Navratri Golu Ideas – How To Keep Golu / Kolu At Home

golu
Hi friends,
Wish you all a very happy Navratri. I would like to start Navratri with this basic post on “How to celebrate Navarathri, i.e. how to keep golu at home”. This post is mainly for beginners and of course for my future reference. It would be more of essays with pictures, just read on.
Navratri is a nine days festival for Goddess durga that is celebrated all over India in various ways.In hindi/sanskrit, the word Navratri refers to “Nine nights”. During these nine nights, nine forms of Goddess Shakti are worshipped and the tenth day is celebrated as “Dussehra or Vijayadasami”. Usually the first set of three days is for Durga, the second three days is for Lakshmi and the last three days is for Saraswathi. Saraswathi pooja / Ayudha pooja is celebrated on the ninth day of this festival.

This year 2023, Navratri begins on Saturday 14th October and ends on 24th October, Tuesday. 
Kalasa sthapanam time : 11.00 AM to 1:00 PM on 14th October , Saturday.  You can also keep Golu on 15th October Sunday as per drik panchangam. Timings are mentioned below. If you are unable to keep in the below timings, make sure you avoid Rahu kalam and Yama gandam and keep golu in auspicious time of the day. 

கொலு வைக்க உகந்த நேரம்

14/10/2023 சனிக்கிழமை

காலை 10:45 – 11:45

மாலை 5:30 – 7:30

குரு ஹோரை இரவு 9:00 – 10:00

கொலு வைக்க உகந்த நேரம்

15/10/2023 ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை

பிரம்ம முகூர்த்தம் காலை 3 – 4:30

குரு ஹோரை காலை 11:00 – 12:00

In Tamil nadu, Navarathri is celebrated by keeping Golu in houses. Golu means”Display”. It is the display of all idols and dolls representing major deities. Its a belief that Goddess is present in our house in all these nine days and we treat her offering Sundal and sweets as neivedyam. Some people go for fasting (Vrat) and they make no onion no garlic and strictly no non-veg recipes on all these days. Interested people can make Park, Zoo and some theme based golu set up too. I have shared some pics of park, artificial pond from my MIL’s golu.

Suppose if you are not able to keep kolu on all the nine days, you can keep it just for 3 days. Usually last set of 3 days would be fine as you can celebrate Saraswathi pooja along with golu setup 🙂
Navratri

My MIL has the practice of keeping Golu/Kolu in salem home every year on all the nine days. She invites all our neighbours in the evening to visit our golu and give them thaamboolam ( a small pack of gifts including turmeric, kumkum, mirror, comb, blouse pieces along with betel leaf (vethalai) & pakku) and Sundal prasadam. Golu can be kept either in a grand manner with 9 or 11 steps OR just in a simple form with 3 steps. All you need is just interest, some creativity and passion. So in this post, I have given some golu ideas to help beginners and for my future reference too asking my MIL. I also referred sites like Wikpedia, Yahoo and howtodothings & ecards.com for more details. 


For keeping golu at home, there are certain procedures to be followed in arranging the dolls in steps/tier. All these details are shared below. These are the pictures of our last year golu. I have updated our last year’s golu picture below. I was super excited to see my Mil’s golu as we have bought Dasavathar and Ashta lakshmi set with some new idols.

DISCLAIMER : The information & pictures I have shared below are completely based on our house golu. It may differ slightly with the authentic ones. Friends please excuse.  Please leave your thoughts in comment section if anything needs to be corrected!

Here is the picture of my MIL’s Golu 🙂

How to keep golu at home
IMPORTANT THINGS NEEDED FOR KEEPING GOLU

Golu stand
Special thanks to my FIL for sharing this golu stand picture with me.
  • Readymade golu steps or steps made using tables and boxes ( number of steps should be 3,5,7 or9) (refer picture for Golu stand/golu padi)
  • A white cloth ( dhoti/Veshti) OR some colorful sarees.
  • Safety pins & bell pins for tucking the cloth with the stand.
  • Kalasam/Kalash/Poorana kumbham (an auspicious set up of brass pot/Sombu with rice, dal covered with mango leaves and coconut on top of it)
  • Mirror
  • Marapachi dolls ( Raja,Rani), New idols of gods or the ones you use traditionally.
  • Dasavatharam set, Ashta lakshmi set, Ganesha set & kalyana set (optional to keep)
  • Idols of saints, freedom fighters & some kids toys (whichever you have in your house)
  • A set of serial light and some decorative lamps.
  • Flower pond
  • Things for making park and other creative ideas
DO’s and DONT’s during Navaratri Golu

