It is all about dolls
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South Indians have a special way to celebrate Navaratri
Navaratri has many forms
across the country. In South India, it's called Bommla Koluvu (Andhra
Pradesh) and Navarathri (Tamil Nadu and Kerala). South Indian families
set up the golu kolu in their homes and temples are decorated with the
dolls. “Kolu is the artistic display of dolls by women during
Navarathri. The dolls represent the durbar or assembly of Goddess
Durga,“ explains Worli-based Chithra Sridhar.
Known as the Golu Padi, it is a unique creation of nine steps filled with statues of various gods and goddesses. Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Hanuman, Lakshmi and Saraswathi rate the highest. The Dasavatharam set of dolls is the most commonly exhibited.
While the South also organizes associations which award the best kolus decorated in the locality, Mumbai has a smaller scale celebration. “During kolu, the entire neighborhood, friends and relatives gather in a house and sing bhajans dedicated to Goddess Durga.Children get dressed in look-alikes of God, as Radha and Krishna and have fun,“ says Dadar-based MM Rao, who celebrates the festival every year.
Of course, Sundal is made each day as are special sweets for the season. Fi nally, on the ninth day, the dolls are made to sleep. This is also the day when the Sarawathi Puja or the Ayutha Puja takes place. On the tenth day, Vijayadashami, the dolls are taken out from the steps and carefully put away.
You think it's time to search for a South Indian friend if you don't have one already?
Known as the Golu Padi, it is a unique creation of nine steps filled with statues of various gods and goddesses. Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Hanuman, Lakshmi and Saraswathi rate the highest. The Dasavatharam set of dolls is the most commonly exhibited.
While the South also organizes associations which award the best kolus decorated in the locality, Mumbai has a smaller scale celebration. “During kolu, the entire neighborhood, friends and relatives gather in a house and sing bhajans dedicated to Goddess Durga.Children get dressed in look-alikes of God, as Radha and Krishna and have fun,“ says Dadar-based MM Rao, who celebrates the festival every year.
Of course, Sundal is made each day as are special sweets for the season. Fi nally, on the ninth day, the dolls are made to sleep. This is also the day when the Sarawathi Puja or the Ayutha Puja takes place. On the tenth day, Vijayadashami, the dolls are taken out from the steps and carefully put away.
You think it's time to search for a South Indian friend if you don't have one already?
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