Chennai, Oct 14:
From choosing a theme for the golu steps to arranging dolls, planning daily neivedyam and designing invitations, Navaratri preparations are increasingly going digital, with households turning to Instagram, ChatGPT and other digital tools for ideas and assistance.
Traditionally, preparing for Navaratri involved families bringing out their collections of dolls, arranging them in carefully planned tiers, decorating their homes and preparing special offerings for each day of the festival. Today, technology is adding a new dimension to these customs, helping families organise their celebrations while retaining their traditional flavour.
Instagram has emerged as a source of inspiration for golu decorations, with users sharing photographs and videos of elaborate displays, creative themes, traditional arrangements and innovative backdrops. Families browse these posts for ideas ranging from temple-themed golu displays and village scenes to miniature weddings, parks and contemporary social themes.
Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT are also finding a place in household preparations. Users can seek suggestions for arranging dolls based on the number of steps and available collections, plan themes, prepare shopping lists, create invitations and draw up schedules for the nine days of Navaratri. Families can also ask for ideas for traditional recipes, daily neivedyam and simple decorations suited to their budgets.
For households hosting visitors, digital tools can help prepare invitation messages in Tamil and English, suggest return gifts and organise the sequence of daily poojas. Those looking to introduce a new theme each year can use AI to brainstorm concepts and adapt them to dolls already available at home.
Social media is also changing how families share their celebrations. Photographs, reels and short videos of golu arrangements allow relatives and friends living in different cities or countries to participate virtually. Digital invitations circulated through WhatsApp and other messaging platforms have made it easier to invite guests and coordinate visits during the festive season.
The shift does not necessarily mean that traditional practices are being replaced. For many families, technology serves as a planning assistant, while the actual work of cleaning dolls, arranging the steps, preparing food, singing devotional songs and welcoming visitors remains a shared household activity.
The digital approach can also help younger family members participate in traditions that have been followed across generations. Children can explore stories associated with the dolls, seek explanations of religious and cultural themes, and contribute their own ideas to the display.
However, families need to verify AI-generated religious information and recipes rather than relying on every suggestion without checking. Personal traditions and regional practices may vary, making family elders an important source of guidance.
As Navaratri celebrations evolve, the combination of age-old customs and new technology reflects how households are adapting to changing lifestyles. The golu may still be built one step at a time, but the ideas behind it increasingly begin with a search, a social media post or a conversation with an AI assistant.