Do’s
  1. Take bath daily( Preferrably Head bath) on all the 9 days.
  2. Wear clean clothes.
  3. Do not eat non-veg food if possible no onion, no garlic veg food.
  4. Draw small kolam everyday in front of golu
  5. Offer flowers to God in the display daily.
  6. Light lamp in the morning and evening.
  7. Offer some neivedyam both in the morning and evening. You can keep some rice varieties in the morning and have the same for your lunch. Keep some sundal varieties or sweets in the evening. If you are not able to prepare any special recipes for neivedyam, keep some fruits, kalkandu/ rock candy, jaggery or dry grapes/ raisins.
  8. Do Mangala harathi and recite some slokhas everyday.
  9. Invite & give thamboolam for married ladies and young girls in the evening.
  10. You should study in front of Saraswathi on Vijayadasami day.
Dont’s
  1. Do not stitch the clothes at home during these nine days. 
  2. Do not cut your nails. Do not cut the hair. Avoid hair cut even in saloon
  3. Do not dust your house ( Otrai adikarathu) but you should sweep your house regularly.
  4. Do not eat non-veg food
  5. Do not study on Saraswathi pooja day. 
  6. Avoid travelling to places by locking your house if you keep golu. Try to be at home during pooja time if you are a working women. 
  7. Most importantly, do not fight with anyone at home. Try to be calm and happy !
Flower pond

HOW TO ARRANGE THE DOLLS IN STEPS

Three days before golu,u have to put Mulaipari ( ie. you should grow grains in a plate filled with sand. U can use methi seeds, horsegram or ragi). For this, wash and soak the grains overnight. The next day drain the water & set aside. Take a small tray with rim and fill it half with sand. stud the grains and spread a layer of sand over it. Sprinkle some water and keep it in sun for few hours & in shade for two days. Sprinkle water whenever needed(never pour water). Small plants will come up. U should keep this in front of the golu. So keep it ready. Refer above for DO’s & DONT’s.

  • On mahalaya amavasya day, Golu steps are to be set by covering with white dhothi cloth or silk saree ( No problem even if its an old saree, just wash and use it) and it has to be ready. U can use the readymade golu padi/Golu steps or use some old boxes, tables, chairs etc to make steps. But keep in mind, the munber of steps should be 3, 5, 7 or 9. Keep the golu steps in the corner of the house(facing East or North) by resting on the wall. Usually Golu is kept facing east.

You can arrange the dolls on amavasya day night after 6pm. Keep the kalasam on the next day during paatimugam / Pradhamai time. Remember if you have arranged all the dolls and kept the kalasam, you should start doing the pooja with neivedyam. Keeping Kalasam is more important. No matter even if you arrange all the dolls, keep the kalasam at the right time and start the pooja. Do not keep the kalasam on Amavasya day. Please check drikpanchang.com for exact timings for kalasa avaahanam on prathamai day as per your place. 

