Navarathri

Navarathri is the celebration of nine nights. The festival is dedicated to goddess Shakthi, who is worshipped in her three forms as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. Three days are devoted to each goddess and the prayers vary accordingingly with the preparation of sweets and food, known as Prasadam. Homes and temples make structural arrangements called 'Golu', which is a step-like structure with arrangements of several kinds of deities. The Golu has statues of different gods and ornaments depicting the celestial hierachy. Usually a pot filled with water, coconut and mango leaves, called the Kumbam, is placed on a tray filled with raw rice.