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Festivals are times to rejoice, celebrate and have fun with friends and family. Navratri, being one of the major festivals of India, is celebrated for 9 nights and 10 days in various parts of India . and it is dedicated to various forms of Goddess Durga.
Golu is a dolls festival celebrated during Navratri. Apart from Tamil Nadu, it is also a part of the festivities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In Tamil Nadu it is called as Bommai Golu and in Telugu it is known as Bommana Koluvu. Let us know more about this interesting festival of dolls.
Photo Courtesy: Vinoth Chandar
The celebration starts with setting up of steps at the corner of each household. The number of steps may vary from 3 to 11, in odd numbers. These steps are then covered with white cloth and the dolls are neatly arranged on them. The dolls are mostly of Hindu mythological characters and of scenes from Hindu scripts. These may include miniatures of gods, goddesses, animal and people.
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Photo Courtesy: Vinoth Chandar
Since it is a cultural event, devotees take pride in exhibiting the dolls. Neighbours are invited to their homes to catch the spectacular arrangement of dolls, and gifts are exchanged among women. The gifts would contain clothes, coconut and sweets.
Married women also exchange small bags that contain items like comb, turmeric, mirror and beetle leaves. Women also engage in singing hymns and praising the three major forms of the goddess - Saraswati, Lakshmi and Durga. In Tamil Nadu, a special dish 'sundal' is prepared on all these 9 days. This delicious dish is made out of groundnut, peas and several pulses.
Photo Courtesy: Vinoth Chandar
On the 10th day, the dolls are taken from the stand and packed carefully to be kept safe for the next Navratri. Since each year new dolls are bought, every household will have a handsome collection of Golu dolls.
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It is interesting to know that Golu festival in India is similar to the Japanese Hinamatsuri Festival of dolls. For Himanatsuri, the dolls are arranged on red cloth and the figures are of the emperor, empress, musicians, etc. Hinamatsuri is also called the Girls' Day and is observed to get rid of the evil spirits.
Isn't it amazing to visit these places during Navratri?
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