  •  Kalasam should be placed in the center of the top most step or in the last step. Please follow it as per your acharya’s advice. My MIL usually keeps in the first step. 
  • For making kalasam, take a brass pot/sombu and fill it with rice and toor dal with some coins till its neck. Alternatively you can fill the kalasam with water adding cardamom, jathikai and other scented spices along with some coins. But I feel placing rice in kalasam is better than water as you cannot change the water during these 9 days. Then keep mango leaves in the sides and place a coconut over it. (Refer picture). The mango leaves should not be changed even if they go dry. Behind the kalasam, you should place a mirror. Here kalasam is considered as Goddess Durga. So keep a mirror such that kalasam should be seen on it.
  • In the first step, keep the kalasam in the center. Next to kalasam on both the sides, you should keep Ganesha, Durga, Lakshmi & Saraswathi idols. Alternately, you can keep the kalasam in the bottom of golu by placing it on a plank.
Golu first step
  • In the second step, you should keep two marapachi dolls (wooden dolls, see the arrow) a pair of male & female in the center by wearing saree, jewels and dhoti and you can decorate the couples as you wish. Arrange the other dieties like Vishnu, Shiva and Dasavathar set, Krishna set etc on the second and third steps. There is no hard and fast rule as to which deity goes where, but generally the top steps are reserved for deities, while the bottom steps are occupied by animal, human and inanimate statues.
second step golu
Kolu third step
  • In the fourth step, you can keep some statues of saints/ guru like Ramanar, Meera, Ramakrishna paramahamsa & other mahans. Also you can keep the statues of freedom fighters & world famous personalities. (We din’t have those idols. So we have kept meera with other idols).
fourth step golu
  • In the fifth(last) step chettiar bommai has to be kept in the center. In front of the chettiar bommai, arrange a shop like thing by keeping dals, rice, chillies in small plates ( Refer picture).
  • On the both sides of chettiar bommai, you can keep statues of other human beings, animals, birds and inanimate statues.
Golu fifth step
Chettiar bommai golu

After arranging all these dolls, draw a rangoli in front of the golu ( using rice flour & colour powders) and keep a big basin filled with water and decorated with flowers. On the sides of Golu, place two lamps( vilakku) and lit them. Keep the mulaipari in the side of golu or infront of it. The most important thing on all these nine days is once you keep the golu, you should not close the house without doing pooja for any reasons like travel etc. If you are a working women, do the pooja in the morning and evening after coming from the office. U should light the lamps in morning as well as evening and do pooja by offering some sweets and sundal.

One of the most important ritual in Golu is exchanging thamboolam. U should invite young girls, ladies to see the golu and honour them by giving thamboolam and prasadam. People usually say that we should not sleep in the afternoon as we have to do pooja in the evening. Suppose if you sleep, its better to take bath before doing the pooja.

On each day of Navratri, a sundal variety has to be done for prasadam. The scientific reason behind offering sundal is that during the months of September-october, people get easily tired and fell ill due to weather. So it is prescribed to have protein rich foods to rejuvenate ourselves. Another theory is that sundal is offered to appease Nava grahas i.e nine planets. What matters ultimately is that of all the dishes should be made from the nava-dhanyas during Navratri.

Please check my post on Navaratri Neivedyam Recipes for 9 days to decide the dish.

HOW TO REMOVE GOLU/KOLU

golu last day
On Vijayadasami day, offer some neivedyam. Do the pooja and then take mangala harathi for Golu. Move the kalasam towards north and make either one doll or all the dolls to sleep after evening neivedyam to mark the end of that year’s golu( refer picture). The next morning, you can dismantle them and keep in a box covered with newspapers & thermocoal ( to avoid damages) safely for next years usage. Suppose if the 10th day is Friday or tuesday, make the dolls sleep after 10th day morning neivedyam and make them sleep till afternoon. U can pack them before evening. No need to make the dolls sleep over the night.

If you have used water in the kalasam, sprinkle some water on your family members and pour the  remaining water to thulasi plant or some trees. If you had put rice & dal in the kalasam, use it for cooking. Use the coconut in the kalasam for cooking or make some sweets with it. Take the coins and keep in the safe. Remove the keerai from mulaipari and use it for cooking Or transfer the mulaipari to a pot and grow it further.

LINKS FOR SUNDAL RECIPES & OTHER PRASADAMS

Always start with a sweet and sundal on first day. You can make Sweet pongal /Sakkarai pongal Or Kesari along with any sundal variety. Some people make sweet sundal and spicy sundal versions. So its our choice. But a sweet dish is a must on first day. Then you can make any varieties based on your wish for the remaining days.

Please refer my Navratri full collection for more recipes.

Also refer my Navratri recipes for 9 days – A table of South Indian ( Tamil nadu, Andhra) and North Indian recipes to offer God.

