Navaratri Golu (Kolu) is a stepped doll display kept to honor the Goddess during the nine nights of Navaratri, arranged from top (deities) to bottom (everyday life) to symbolize the entire universe under Devi’s protection. For full festival context, see [Navaratri: Nine Nights of Goddess Worship][link:navratri-main].
What is Navaratri Golu?
Golu (also called Bommai Golu, Bommala Koluvu, Bombe Habba) is a South Indian Navaratri tradition where families set up an odd-numbered staircase of dolls representing gods, saints, epics, and village life. In Tamil, “Bommai Golu” means “divine presence,” in Telugu “Bommala Koluvu” means “court of toys,” and the display is seen as inviting the Goddess to preside over all aspects of creation during Navaratri. To understand the nine forms of Devi worshipped each day, see [Navaratri: 9 Goddess Avatars and Lessons][link:navratri-nine-forms].
Step-by-step: How to arrange Golu
1. Choose spot and build the steps
- Pick a clean, well-lit area like living room, pooja room, or a wide corridor, with space to walk around the display.
- Use ready-made Golu stands or build tiers with wood/metal shelves or boxes; tradition prefers odd-numbered tiers – 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11, symbolizing growth and auspiciousness.
- Align the steps against a wall, ideally facing east or north, and avoid facing south if possible.
For general home altar guidance, see [Navaratri Home Puja Setup: Altar, Directions, and Daily Routine][link:navratri-home-puja].
2. Cover tiers and prepare kalasam
- Drape each tier with a white or colorful cloth/saree, fixing it tightly so it does not slip when dolls are placed.
- Clean the floor, draw a kolam/rangoli in front of the stand, and keep space for lamps at the sides.
- On Amavasya or the first Navaratri day, prepare a kalasam: fill a brass/silver pot with water, turmeric, and grains, tie mango leaves around the neck, and place a coconut on top; this represents the Goddess and is kept at or near the top tier.
For a detailed kalasam guide, refer to [Navaratri Kalasam: How to Install and Worship the Sacred Pot][link:navratri-kalasam].
3. Arrange dolls from divine to earthly
Work from top to bottom, following the traditional hierarchy.
- Top 1–3 steps – Deities and divine forms
- Top tier: kalasam in the center, flanked by main deities such as Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Murugan, Krishna, Rama, and Hanuman.
- Next tiers: sets like Ashtalakshmi, Navadurga, or other Goddess forms; Marapacchi Bommai (wooden bride–groom/king–queen dolls) are often placed here as symbolic ideal householders under Devi’s grace.
- Another tier may hold Dasavatara (Vishnu’s ten avatars) or other avatar/temple sets, representing evolution from fish to complete human form.
You can interlink deity-related articles here:
- Krishna → [Janmashtami: Complete Dahi Handi and Fasting Procedure][link:janmashtami-guide]
- Rama → [Ram Navami: How to Celebrate Lord Rama’s Birth][link:ram-navami-guide]
- Hanuman → [Hanuman Jayanti: How to Worship Hanuman on His Birthday][link:hanuman-jayanti-guide]
- Middle steps – Epics, saints, culture
You can also link:
- Ramayana/Sundarkand → [Sundarkand: Why Hanuman’s Chapter Is Considered Auspicious][link:sundarkand-article]
- Krishna leelas → [Krishna Leelas: Playful Stories and Their Meanings][link:krishna-leela-article]
- Lower steps – People, nature, village and modern life
- Use these tiers for village scenes, markets, schools, farms, parks, animals, vehicles, and occupational sets like the Chettiar shop with grains and groceries.
- Many families extend onto the floor with a small park, river, hill, or city scene, using toys, artificial grass, sand, and lights for storytelling.
Overall, this layout shows creation descending from pure divinity at the top to everyday life and nature at the bottom, all revered as part of Devi’s universe.
Daily worship and visiting customs
- Each Navaratri evening, light lamps (kuthu vilakku) near the Golu, refresh the kolam, and offer flowers and a simple naivedyam, traditionally a different variety of sundal (seasoned legumes) each day.
- Recite slokas, Lalita Sahasranama, or Devi stotras in front of the Golu, seeing the dolls as living representations of the divine and of society. For full mantras, food ideas, and daily schedule, see [Navaratri Fasting and Daily Puja Guide][link:navratri-fasting-puja].
- Invite women and children to “see Golu,” offer haldi‑kumkum, betel leaves, fruits, coconuts, bangles, turmeric, kumkum, and prasad, and encourage them to sing bhajans or slokas honoring the Goddess.
Symbolism and closing
Golu is said to mean “Divine Assembly” or “Court of Toys,” where gods, saints, and all beings are assembled before Devi during Navaratri, celebrating Shakti and the victory of good over evil. It is also customary to add at least one new doll each year, symbolizing growth, new beginnings, and continuity of tradition. On Vijayadashami, families perform a short closing puja, express gratitude to the Goddess, and then carefully dismantle the steps and pack away the dolls, honoring the cycle of creation, celebration, and renewal that Golu represents. From “Vijayadashami,” you can link to [Dussehra/Vijayadashami: Meaning, Puja, and Auspicious Beginnings][link:dussehra-guide].
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