In Tamil culture, nine nights of Navratri are dedicated to Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. In Tamil Nadu, the festival of Navratri is famous for the Kolu doll arrangements. Women arrange Golu dolls in homes on decorated steps made from wood. Navarathri 2023 begins on October 15 and ends on October 24. Vijayadashami or Dasara is on October 24. Navratri is observed in the Tamil month Purattasi. Special Navratri pujas and rituals are performed for Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The first three days are dedicated to Durga, the next three to Lakshmi and the final three days to Goddess Saraswati. Saraswati Puja on the last three days is of great importance to many Hindu communities. A kalash symbolizing the Goddesses is prepared and worshipped during the Navratri period. People avoid non-vegetarian food during the period and some people also perform Navratri fasting on certain days. A partial fast is also observed during the period. But for m

Food offered in the form of Prasad to ‘Mother Goddess’ is an essential part of Navaratri festival. Those people who observe Navratri Vrat (fasting) also prepare traditional Navratri dishes which are first offered to Goddess and then shared by family members, neighbors and friends. There is no dearth for Navratri recipes on the internet. Here are a few websites with good Navratri Vrat recipes – emphasis is given to blogs written by mothers and females who have prepared the dishes and then written about it. Please note that the selection is not based on any criteria. If you have a blog and Navratri recipes included please do let us know so that we can include it in this list. Makhane Aur Beej Ki Mithai This is a simple home made sweet and this is by Bhawna. You can find the recipe here at her blog . Chickpea Sundal This is a simple home made food offered as Naivedya (Prasad) and this is also by Bhawna. This recipe can be found here . Peanut L

Gomaya Maruti Mandir at Takli in Nashik in Maharashtra was established by Sri Samarth Ramdas. The Hanuman murti or idol worshipped in the temple is made using cow dung. The temple was established in 1633. The Gomay Maruti is facing west; and is depicted as if walking towards south. The murti is nine feet in height. The left hand is on the chest and the right hand is in abhaya mudra. The temple is part of the Sri Samarth Ramdas Ashram. In the ashram there are various other murtis of Hanuman and of gods and goddesses in Hindu pantheon.