I hope this post would help the first timers .Wish you all a very happy Navarathri.
From tomorrow I will share some yummy sundal & sweet recipes along with some no onion no garlic vrat ka khana( fasting recipes). Stay tuned !
WISH U ALL A VERY HAPPY NAVRATARI !

Navratri

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172 thoughts on “Navratri Golu Ideas – How To Keep Golu / Kolu At Home”

  9. Gita Jaishankar

    Very nice golu and useful post Chitra, I am a newbie with this, this is my third year of golu keeping, I learnt some good info from this post, thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    4. Dhanalakshmi

      Mam last three days means in which date we have to start golu 12 0r 13th October. Please tell me i had confusion. Thank you
      Regards
      Dhanalakshmi

      Reply
  13. Unknown

    Hai sister, this is the first time I'm gng to do. Thanks for Ur tips. Somebody saying that v should not sleep in the afternoon for these 9 days.Is it true?

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hello, usually people say this as we are doing neivedyam in the evening. So if u want to sleep u can take bath n then do the pooja☺

      Reply
    2. Unknown

      Hello sister!

      An amazing… As this is first time, your postings are very helpful to me. After keeping golu i too post my arrangement. Thankyou. So much….

      Reply
  14. Unknown

    Chennai Chairs Ayudha Pooja 50% Offer – Stylish Wooden Navaratri Golu stand/Golu padi available for rupees 6500 only. Madeby high quality wood.

    Reply
  15. lakshmisatish

    Nice informative post. I have a doubt..inkalasa mango leaves or any leaves dries within 2 days.. any alternative idea to keep them green nd fresh???

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi, We are not supposed to remove the leaves from the pot.So no issues even they go dry.If you want,u can insert 2 leaves more after 2 days 🙂 But do not change it till 9 days.

      Reply
    2. shanti om shanti

      Some write water with manjal, little rice, coins etc in the kalasam. You have written rice and daal. Which is right?

      Reply
    3. Chitra

      Yes ,some people keep scented water with coins and rice.But we usually keep rice and dal & mix it with our groceries after 9 days.So it depends.It may vary as per the practice.Anything is fine.

      Reply
  17. Jay

    hi.. thanks for the info… i will normally keep the kalasam at the bottom instead of the top of the steps. The reason for this is that i change the saree for the kalasam every 3 days.Also it is easier to do the prayer for the kalasam. Is there anything wrong by placing it at teh bottom step?

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi,That's fine i guess.As u are wearing saree for kalasam & doing the pooja,please do it as per your convenience.Tradition & practice may vary 🙂

      Reply
    2. T Srinivasachari

      Liked your presentation.Very well written.GOD bless you & family a long & good health life
      Regards
      TSrinivasacari

      Reply
  18. Hima manjunath

    HI Chitra,

    its was really very informative , i did not know the process only thro ur article i got the info, that u for the elaborated information.

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      The basic idea is to keep all the grocery items like rice,dal,tamarind,salt and chilli infront of chettiar doll.I am not sure about keeping chillies.Please don't keep it if u feel its inauspicious.

      Reply
  20. Unknown

    which direction golu should be facing ???is facing norh will do ? i am keeping it for first time yr post is very very useful can i arrange on 12 th night??

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi Divya,Generally people keep golu facing east.North is also fine.Yes,u can arrange the dolls today night.Its good to arrange them on Amavasya night 🙂 Thanks

      Reply
  22. Unknown

    Hi, I am planning to keep kolu tomorrow. Can you tell me after what time it's good to keep? Is it ok to arrange after 5pm?

    Reply
  23. Unknown

    Hi, I am planning to keep kolu tomorrow. Can you tell me after what time it's good to keep? Is it ok to arrange after 5pm?

    Reply
    2. Unknown

      Iam Priya. J. Namboodiri ,this is the first time I have seen ur sight very glad to say thanks y u know mam I have accepted u as my Guru pl guide me not only for Golu for all our traditions beauty, kitchen tips etc
      Thanks &Regards
      Priya J Namboodiri

      Reply
    3. Chitra

      Hello Priya,
      Thanks for the sweet words. I have shared Pooja procedures for most of the south indian festivals. I will try to share kitchen tips as well.

