South Indian worship of Saraswati; books and tools blessed

Saraswathi Poojai is the Tamil and South Indian worship of Goddess Saraswathi on Maha Navami, celebrated together with Ayudha Poojai as the high point of Navaratri in Tamil Nadu. The nine nights of Navaratri are traditionally divided into three: the first three for Durga, the next three for Lakshmi and the last three for Saraswathi, culminating on Navami. Books, notebooks, musical instruments such as the veena and mridangam, account ledgers and the tools of every trade are cleaned, marked with sandal and kumkum and placed before the Goddess, often on the steps of the Bommai Kolu (golu), the display of dolls arranged in homes through the festival. Children are not allowed to study on this day — the books are in the Goddess's keeping — and they are taken up again on Vijayadashami with a fresh start. The evening brings visits among neighbours, with women exchanging tambulam and children singing before the golu, and sundal of different legumes offered each night. Saraswathi is invoked as Vagdevi, the Goddess of speech and knowledge, so that all learning and skill may be pure and bear fruit.

No fast is prescribed; a vegetarian diet is kept.