Navaratri, one of the most auspicious and vibrant festivals in India, features the Navaratri Golu—a nine-day celebration dedicated to the worship of the Mother Goddess in her various forms: Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. A significant aspect of this celebration is the Golu—a decorative display of dolls, also called Bommai Kolu in Tamil Nadu. This tradition involves arranging dolls on steps in homes, inviting divine presence, and creating a space for daily worship and festivities.
This blog serves as a detailed guide on how to set up and maintain a traditional Golu, incorporating customs passed down through generations. Please note that these Navaratri Golu practices are based on my personal and family traditions and may vary from others.
The Significance of Navaratri and Navaratri Golu
Navaratri honors the victory of good over evil, dedicating each set of three days to different aspects of the Goddess:
- Durga – The first three days focus on Durga, symbolizing power and strength, and cleansing our negative energies.
- Lakshmi – The next three days honor Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, who blesses us with abundance.
- Saraswati – The final three days are for Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and learning, signifying the importance of knowledge.
On the tenth day, Vijaya Dashami marks the triumph of good forces, symbolized through the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
Timetable for Golu Setup (Chennai, 2024)
For those in Chennai, here’s a quick timetable for setting up the Golu:
- Amavasya (New Moon) begins on 1st October 2024, at 9:39 pm, until 12:18 am on 3rd October 2024.
- Pratipada starts at 12:18 am on 3rd October 2024 and ends at 2:58 am on 4th October 2024.
Based on these timings, you may set up the Golu steps on Amavasya (1st October night) and arrange the dolls on Pratipada (3rd October). The kalasam (holy pot) is also installed on Pratipada before arranging Golu dolls.
Navadhanyam or Mulaipari for Golu
Mulaipari (sprouting nine grains) is an integral ritual during Navaratri, symbolizing fertility and prosperity. The traditional grains for Mulaipari are:
- Ragi (Finger Millet)
- Mochai (Hyacinth Beans)
- Blackeyed Beans (Cowpeas)
- Urad Dal (Black Gram)
- Chickpeas (Bengal Gram)
- Rice
- Pigeon Peas (Toor Dal)
- Green Gram (Moong)
- Wheat
These grains are sown a few days before Navaratri begins to allow sprouting, symbolizing growth and abundance.
Setting Up the Golu Steps
Steps and Arrangement:
Arrange the steps in odd numbers: 3, 5, 7, or 9, with nine steps representing the Navagrahas.
Align the steps against a wall, ideally facing east or north, and avoid positioning them facing south.
Cover the steps with a clean, reserved cloth or saree.
Placement of Dolls:
After installing the kalasam, arrange the dolls on Pratipada. If you are using Marapacchi Bommai (wooden dolls), place them on the first or second step as representations of the King and Queen.
Arranging the Golu Dolls
The dolls, or Bommai, are placed in an order that reflects the evolution of beings from the divine to the lower realms. Here’s how you can arrange them:
1-3 Steps: Divine Beings
- Step 1: Place the kalasam at the center, surrounded by idols of major deities such as Ganesha, Vishnu, Siva, Durga, Saraswati, and Mahalakshmi.
- Step 2: Display Ashtalakshmi, the eight forms of Lakshmi, in sequence. You can keep the Marapacchi Bommai as well.
- Step 3: Arrange avatars like the Dasavatara set, depicting the ten avatars of Vishnu, symbolizing evolution.
4-6 Steps: Human Representations
- Step 4: Saints and revered figures like the Alvars, Nayanmars, and Navagrahas.
- Step 5: Historical figures, poets, and musicians such as Mahatma Gandhi, Thiruvalluvar, and Thyagaraja.
- Step 6: Human activities like farming, music, and village life.
Steps 7-9: The Animal Kingdom
- Step 7: Animals.
- Step 8: Birds.
- Step 9: Insects, crawling creatures, and plants.
Decorating with Kolam and Deepam
After arranging the dolls:
- Using rice flour, draw a kolam (rangoli) in front of the Golu stand. Don’t forget to change the kolam throughout Navaratri.
- Place lamps (ideally kuthu villakku) on either side of the kolam.
Offering Naivedyam
Naivedyam (food offering) is done twice daily, accompanied by lighting the lamps. Every day different varieties of sundal (a traditional South Indian legume dish) are prepared. Sundal varieties include Sweet green gram sundal, Chickpeas sundal, Kadalai paruppu / channa dal sundal, Ground nut / peanut sundal, sweet corn sundal, Mochai / Field beans sundal, Thatta payir / Red cow peas sundal, Pattani / Green peas sundal, White chickpeas sundal and more.
Dismantling the Golu
On Vijaya Dashami (12th October 2024), offer naivedyam one final time before dismantling the Golu. Some customs include symbolically shifting the kalasam northward and putting one doll to rest. The Golu is then dismantled, avoiding removal on Fridays and Tuesdays. If these days follow Dashami, dismantle it on the evening of Dashami itself.
Conclusion
Navaratri is not just a celebration but a journey of devotion, culture, and community bonding. By setting up the Golu, we invite the Goddess into our homes, fostering an environment of positivity, learning, and prosperity. Each step, each doll, and each day’s offering is a tribute to our rich heritage.