      Reply
  24. Unknown

    Very useful for people like me doing for first time. Thanks sister. The time you mentioned is for India or USA. Can you mentione the eastern time for USA.
    Thanks

    Reply
  25. Unknown

    Thanks. U r doing a great job.
    I have a doubt. I filled the kalasam with both water and rice after completing pooja I realised that for 9 days whether it will be good. Can I change that?

    Reply
  26. Unknown

    Thanks. U r doing a great job.
    I have a doubt. I filled the kalasam with both water and rice after completing pooja I realised that for 9 days whether it will be good. Can I change that?

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi, you should fill the kalasam with either rice, dal and coins or only with scented water adding spices. Do not add rice and water together. If using rice and dal, you can use it for making sweet pongal after the Navarathri. Hope this is clear. Thanks!

      Reply
  27. Unknown

    Thank u chitra ji for ur explanation about golu.I have a small doubt ma'am.I don't have golu padi,how can I arrange golu …please clarify my doubt chitra ji..

    Reply
  28. Unknown

    Thank u chitra ji for ur explanation about golu.I have a small doubt ma'am.I don't have golu padi,how can I arrange golu …please clarify my doubt chitra ji..

    Reply
    2. Unknown

      I want to know the procedure to be done on 10th day.
      Evening after aarti and prayer 1 doll is put to sleep, kalasam is moved towards north slightly.
      I am putting the dolls whole night to sleep.
      Morning I am packing the dolls.
      I have filled kalasam with water, camphor and cardamom. What to do with this water.
      Further, tomorrow is friday Can I pack the dolls tomorrow, putting them to sleep today. Please clarify me urgently because this is the first time I have kept kolu.

      Reply
  30. Chitra

    Hi Sheela,U are right.you should not pack the dolls on friday.Make the dolls sleep now.I guess u would have finished morning pooja.so that's enough.No need to wait till evening pooja OR as soon as u finish the pooja in the evening around 7pm,u can make the dolls sleep for an hour and remove,pack them tonite.I am also doing the same today 🙂 I have updated this point in the post as well.Thanks for asking 🙂

    Reply
  31. Chitra

    Regarding kalasam water,sprinkle some water on ur family members and pour the remaining in thulasi plant pot or some trees.

    Reply
  33. Unknown

    Really very useful people who are experienced please help us like posting such description and encourage us in starting

    Reply
  35. Unknown

    Lovely post thank u so much! tis yr is my 1st golu. can i use some of the golu dolls and the marapachi dolls for display in my home after navaratri golu is over?

    Reply
  36. swetha511

    Hi Chitra…very helpful post….I am also planning to keep my first golu this year…wud you be able to tell me when we shud arrange the dolls..is it oct 1st or 2nd?Thanks for your help in advance…

    Reply
  37. Unknown

    Hi Chitra Garu its really helpful can you please post Devi Navathrulu pooja Vidhanam like which need we need to worship which god along with prasadham for that Day.

    Reply
  38. Unknown

    Hi , nice post for Navaratri…I started keeping Golu since last year. This is my second year and I have a concern on fasting. I am blessed with baby girl on 1st August 2016. She will be turning 3rd month by this weekend.please do clarify whether feeding mother can keep Golu and any concerns on fasting.

    Reply
  39. Unknown

    Hi chitra. Can I end my golu on 9 th September? Your information are really useful to me. This is my 2 nd year. Last year I follow your instructions. Thanks alot chitra!.

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      You should keep it till 10th i.e till Saraswati pooja. So you can make the dolls sleep on Saraswati pooja night and remove it the next day morning in good time. If you really want to remove it fast, remove the dolls on saraswathi pooja night itself after finishing the pooja.

      Reply
  40. vijaiyan Bhoopalan

    post is very helpful. but there is some doubts

    1."Its good to arrange them on Amavasya night" amavasya comes on 30th sep but you said "This year 2016,Navratri begins on Saturday i e. 1st October."

    2."After these 9 days,on tenth day ie On vijayadasami" if we start on ist then vijayadasami comes on 11th day i.e 11th oct

    thanks

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hello Vijayan, It would be good to arrange the dolls on Amavasya night as some poeple don't arrange the dolls on Pradhamain day.If you want, you can keep the kalasham on 1st october and start doing the pooja. Actual Navratri starts on Oct 1st.Some people start on 2nd too. Yes, this time its almost 11 days festival.So we should remove on 11th only.

