Happy Tuesday! I hope you had a good weekend. Ours was super busy. We were celebrating the fall Indian festival of Navratri. Navratri is a nine-day Hindu festival that is celebrated every autumn. It is observed in various parts of India in different ways but one common theme runs through them all – Navratri is celebrated in honor of the divine feminine. During Navratri the feminine incarnate is worshipped and revered and women and girls play a central role during this time. Mother nature, arts, education, strength, and the power of good over evil are all rejoiced in the feminine form. For more information on Navratri and how it is celebrated all over India take a look at these links. Celebrating the Power of She in the festival of Navratri. Navratri Celebrations.
We were invited to four Navratri gatherings this year, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. It was a busy weekend of socializing and eating 😀😋. Here are a few pictures of our Navratri celebrations with family and friends the way it is observed in the southern state of Tamilnadu with a Golu display and the sharing of musical and artistic talents. For more information on Golu take a look at this link Celebrating Navratri Golu.
Saturday Early Evening. Visit with Uma and Kavni and a look at their Golu display.
Saturday Evening Dinner and Golu Viewing at Gowri and Ankita’s
Gowri had prepared a scrumptious vegetarian meal for the evening.
I found out on this evening that my cousin Meera and Gandhi share the same October birthday!
It was a lovely evening spent with family and lots of girls 👭👭💕🥰.
Sunday afternoon lunch and Golu at Meera, Anika and Kamya’s
A vegetarian feast prepared by Meera was healthy and delicious 😋.
On this afternoon we also got to hear the musical talents of both kids and adults.
Left a beautiful and relaxing Navratri lunch at Meera’s with goodie bags filled with bangles!
Sunday Evening Navratri Golu at Veena’s
I saw the most unique floral art created by Veena at her Golu this year.
A vegetarian feast prepared by Veena was as scrumptious as ever!
Got to go home with more goodie bags for all the gals 💕💗.
Veena’s brass urns with floating blossoms and candles were looking ethereal as we said goodbye to a beautiful evening.
Happy Navratri!
This was a wonderful Navratri weekend, a joyous and colorful celebration of the female form.
Woman
by Courtney Kane
there is depth in me that is
much like the sea
and on days of my greatest gleam
i am the woman who manages
what some may say is the impossible
a son, a daughter, i have them all
and nothing prevents me from
keeping them calm, in great winds,
in the roughest rain,
the sight of my eyes, the searing pain
of life’s hard road,
it all builds to a glorious strength,
the strength of the women before me,
it is the depth of a worldly woman.
Celebrating the power of She in the festival of Navratri.
Love it!!!❤️ what a beautiful celebration!!
Thanks Rose! I’ll have to take you with me next year so you can see Golu for yourself!
it was nice conversing with Manni over the phone . Thanks Meera for facilitating this . My kids adore Manni and we wish we could have met her . We enjoyed our visit to her home in Chennai , not to speak of Subhashini’s hospitality
Thank You Meera for facilitating our conversation with Bama Manni .. hope she enjoys her stay here with the granddaughters .. We really enjoyed our visit to her home in Chennai .. Subhashini made a perfect Hostess and I loved the Uttappam she made for me .. my regards to Manni
Hi Dolly, I did look at the blog this morning! So nice. It was lovely to have everyone home. I was thinking the very same on the pictures of me and Hitesh – well captured moment. So glad to have you all as part of my family.. I was also very touched that Sri made it a point to come to our home 😘. Anjali sang so beautifully- great voice and I loved it that she sang one of your favorite songs.
Just saw the Navrathri post. Great snaps and very nicely worded. The Meera and Hitesh pics were awesome – really captured the genuineness of affection between them. Thanks for sharing.
Happy you enjoyed the pics Mahesh. I know sen I feel the pics of Hitesh and Meera are so genuine and so authentic, priceless. BTW your Madras coffee on Sunday was outstanding! You have to teach me how to make it!
Nice celebration! Keep up the tradition.
Thanks Dolly for the nice pictures and narration as usual!
Thanks Dad. glad you enjoyed the pictures.
btw Nice to see Manni in Salwar Kameez … I love this new image of hers …
😀 even Dad commented on Mami’s salwar kameez! I told him I think it maybe because she hurt her arm and cannot use it to wear a saree effectively.
Dolly, this poem is by Maya Angelou on Women Empowerment .. A few lines for you …
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
thank you for sharing.
Kalpana Sheth … A Fantastic Post on this Vijaya Dashami Day of Navaratrei . I enjoyed looking at the Golu Display by our Beloved Meera Mahesh and Uma Nando , not to speak of Meera’s mouthwatering Feast. All the Girls look absolutely stunning in their pavadai Sattais … Was i imagining or did i see Our Bama Maani in one of the images ? Dolly , i cannot thank you Enough for this Lovely post where i can see all my beloved relatives under One Roof . Just to keep you , Meera and Uma company , I also wore Blue in my Profile photo …. Love your Divine Energy … you are truly an empowered woman who empower others in our family circle . Blessings , Vinatha Maami
Thank you Vinatha Mami for your lovely comment. So happy you enjoyed seeing the Califronia Cousins in the Bay Area celebrating Navratri Golu together.