CUSTOMS AND SIGNIFICANCE : நவராத்ரி -3

Display of Golu in Tamil Nadu

Also called ...Navaratri Golu

Observed by...South Indian Hindus

Type....Hindu

Begins....Mahalaya

Ends....Vijayadasmi

Celebrations...Saraswati Pooja, Rangoli

Related to....Navratri

During the festival of Navratri in South India, it is customary in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, as well as in some Tamil communities within Sri Lanka, to display a "Golu" (also Kolu, or Bombe Habba or Bommai Kolu or Bommala Koluvu). This is an exhibition of various dolls and figurines in odd (usually 7, 9, or 11) numbered tiers ("padis").

Customs:

When people come to a person's house to see the Golu, usually they are given prasad (the offering given to God that day), kumkum and a small bag of gifts. These are only given to girls and married women. In the evenings, a "kuthuvilakku" (small lamp) is lit, in the middle of a decorated "kolam"(Rangoli), before the Golu and devotional hymns and shlokas are chanted. After performing the puja, the food items that have been prepared are offered to the goddesses.

Golu is adorned with dolls - predominantly with that of the gods and goddesses depicting mythology. It is a traditional practice to have at least some wooden dolls. There should also be a figurine of a boy and a girl together called 'Marapacchi' Bommai.^[1] Some photos taken during Golu of Navratri 2007 & 2010 are displayed at a home situated at Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India & at a home in Walldorf, Germany respectively are shown below. On the 9th day (Saraswati Puja), special pujas are offered to Goddess Saraswati - the divine source of wisdom and enlightenment. Books and musical instruments are placed in the puja and worshipped as a source of knowledge. Also, tools are placed in the pooja as part of "Ayudha Pooja". Vehicles are washed and decorated, and puja is performed for them.

The 10^th day, "Vijayadasami" - is the most auspicious day of all. It was the day on which evil was finally destroyed by good. It marks a new and prosperous beginning. New ventures started on this day are believed to flourish and bring prosperity. Kids often start tutoring on this day to have a head start in their education.

In the evening of "Vijayadasami", any one doll from the "Golu" is symbolically put to sleep and the Kalasam is moved a bit towards North to mark the end of that year's Navaratri Golu. Prayers are offered to thank God for the successful completion of that year's Golu and with a hope of a successful one the next year. Then the Golu is dismantled and packed up for the next year.

Significance:

Like any festival, Golu also has a significant connection with agricultural economy of ancient India. It is said that in order to encourage dredging and de-silting of irrigation canals and riverbeds the Golu celebration was aimed at providing demand for the clay material got from such activities. There are many peculiar customs and belief in different parts of India to imbibe godly stature to clay. Dissolving Ganesha doll made of wet clay in to water system in one such belief. In Bengal, the tradition calls for getting the clay from the foot step treaded by the most beautiful girl around to get the perfect features of the Goddess Kali.

மேலும் பயணிப்போம் நாமே நவராத்திரி பற்றி காண.. அன்புடன் கே எம் தர்மா...