      Reply
  41. Unknown

    Thanks for the detailed information Chitra , it was so helpful
    Can i take the golu dolls on 11th morning since it is a Tuesday ?

    Reply
  42. Unknown

    Hi Chitra

    Thanks for the detailed information it was very useful
    Can i remove my golu dolls on 11th , since it is a Tuesday , can i remove it on Tuesday morning ?

    Reply
  43. Unknown

    Hi Chitra,
    Very nice information. Thanks. I am keeping golu for the first time at my new house. So as per my understanding, I have to keep the steps and dolls on 30th sept or 2nd Oct evening after 6 pm?and make the doll sleep on 10th Oct night and remove n pack the dolls on the 11th Oct morning. But it contradicts the point, *we shouldn't remove the dolls on Friday and Tuesday. So should I make doll sleep after poojai on 10th evening and immediately pack them on 10th oct night itself?

    Thanks for the time. Rgds, Subha

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi,Usually we don't arrange the dolls on Prathamai. So Iam planning to arrange the dolls along with kalasam by 30th evening and start the pooja on the same day as per my MIL's advice. But actually Navratri starts on Oct 1st this year. So you can do the pooja from oct 1st evening. Arrange the dolls on 30th sep or 1st oct morning. No matter about the day we arrange the dolls, keeping the kalasham in the auspicious day and time is more important. So keep the kalasham on oct 1st at 6pm and do the pooja but not on 2nd. Make the dolls sleep on 10th night, if possible remove it on the same day else remove it next day morning after doing a simple pooja.Removing the dolls on Friday or tuesday evening is not considered auspicious.

      Reply
    4. Unknown

      In calendar the pradhamai time is mentioned as follows, 1st oct from 5 :45 to 2nd oct 7:47. Is it ok keep kalasam on 1st oct after 6 pm ?

      Reply
  44. Unknown

    Hi chaitra.
    I am keeping golu for first time this year in my new house.can we start the golu on 3rd or 5th day of navarathri and is it compulsory to continue this ritual every year.
    Please do answer

    Thank you

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi Lakshmi, Its not compulsory. If you wish, you can take some fruits, kumkum, turmeric even some dolls to offer God and to keep in Golu:)

      Reply
    1. Unknown

      Hai Chitra,
      I am keeping golu for first time this year in my house.I am so happy, & Now I know how can arrange this golu after i studying more information about this golu very useful for me. thanking you.

      Reply
  51. Unknown

    I am interested in starting GOLU for the first time, is there any procedures for that, our family do not have this practice..can I start this for the first time, Could you kindly advise, Thanks and Happy Navarthri….Vijayakumari Damodaran, Muscat

    Reply
  52. Chitra

    Hello Dhamu Vijaya, You can start it. Its basically one's own interest more than family practice. Please follow the directions and ideas I have shared in this post. You can start with 3 steps in the beginning then you can add more in the consecutive years. Keep Kalasham, do pooja in the morning & evening with some neivedyam like pongal, sundal, vada without onion, garlic for these 9 days. You can keep the golu just for last 3 days too. All the very best !

    Reply
  53. Rathna Prabu

    Chitra,

    Just to clarify, we do not put all dolls to sleep. To mark end of golu, we just lay down one of the dolls after neivedhyam and once that is done, we can take out the golu the next day or in the evening. I think some traditions you can follow whichever is convenient. This is especially for those with a lot of dolls in each step or if your golu has a lot of steps.

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      yes u are right. People who keep lots of dolls can't make everything to sleep. Its a gud idea to make one doll sleep and remove. Thanks for sharing. I will update this point in the post. I have mentioned my MIL's way 🙂

      Reply
  54. Unknown

    Hi chitra!

    i just want to know about the coconut that we put on kalasam.
    What we do with that coconut?
    There is no details about regarding this.Just clarify me.
    Thank you
    Ambika Rathish

    Reply
  55. Unknown

    Hi chitra!
    nicely written about golu…
    Pls tell me aboot the coconut kept on kalasam, what we do wth that? Can we use it for last puja? Or cooking? Kindly advise me…
    Thanks
    Ambika

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi Ambika,
      I have already replied to your previous comment. You can use it for making some sweets like burfi or ladoo OR use it in your regular cooking. Thanks!

