Bhakthiganasudha during Navarathri Festival

Navarathri is a nine-night festival which is celebrated all over India with much devotion. The legends associated with the festival vary with the place and so do the names. In south India, especially in Kerala, this festive occasion is termed as Saraswathi Pooja.

Keralites (the people of Kerala) believe Goddess Saraswathi is the Goddess of Learning. During Navarathri, the Hindu community in Kerala performs Poojavaipu, a ceremony held at households and also in temples.

The Poojavaipu ceremony involves placing of books meant for learning, holy books and working tools and equipment before an image or idol of Goddess Saraswathi.

One of the attractions during this festival is Bommai Kolu (a practice followed by Tamil Brahmins residing in Kerala) in which the idols of Hindu deities along with several dolls made out of clay and wood are arranged in a room.

Featured in this video is the bhajan or devotional song rendered by Smt. Radhika Sundaresan (Principal of Sri Keshava Pillai Memorial Music Academy) and a group of ladies in the house of Smt. Shantha Seshadri during Navarathri Festival.

Beautifully arranged Bommai Kolu welcomes the visitors along with sweet delicacies being prepared in households.