The nine-night Navarathiri is one of the most important Hindu festivals dedicated to the worship of the Divine Mother Shakti, who represents feminine energy, strength, wisdom, prosperity and protection.
Malaysia Hindu Sangam president Genesan Thangavellu said the festival, which ends tomorrow, honours three manifestations of Shakti – Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati, symbolising courage, prosperity and knowledge respectively.
“One of the distinctive traditions practised by many Hindu families in Malaysia is the arrangement of Navarathiri Golu, where dolls and figurines representing Hindu deities, saints, religious stories and aspects of everyday life are displayed on decorated steps, traditionally arranged in odd numbers.
“The Golu tradition serves as a means of preserving religious knowledge, cultural heritage and traditional values, particularly among the younger generation.”
Genesan added that the festival ends with Vijayadashami, symbolising the victory of righteousness over evil.
“The 10th day is also considered particularly auspicious for beginning education, learning new skills and undertaking positive endeavours,” he added.
Dances have also become a significant expression of devotion, with performers offering their art in reverence to the divine.
Malaysia Barathanatyam Dance Association president Gayathri C. Ramesh, who is also Datta Guru Natyalaya Academy founder and teacher, said Navarathiri was one of the busiest periods of the year for classical dancers.
She said teachers and students would spend months preparing for performances held throughout the nine nights.
Beyond devotion and dance, Gayathri said it was an exciting time for the teachers tasked with coming up with new choreography.
“It is also an educational journey for the students, who visit different temples for their performances, learn about the significance of Golu doll displays and discover the stories behind the deities.
“It teaches them discipline and perseverance, as preparing for the performances requires dedication, with classes increasing from once a week to three or four times closer to the festival.”
For Gayathri, performing during Navarathiri was especially meaningful because of the spiritual connection.
“The students also enjoy the process of dressing up and temple-hopping.
“They find that there is a thrill to dancing in a temple, where divine blessings can be felt,” she said when met at a temple in Batu Caves, Gombak, Selangor.
Her daughter, Anagha Laxmi Ramesh Kumar, who also teaches at the academy, said the preparation and back-to-back performances helped students, especially beginners, build confidence and overcome stage fright.
Despite the demanding schedule, both mother and daughter find joy in offering their performances at temples.
“It can be challenging but also a lot of fun,” Anagha said.
Tanjai Kamalaa Indira Dance School co-founder and principal Indira Manikam said they had been celebrating Navarathiri at the dance school grounds for 25 years.
While some of her senior students perform at temples, she said most of her students performed at the school in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur.
“The school has a big compound, so we set up the Navarathiri Golu display and a priest comes over daily to perform the prayers.
“Students and their families attend the prayers and we have dinner to end the day.”
Indira said the festival was also a time when they shared stories of the significance of Navarathiri and the goddesses, helping students understand the spiritual meaning behind the celebration.
“The students get to showcase what they have learnt while deepening their appreciation of Indian classical dance and its connection to religious traditions.
“For the school, Navarathiri is not just about performing but also about bringing students and families together to celebrate faith, preserve cultural heritage and pass these traditions on to the younger generation,” she added.
