– By Ravi Karkara
Golu, also known as Bommai Golu, is a traditional display of dolls during the Navratri festival, primarily celebrated in Southern India. This custom involves arranging dolls on a tiered platform, symbolizing spiritual progression and storytelling through scenes from Hindu Scriptures and daily life. Each step, or “Padi,” represents different themes, with higher steps depicting deities and lower ones representing human activities. Golu fosters cultural education, communal bonding, and devotion, as families invite friends and neighbors to view the display and participate in prayers and celebrations.
The Golu display is a vibrant and symbolic part of the Navratri festival, with each step or “Padi” having its own significance. Here’s a more detailed explanation of the steps:
Structure of the Golu Steps
- Number of Steps
The number of steps in a Golu display is usually odd—commonly 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11. This is because odd numbers are considered auspicious in Hindu tradition. - Arrangement and Themes
The arrangement of dolls on these steps follows a specific order, symbolizing various aspects of life and spirituality:
Top Steps
- Deities and Divine Figures: The topmost steps are reserved for idols and figurines of gods and goddesses. This includes popular deities like Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Vishnu, Shiva, and others. These steps represent the divine realm and are the focal point of worship during Navratri.
Middle Steps
- Saints and Scriptural Characters: The middle steps often feature saints, sages, and characters from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. These figures represent the spiritual journey and moral stories that guide human life.
Lower Steps
- Human Life and Everyday Scenes: The lower steps depict aspects of daily life, such as farmers, artisans, and market scenes. This represents the earthly realm and the diversity of human activities.
- Special Displays
- Chettiar Dolls: A pair of dolls representing a traditional merchant couple is often placed on one of the lower steps. They symbolize prosperity and are sometimes accompanied by miniature shops or markets.
- Thematic Displays: Some families create thematic displays that narrate stories from Hindu Scriptures or depict important cultural events.
Significance
Cultural Education
Golu serves as an educational tool for children and visitors to learn about Hindu History, traditions, and values through storytelling.
Community Bonding
Families invite friends and neighbors to view their Golu displays, fostering community interaction and cultural exchange.
Spiritual Growth
The tiered arrangement symbolizes a spiritual ascent from the earthly realm to divine consciousness, encouraging devotees to reflect on their spiritual journey.
Artistic Expression
Creating a Golu display allows for artistic creativity as families decorate their homes with intricate dolls and thematic setups.
In essence, Golu during Navratri is not just a festive decoration but a meaningful practice that combines devotion, education, community bonding, and artistic expression. There is so much to learn, replicate and integrate. This needs to be a universal Hindu practice.
