2019 Navaratri (Sep 29 – Oct 8)

The nine day festival of Navaratri, season of rejoicing and celebration, is a combination of many concepts, but the most common theme is the victory of good over evil. This year the festival starts on September 29th and ends on October 8th.


The most significant part of Navaratri is the setting up of “Kolu” or “Golu”. Dolls (mostly of various gods and goddesses in Hindu pantheon) are arranged in wooden steps (now available in steel also) in a prescribed order.

The number of steps depends on the availability of the dolls and space available. The maximum number is nine – representing the nine days of Navaratri . Usually, the steps erected are in odd numbers – 3, 5, 7 or 9. Now it is more creative than religious and people arrange “Theme Kolu”, “Modern Kolu” etc., where electronic items also find a place. Whatever way we celebrate “Kolu”, it is time for enjoyment and get together.

Navaratri is never complete without the different kinds of sundal made every evening.

Check out some of the Sundal Recipes:

Apart from Sundal, on Navarathri Friday, Sweet Puttu is also prepared. This puttu is traditionally prepared with fresh rice flour (steamed) and thick jaggery syrup is added along with little ghee, coconut gratings and cardamom powder. Since it takes a lot of time to make from scratch, I have shared some easy Puttu recipes with ready made flours/Aval (Poha) are given below:

25 Comments

  1. Gayathri's Cook Spot

    Nice line up of sundal…..

  2. Murali Ramanathan

    Hi Kamala,

    Love your posts: I used to read through your blog with nostalgia when I was in the US but now that I am back in India, appreciate them even more. The 'Kadai' veggies sounded so mouth-watering!

    I think a typo gremlin somehow got into your recent post: the numbers 3, 5, 7, 9 etc., are odd, not even of course. You might want to fix this.

    Once again love your posts. Keep 'em coming!

  3. Thank you Gayathri and Murali Ramanathan for visiting my blog.

    Thank you Murali for pointing out the error. I have fixed it. Thank you once again for your kind info.

  4. If I were staying near your place, I would drop in each day of navarathri to have my share of those yummy sundals 🙂

    Happy navarathri to you.

  5. Thank you Shobana. Wishing you the same. Enjoy this festival.

  6. nice sundals..after reading this post, I really want to do golu and sundals in my home.
    Thanks for sharing this…

  7. Thank you for visiting. Celebrate and Enjoy this festive season.

  8. Great post!! Have linked to it on my blog and added you to my blogroll.

  9. Hi Apu,

    So kind of you. Thank you for visiting and linking to your blogroll.

  10. hi
    Nice post going to try puttu for the first time this navarathri using ur recipes!

  11. Excellent and Yummy recipes.Thank You very much Kamala.After seeing the Golu n reading the chundal recipes we friends went back to our schooldays.Once again thanks a lot.Wish I was staying near your place.I am in MUMBAI.
    HAPPY NAVRATRI.

  12. Lakshmi Priya

    Luv ur Recipes…I tried @ home& got appraisal from my dad…thankyou!

  13. geeetha ramakrishnan

    are there any special kollams on all 9 days. please enlighten and inform some special kollams on navaratri.

    thanks
    geetha

  14. geeetha ramakrishnan

    Dear Mam,

    are there any special kollams on navaratri 9 days. if so, please enlighten me and send few special kollams on navaratri.

    thanks for your cooperation

    sorry if i am disturbing u.

    regards
    geetha

    • Hi Geetha Ramakrishnan

      You are always welcome with queries and suggestions. Depending upon the space available for kolam, you can draw any kolam. Please visit my Kolam site and check for puja kolangal and choose.

  15. Love this post 🙂
    Do you have any farahali (fasting) recipes too, we fast during Navratris in Punjab and only eat fruits & nuts including Rajgiro flour, Kuttu Flour, Singhada flour, potatoes etc..

    Will be interesting to know what I can prepare South Indian style..

    • Thank you for visiting our site. In South India, there is no fasting during Navaratri. However on any festival days, people avoid some ingredients like onion, garlic and some masala powders. Rice also avoided at dinner. Upma (wtihout onion), Puttu with rice flour/poha/ragi, fruits and payasam (kheer) are some common fasting dishes.

  16. Gd mrng Kamlaji
    Tu 4 d recipes of Kumannaya (jaggery n green dal sweet) and green Moong Curd Bondas. Tried both and they were liked by all in the family.
    One request Janmasthami is also round the corner : recipes for Muruku, Theingol, n Seedai will be a welcome. Thank you.
    Regards Vasanthi

    • Hi Vasanthi,

      Thank you for trying my recipes and for your kind feed back. I have already posted Murukku recipes. Please check under “Snacks” category.

  17. Hi Kamala, I learnt about this Corner from Rohit. Enjoying it. Bhanu is surely going to try some of the Sundal recipes. Kc

  18. Have you started Recipes for Instant Pot Cooking?

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