Golu (festival)
golu festive display doll figurine south india autumn festive season particularly around multiday navaratri dussehra dasara festival hinduism display typically thematic narrating legend hindu text court life wedding everyday scene miniature kitchen utensil also known golu gombe habba bommai golu bommala koluvu displayed item golu display sometimes called golu doll equivalent typically made rural artisan clay wooden material brightly painted generally arranged odd number padis tier step tell story goddessrelated theme common along development anticipated wedding within family friend golu display season family neighbor visit gift view chitchat golu display share festive food sometimes play music sing devotional song together major hindu temple meenakshi temple madurai arrange elaborate golu display year navaratri bommai golu tamil mean doll decoration bommala koluvu telugu mean court toy gombe habba mean doll festival kannada part annual dasaravijayadasami hindu festival young girl woman display doll figurine court life everyday scene along divine presence goddess saraswati parvati lakshmi tamil kannada telugu household navaratri nine night first day navaratri following ganapati puja welcoming ritual performed goddess saraswati durga lakshmi hindu ritual called kalasa aavahanam performed elderly male female family auspicious time muhurtam followed building rack oddnumbered shelf golu padi usually set using wooden plank step covered fabric adorned various doll figurine toy according size deity top doll predominantly displayed depiction hindu mythological text court life royal procession ratha yatra wedding baby shower everyday scene miniature kitchen utensil anything little girl would played traditional practice wooden figurine bride groom together called marapacchi bommai pattada gombe usually made sandalwood teak rosewood dried coconut decorated new clothes year displayed golu southern india bride presented marapacchi bommai wedding parent part wedding trousseau initiate yearly tradition navaratri golu new home husband doll come couple dressed wedding attire depicting husband wife symbolizing prosperity fertility start bride golu collection display figurine passed one generation another heirloom often several generation old old kingdom mysore pattada gombe also believed tribute king wodeyar dynasty ruled region around year evening woman within neighborhood invite visit home view golu display also exchange gift sweet kuthuvilakku lamp lit middle decorated rangoli devotional hymn shlokas chanted performing puja food item prepared offered goddess guest first day festival dedicated durga next day dedicated lakshmi finally last day dedicated saraswati th day saraswati puja special pujas offered goddess saraswati book musical instrument placed puja worshipped source knowledge th day vijayadashami regarded auspicious day day hindu believe asura mahishasura finally destroyed durga regarded mark new prosperous beginning later evening vijayadashami one doll display symbolically put sleep kalasha moved bit towards north mark end year navaratri golu display prayer offered thank deity successful completion year navaratri festival hope successful one next year step dismantled doll packed next year practice golu appeared current day karnataka closely associated royal navaratri celebration vijayanagara monarchy golu likely appeared nayakas polygars state spread andhra pradesh tamil nadu navaratri called mahanavami state celebration royalty numerous secular religious ritual renewed alliance vassal established prestige among subject beyond border legitimized exercise power opulent celebration influenced practice golu household southern deccan ordering society reproduced like ordering dignitary spectator durbar see mahanavami dibba hampi part andhra pradesh still followed tradition displaying golu also celebration makara sankranti january take name saṅkrānti bommala koluvu సంక్రాంతి బొమ్మల కొలువు telugu custom explained fact navaratri period occurs four time year one per season including magha gupta navaratri winter navaratri presentday tamil nadu also rare tradition installing golu gokulashtami among khedawals small community gujarati brahmin migrated region th century adopted local cultural aspect bommala koluvu become element south indian ethos especially heir state vijayanagara nayak era karnataka andhra pradesh tamil nadu association navaratri celebration kingship power vijayanagara period resulted many festivity still perpetuated related celebration include dasara mysore navaratri ramnad tamil nadu exhibition golu attested practice court king tanjore pudukkottai tanjore palace golu said featured figurine representing different caste social group however end th century golu spread among commoner population far royal court influence diffusion occurred independently royal court region madrasian bourgeoisie upper caste chettiars iyers iyengars etc background probably adopted practice canarese telugu community city result golu long associated affluent high upper middle class people urban upper caste sociocultural marker wrongly presented exclusive tamil brahmin certain number whose household practice told absent habit real hindu bourgeoisie th century madras composed significant proportion brahmin since golu experienced continuous even wider diffusion particularly line logic social mobility among urban middle working class many major temple state organize exhibition golus many public place community install however golu still far systematic feature tamil nadu household practice yet become part habit many common community household sociocultural characteristic golu practice found karnataka modern introduction context far removed monarchy practice golu took purely religious dimension tamil nadu koluvu apparent link royalty rather miniature reproduction world totality consecration devi protection sought votive practice golu among hindu tamil nadu also noteworthy many people sometimes dont install golu home offer particular figurine entire set golu temple exvoto offering votive figurine also installed domestic golus following prayer fulfillment golu also significant connection agricultural handicraft profession india besides economic aspect festival important occasion socializing season relative friend south india make point visit others home also important occasion promotes creative expression woman family work together aesthetic aspect day golu doll made either clay paper mache latter light weight doll famously made vilacheri madurai doll also depict various freedom fighter indian independence movement character like spiderman superman considering need cater younger audience people use collapsible step easy install relation practice golu court tanjore royal patronage art craft including pottery clay work notably enabled creation tanjore doll best known tanjorean nautch dancer lady bobbling head appeared reign serfoji ii today commonly exhibited golus beyond thanjavur practice bommala koluvu contributed creation preservation many form traditional ancient craft woodworking kondapalli kondapalli toy known peculiarly dasavatara series andhra pradesh channapatna channapatna toy karnataka two locality known equally soughtafter craftsmanship wooden figurine toy decorate doll court also excellent outlet many community artisan southern india difficulty making living expertise less sought industrialised society vilacheri tamil nadu local potter notably made terracotta horse puravi worship ayyanar retrained making koluvu figurine around since recognized new field work panruti northern tamil nadu also area renowned golu doll crafting tamil nadu growth practice golu also accompanied nativity scene like golu practice christmas crib long time limited wealthy social stratum south indian christian especially catholic church urbanisation spread cultural practice consumption pattern hitherto restricted affluent social class demand christmas crib figure risen sharply demand also satisfied craftsman make golu figurine navaratri vijayadashami hinamatsuri marapachi doll medium related golu wikimedia common navarathri golu golu doll showcase display photo