NAVARATHRI: A celebration of womanhood

The concept of the Triad or the Divine Trinity is well-known in Hindusim. Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu the Protector and Shiva the Destoryer are the three great forces that make up the Brahman or the Omnipotent Force of the Universe. These three gods are not alone; their spouses share their attributes.

It is said Parvathi, the Goddess of Bravery, Saraswathi the Goddess of Learning and Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth, along with their powerful consorts rule the world with infinite mercy and wisdom. These three goddesses are celebrated and revered throughout the country, especially during the Navarathri Festival. Each goddess is worshipped for three days and her glory is sung and enacted.

Many are the rituals and traditions that enrich these 9 days. However, in this short piece, I am going to tell you only about the Golu. The Golu is the Doll Exhibition that is displayed in temples and each Hindu home during Navarathri. Though the golu has not been mentioned in any Vedic texts, the Hindus undertake it with great enthusiasm.

Dolls of various sizes, shapes and colours can be seen in a Golu. Usually, they are arranged on specially made wooden steps which are nine in number. On the first or top-most step is placed the kalasam or the Auspicious Pot. It is a small bronze pot filled with rice, the neck of which is closed by a whole coconut. Tender mango leaves are arranged around the rim of the pot and exotic designs of rice paste are traced all over the vessel. This Kalasam is the first item to be placed on the Golu steps. Next comes, a clay or earthen image of the Goddess rajarajeshwari or Durag, manifestations of Parvathi. On her side are arraigned the other two goddesses, Lakshmi and Parvathi.

The huge pantheon of Hindu gods also finds their places on the descending steps. The last two steps are reserved for lowly human dolls- little boys and girls, galloping, reading or playing with their pets, a lone clay policemean, some porcelain figurines of parasol-bearing coy ladies (usually bought by Uncle's jaunts abroad), wooden stick figures, called marapaachis wearing a gruesome expression on their faces and so on. The Chettiar bommai is a doll that finds pride of place in almost every Golu. It is the likeness of a fat, balding merchant peddling his wares (usually groceries). Sometimes, you can find his wife, the Chettichi also giving him company..!! You can even see miniature towns, parks and whole cities laid out at the base of the Golu steps.

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