Navratri, the nine-night festival, celebrates Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathi in South India. Kolu (also written as Golu) doll arrangement is an essential part of the celebration. The origin of the word Kolu can be traced to Tamil Kolu or Telegu Koluvai, which means a sovereign sitting in his royal court.
The concept of arranging the Navratri dolls on the planks depicts Goddess Mahishasuramardini sitting in her Kolu, prior to the slaying of the demon Mahishasura. This year, Navratri Kolu begins on October 8.
The festival is known as Bommla Koluvu in Andhra Pradesh and Navarathri in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Navratri is observed as Dusshera in Karnataka, where it is observed for ten days. The main event during Navrathri in South India is the display of dolls and idols – Kolu and the placing of Kalash, which represents Goddess.
Collecting Dolls
Although the dolls are only decorated during the ten days of Dussera, the collection of dolls builds over years. These dolls can be very simple to very complicated ones as per ones taste.
Marapachi Bommai
Marapachi dolls, mostly made of reddish wood, are finely carved figurines, available in various sizes. These dolls are a pair of male and female dolls, always sold as a couple. The female doll in Marapachi dolls is displayed to the right of the male doll and is usually placed on the first step or after Lord Ganesh.
Marapachi dolls are a proud possession for many families and are handed down generations. There is also a tradition of parents gifting their newly married daughter a Marapachi doll so that she can start Kolu display in her house. Some Tamil communities perform a ritual of symbolic wedding of the Marapachi dolls. This is usually carried out by girls whose wedding are delayed for some reason.
Marapachi toys were made for children in ancient days. Today, they are an indispensable part of Navratri doll arrangements. During display, the wooden couple is beautifully adorned with colorful attires and jewellery.
Arrangement of Golu
The first three days of the festival are dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, the next three days to Saraswati, Goddess of Learning and Arts and the last three days to Shakti, Goddess of Power and Might.
Arranging Navratri Kolu is an event in itself. Every year, women of the household, enthusiastically arrange these dolls as per their tastes. These Navratri dolls are arranged in several tiers. A maximum of nine tiers (Padis) can be set up to arrange the dolls, depending on the space and time available.
Some may remodify the existing dolls with additional ornamentation, or they add a couple of new dolls to the existing collection to every year. It also entails inviting neighbors, friends and other relatives to visit your home and view the Kolu decoration. Women exchange coconuts, small gifts and sweets amongst themselves. Married women (Sumangali) also exchange pouches containing a small mirror, turmeric, comb, beetle leaves with a beetlenut.
The most important dolls in the Kolu arrangement are the King-Queen (marapaachi bommais). These are expensive dolls and a set of them is found in all traditional households. Another important idol is that of Goddess Saraswati. A Kalash is also placed along with the Golu.
Tier 1, 2, 3 – These steps are devoted solely to the Gods; different idols of various Gods are arranged here. The ceremonial jar for holy water, which is a conical vessel, is filled with fresh water. A silk cloth is used to cover the mouth of the vessel, and a coconut and mango leaves are placed on top of it. Also known as Kumbhan, this is kept on the first step.
Tier 4, 5, 6 – The next three steps are dedicated to demigods, saints like Sai Baba, great men like Swami Vivekananda. Some households even place dolls of national leaders who have sacrificed their lives for the country.
Tier 7 – Various arrangements, such as the marriage scene and Pongal motif, which signify the various human activities, are placed on the seventh tier.
Tier 8 – The eighth tier is assigned to various businesses and crafts. The Chettiar dolls, which are an equivalent of a businessman and his wife, are placed here, and commodities like rice, pulses in cups and other utensils are placed in front of them.
Tier 9 – The ninth tier is the last phase. Traditional wooden dolls called Marapachi — male and female dolls dressed in colorful and glittering clothes — are placed. Dolls of animals, birds, reptiles and other forms of nature are also kept on this tier.
On the night of Dussera, after the ceremonial Arti and prayers, the dolls are put to ‘sleep.’ The next day, the dolls are packed carefully in cloth or paper and preserved for use the next year.
A novel trend evolving is the concept of `Community Kolus’. Several women, who are otherwise unable to keep Kolu in their homes, cumulate and put up a Navratri Kolu in a common place.
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