What’s your favourite kolu song?

It’s that time of the year when colourful kolu dolls adorn homes, an array of sundals is prepared and women bring out their finest silks. But what are festivities without music? As you make your kolu rounds, visit friends and family, and welcome guests into your home this Navaratri, you would want songs and chants to fill the air.

From Muthuswami Dikshitar’s timeless Navavarana kritis, a set of nine compositions in praise of goddess Kamalamba, to Syama Sastri’s evocative Swarajatis dedicated to goddess Kamakshi, there is no dearth of music associated with the festival. Beyond these celebrated works, several Carnatic kritis, Tamil devotional songs and Sanskrit shlokas have become Navaratri staples over the years. Here’s a devotional playlist to accompany your celebrations.

Bhagyada lakshmi baaramma (Purandaradasar, Madhyamavati)

Mahalakshmi jagan matha (Papanasam Sivan, Sankarabharanam)

Sri chakra raja simhasaneswari (Ragamalika)

Naanoru vilaiyattu bommaiya (Papanasam Sivan, Navarasa Kanada)