Prostrations to my Guru Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachidananda Swamiji.🙏
I am really proud of my culture and heritage. I say celebrating these are my stress busters. No wonder Navaratri is my favorite and I am privileged to be celebrating 25th year of the same.
My celebrations involve so much pre planning that , it is an all year around activity. My severely autistic son who is 26 years old now works with me in making different decorative pieces and this year we made stuffed animals. He learnt to make running stitches and nearly six hours was spent to make a set of twelve so that they can be part of our Kutty Krishna’s Nandavanam. This is the main highlight of my Golu.
Guru Gita is an explanatory text about who a Guru is. Guru is a person who shows us the path of self realization. Tatvamasi, the Vedic dictum implying the individual is the same as the infinite or Absolute reality is taught by the Guru and is explained in 3 of the shlokas of the text and is highlighted in Golu with Lord Dakshina Moorthy, silent Guru. The first sloka of Dakshina Moorthy Stotra also states the same thing.
We have different scenes from Ramayana. I have highlighted two of them. One is the story of Sabari. Sabari served Rama and attained moksha. Her Guru being Sage Matanga. Again emphasizing the importance of Guru in our tradition. The other set shows Hanuman meeting Sita at Ashoka Vana. 2 shlokas describing Seetha and her happiness when she saw the signet ring are shown.
We have Krishna Leela set, Bhagavad Gita and Vishwa roopa darshanam set. We have highlighted the set with shloka 13 from Chapter 11 of Bhagavad Gita , in which Arjuna sees the entire Universe in Krishna. The understanding of Tatvamasi is emphasized in this verse again.
My special boy made two puzzles depicting Indian festivals of Pongal and Navaratri which became the background scene of our Tamil Nadu scenery of Palani Temple with Thirupughazh being highlighted and Thirukadaiyur Abhirami Temple with Abhirami Andadi being highlighted. He was also able to type a few lines the story of Markandeya.
My Golu is a steady collection of dolls over the past 25 years. I have dolls gifted to me by grandma to my neighbor. I buy dolls when I travel the US locally. I also have dolls that have been cake toppers for my children’s birthday celebrations. I love this festival and I have put all my love into it.
As I age, I have my special boy helping me carry heavy boxes. By Ambal’s grace working towards Navaratri project has become one of his goals which is helping him simultaneously with his daily living skills.
I hope everyone enjoys the Golu as I did setting it up.
Here is the link to my Navaratri Golu in my house.🙏
Special Mom’s blog 
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