AND CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO SING TO THE DELIGHT OF THE PEOPLE IN AND AROUND. ALL LADIES WEAR TRADITIONAL SAREES MOSTLY SILK. CHENNAI T.NAGAR WEARS A FESTIVAL LOOK. ALMOST ALL WOMEN BUY NEW SAREES EITHER IN SILK OR COTTON. KANJIVARAM, DHARMAVARAM, BENGAL SILK,MYSORE SILK APARNA, THIRUPUVANAM ARE THE BRAND IN SILK CHETTINADU COTTON, BENGAL COTTON, POLY COTTON, VENKATAGIRI SAREE, KANCHI COTTON, URAYUR COTTON, ARE SOME OF THE COTTON VARIETIES. THIS APART THE USUAL SYNTHETIC SAREES, CHINA SILK ETC., POLYSTER SAREES. At Chennai Silks, Pothys, SM Silks, Nallys, in T.Nagar,chennai, you may not believe that there is hardly enough space to stand. AT THE DOMESTIC FRONT, STEPS IN STEEL OR WOOD OR EVEN CARD BOARD BOXES ARE SO ARRANGED AS TO PLACE IDOLS .IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HOW TO PLACE KOLU YOU MAY VISIT WWW.PANCHANGAM.COM NAV RATHRI IN TAMIL NADU IS SOMETHING TO BE EXPERIENCED. Traditionally, children are dressed in wonderful costumes, to appear as Krishna, Aandal, murugan, dancing girl, etc., and go to the neighbouring houses to invite them to visit their homes during evening. When they invite their friends, they also hiss in their ears, what is the sundal in their homes, to make sure their visit. HOWEVER, WITH ALL DRESS AND DANCE, AND SONGS, what attracts more, invites more is the TASTY SUNDAL (FRIED GRAINS MIXED WITH SALT, CHILLI POWER OR PEPPER, COCONUT AND MASALA) DISTRIBUTED AT THE END OF THE DAY, EACH DAY. EVERY DAY ONE VARIETY NOT TO BE REPEATED. KADALAI PARUPPU SUNDAL, PASI PARUPPU SUNDAL. KOTHUKADALAI SUNDAL. KAARAMANI SUNDAL. PATTANI SUNDAL. NILA KADALAI SUNDAL. MOCHAKOTTAI SUNDAL. EVEN TO THINK OF THEM MOUTH WATERS AND FLOWS LIKE GANGES. IT IS NOT SUNDAL ALONE. ON A FRIDAY, A SPECIAL SWEET PUTTU (SOME SORT OF MIX OF JAGGERY PLUS RICE STEAM BOILED) VERY VERY VERY TASTY. THE SPECIALTY IS THAT THE MOMENT THE DISH IS PREPARED THEY ARE CONSUMED ALSO. SOMETIMES LITTLE IS LEFT FOR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. ON SATURDAY, GINGELLY URUNDAI (ELLU URUNDAI) IS PREPARED TO WARD OFF EVIL. SARASWATHI POOJA --SPECIAL KADALAI PARUPPU SUNDAL IN ALL HOMES. VIJAYADASMI SUNDAL - KOTHU KADALAI SUNDAL IN ALL HOMES. In Case you are desirous of preparing any sundal you may visit: www.ghayu.kaninilam.com ON SARASWATHI POOJA DAYS, books are arranged before Goddess Saraswathi. Few amongst us, also decorate along with Saraswathi, Vinayaka and Lakshmi to form a trio. We do Lakshmi Pooja. We hire the services of a purhoit sometimes, and if they are not available, we do the pooja ourselves. We make sure that all the dishes, like Vadai, Payasam, sakkarai pongal etc., are made. In the evening every home is a delight to watch. LADIES ARE welcomed with utmost respect and GIVEN SPECIAL KUNKUMA CHIMIZH, MANCHAL AND BLOUSE PIECE OF VARIOUS COLOURS. SOME GIVE ALSO SPECIAL DISKS. A few give special gifts like lucky vinayaka etc. ON VIJAYADASMI DAY, CRAFTSMEN PLACE THEIR TOOLS BEFORE GODDESS AND PRAY FOR CONTINUED GOOD GOING IN BUSINESS. IT IS ALL FUN, GAY AND MERRIMENT. VISIT INDIA DURING NAV RATHRI FESTIVAL