      Reply
  62. Unknown

    Hi Chitra!
    I follow up the response given by you for the queries last I wrote to you.This time I need a clarification on from which day onwards we can start giving return gifts(sumangaly box/vattila Paaku) to sumangalies who attends the golu pooja or my house.Further I need clarification on one more issue which I would like to brought up during this conversation ie whether we can give return gift for kumaris/unmarried girls? Expecting for your quick reply as the pooja is underway.
    Thank you!
    Regards
    Ambika
    "HappyNavrathri"

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hello Ambika,
      You can start to give from navratri first day itself i.e 21st to 29th sep 2017. You can give all the nine days during evenings. Yes, giving gifts to unmarries kumaris is auspicious. Young girls from age 2 to 10 is the best. No probs if they are teen aged or unmarried women. Hope its clear.

      Reply
    1. Chitra

      Usually we put mulaipari with vendhayam/methi seeds. After golu, we remove the plant, sun dry it and use it as dried kasoori methi Or we can wash and chop the leaves, add to paratha or sambar,kootu in our regular cooking. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  64. Unknown

    Hi I have a doubt.. My mom was keeping golu but after few years we stopped.. Can we start keeping golu again??

    Reply
  65. Cithdra

    Hi chitra….im goin to start navathri golu for first time dis year….in case if im unable to do d pooja from first day….can i do it on last three days….since im a beginner n dont hv elders at home i want to clarify d same….& what do we have to do with mulapari….shud v keep it for nine days….how can v use ot after pooja…kindly reply….

    Reply
  66. Cithdra

    Hi chitra..dis is d first time i hv planned to start navarathri golu….i dont hv elders at home,so in case if im unable to start on 1st day of navarathri!! Can i start on last 3days…since im a beginner i want to start properly…pls reply

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      If you are putting methi seeds for mulapari, you can use that keerai in your cooking or transfer the leaves to a pot and grow.

      Reply
  68. Unknown

    Hi,

    Am trying this out for the first time… u mentioned that the door should never be locked.. but i work, so i have to be out in the day 9-6…. any suggestions on this ? 🙁

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi, you can keep the Golu even if you are working. But try to do the pooja twice a day (morning and evening by keeping some neivedyam) after coming from the office. "Door should not be locked" in the sense, avoid travelling to places by locking your house. Try to be at home during pooja time ". Hope it is clear.

      Reply
  69. Unknown

    ok sis 🙂 Thank you… So this year when are u starting the preparation? like arranging golu, timings, etc…. can you share with me? (first time.. so)

    Reply
  70. Unknown

    Thank yu sis 🙂 Am happy.. so when are you starting preparations, like arranging golu, timings etc?? please share it will be really useful

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi Harshini, Usually we start Golu preparations like arranging the stand, decoration on amavasai evening. We arrange the dolls on the next day and keep the golu from that evening by doing kalasa poojai.

      Reply
    3. Unknown

      This year 10th oct pradhamai timings is after 9.15 AM… Can we do kalasam pooja in Brahma muhurtham i.e, 5AM, or is it mandatory to do in pradhamai

      Reply
    1. Chitra

      Usually we keep on all the 9 days or last 3 days. So iam not sure of keeping for 7 days. Please consult a temple preist regarding this.sorry

      Reply
  72. Unknown

    " Suppose if the 10th day is Friday or tuesday, make the dolls sleep after 10th day morning neivedyam and make them sleep till afternoon."

    so packing is done on friday after morning puja????

    Reply
  73. Unknown

    Hi mam. This is my first time. Completely dependent on your post only I am starting it 🙂 thanks for the information and I have a doubt. As per your instructions we arranged the steps on amavasya day (oct 8). As I am from Pondicherry, as per the drikpanchang the auspicious time is Oct 10 from 6.03 to 7.25 am I guess. So can I keep the Kalasam by then?? Kindly can u check that for me and let me know??

