Mud Dolls Come Alive in Navratri

Navratri In Chennai

Navratri literally means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit. It is an auspicious time to pray to the female form of the divine. Three forms of the goddess, namely ,Lakshmi,Saraswathi and Durga are worshipped during Navratri.  There is a daily pooja (prayers) performed  for the goddess. In addition,  it is customary for a display of mud dolls .As a matter of fact, the mud dolls are displayed in homes, offices and Temples during this period. It is known as Navratri Kolu or golu. Further, it is considered auspicious and a social occasion for greeting friends & family. The “kolu” is quite a remarkable tradition in the South of the country.The Kolu tradition brings alive the magic of Indian mythology and folklore.

Great India epics such as the Ramayana & the Mahabarata are passed on to the children through dance music, theatre, puppetry & Kolu.It is a great platform for social connectivity and keeps all family members in the house engaged and joyful.

Dolls Display

For example, the  dolls are typically made of mud, and painted in vivid colours. However, today ,some of them are made with paper Mache. The dolls are displayed on wooden steps. For example, there are between 7 to 11 steps on which the dolls are showcased. The dolls have been typically handed down through generations . Hence, it is a family tradition that is followed. The dolls come as a set of dolls. They are also distinct in their subject-matter: (a) a scene from Mount Kailash with Lord Shiva, his wife Parvati and their sons Lord Ganesh& Lord Kartikeya (b) Similarly , Lord Rama with his wife Sita , his brother Lakshmana, and his devotee, the monkey God Hanuman and so on.

Further, there are a multitude of themes and dolls that is available in the market.

The Dolls can  probably be purchased  from Giri,  VTI,  Poompuhar and Kalpa Druma.

Kolu Tradition

Above all, there has been a splurge of thematic kolu in the past 10 to 12 years leading to an explosion of revived interest in this tradition. A park with children, a temple on a hill, a water body, houses and markets have all been depicted. The grandmothers wove stories around these themes. She never ever got tired of them and the children too never ever got bored with them!!

In addition, the display is planned a few months ahead of the kolu and families are extremely resourceful in creating the necessary backdrops (converting throw-away cardboard rolls into pillars; using pattamadai mats to create huts etc.)

Women are dressed in their best clothes during the Kolu festival. There is an air of festivity ,cheers & camaraderie all around.

Take a look at the video link:

Navratri special- Golu Dolls Shop in Mylapore Chennai

Kolu Dolls are available at :-

Mylapore

T. Nagar

Other Navratri Blogs:-