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Yes you are right. Do the pooja between 6 to 7.30 and keep the kalasam. So after keeping the kalasam, officially Golu is started 🙂

      Reply
  77. Unknown

    Hi Chitra, can I end my Golu on 18th. I want to finish on 9th day. I have some urgent work on 19th October . Please tell me the procedure .Please reply Chitra. Thank you

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Yes you can remove it. Just do the evening naivedyam around 6 pm, take harathi and make the dolls sleep at 7pm. Remove it around 8pm. Hope its clear.

      Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi, yes you can keep. Unga husband side relatives ( unga mamanaar relatives)na vakka koodathu. As it is in your side, it doesn't count.

      Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi, take a plate with little water. Mix turmeric powder and kumkum to make it red in color. Keep a betel leaf in the center of plate and place a camphor in the middle. Light the camphor and show the harathi to Golu dolls by rotating it gently in clockwise direction for 3 times. If you know any mangala harathi song, you can sing and do it. Then carefully , take the plate to your house entrance and keep the betel leaf with burning camphor in the kolam. Pour the water around it. This is how I take harathi/drishti to Golu. Hope it is clear.

      Reply
  83. Aparna

    Hi Chitra,

    This is my first year to start with gollu, can i keep kalasam on saturday as the first day falls saturday usually kalasams are kept in fridays and tuesdays know how about with regards to gollu can i start keeping kalasam on saturday as this is my first year. Please suggest and i am 7 months pregnant too let me know any do and donts i should follow during this time.

    Reply
  84. Chitra

    Hi Aparna, Sorry for the late reply. Yes, you can keep kalasam on Friday or Saturday. If you are keeping on Friday, keep kalasam in abhijit muhurtham time ( 12.25 pm to 12.30 pm) or during sukhra horai time (1.00pm to 1.30 pm) IST. Refer drik panchang website for the correct timings if you keep on Saturday based on your place. As you are in 7th month, do not strain too much. Keep someone for help. Otherwise, there is no specific do's and dont's for pregnant women. You can follow the same thing as mentioned in the post about do's and dont's. Hope it is clear 🙂 All the best for your first Golu. May Goddess bless you with all happiness 🙂

    Reply
  86. Unknown

    Hello mam,

    I am an unmarried teenager. I was interested in keeping golu this year so followed your post as reference. But my father's brother(not own brother) passed away yesterday. can I keep the golu on the last 3 days? If so at what time and date should I place the kalasam? Can unmarried girls keep golu since my mother is not interested?

    Reply
  87. radha

    Thanks for sharing Chitra.Your clear explantion really helps. I started keeping after only a few years of marraige and used to always be confused about the traditional way, especially when to close goluu and how. This will be a great help for youngster away from home or without elders to guide them. We have a tradition of not keping kalasam. Maybe you can write about that too in the post.

    Reply
  95. Chitra

    Hi Dhanalakshmi, You have to start from 12th i.e during Moola nakshtram timing. Moola nakshatram is available till 4.20PM tomorrow. So you can keep it before that time. Do it in the afternoon avoiding rahu kalam and yama kandam. Keep it for 12th, 13th and 14th ( 3 days) and remove it on 15th morning after doing the pooja. Hope it is clear

    Reply
  97. Chitra

    Hi, This year 2022, Navratri begins on Monday, 26th September and ends on 5th October, Wednesday. Kalasa avaahanam should be done on 26th morning between 6:11 AM to 7:51 AM
    (Duration – 01 hour 40 Mins ) OR during Abhijit muhurtham time 11:48 AM to 12:36 PM
    (Duration : 00 Hours 48 Mins).

    Reply
  99. Unknown

    I am planning to keep golu for shorter duration. Can I keep golu on Oct 1st, what time to keep? and invite friends on Oct 2, 3, 4? When to make dolls sleep and pack golu dolls? I may have to travel out of state on 6th or 7th Oct till 9th Oct.

    Reply
  100. Chitra

    Yes, you can keep on oct 1st in some auspicious time. Do the vijayadasami pooja the next day morning and make the dolls sleep around afternoon, remove before 6pm.

    Reply
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