Navratri Bommai Kollu.

The Navratri Bommai Kollu Festival is held in almost every South Indian Tamilian house. It commences on the Amavasya day of the month of Bhadrapada, .Bommai Kolu is traditionally a women's festival that Tamilians celebrate during Dasshera. Every year, a series of steps is set up and kolu bommai or dolls are displayed. These dolls typically depict gods or village scenes and weddings. A kolu can be as simple or as elaborate as one likes. The woman of the house invites other women to come inspect the kolu, eat a few snacks, exchange a little gossip and go home with a couple of small goodies.

During this time, the girls and women make rounds from house to house during those nine days of Navrathri. Sundal is a delicious confection made from bean sprouts and coconut that is traditionally served at kolu. Women set up decorated planks in a corner and place on it all the dolls in the house. This beautiful clay figurines of gods and goddesses are worshipped during Navaratri, viewing art as Divinity. Women traditionally exchange gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets.

On the Amavasya day after finishing the rituals, like offering `tarpana etc. the custom is, to keep the Kalash filled with rice, toor dal haldi sticks, betel leaves and nuts or mango leaves with a
coconut on it. The most important thing is to keep two wooden dolls specially brought from Tirupathy. The wooden dolls are anointed with oil and bathed and decorated as bride and groom. The right muhurtam is chosen before placing the Kalash and the dolls for worship, with which the Kollu festival begins.

The dolls are given to the girl from her parents during her marriage and are called "Marapachi Bommai". From this day she starts the ceremony of Kollu going on adding Bommais from South. Marapachi means a special kind of wood which has medicinal value too and Bommai means dolls. Kollu means displaying.

The Kollu is done by constructing wide tiers or steps in any number, maximum being seven. The number of tiers or steps should be in odd numbers, like, one, three, five and so on. One can erect nine steps too if space and time permits. Variety of dolls are displayed artistically and arranged beautifully on the steps.

From the day the married girl gets the Marapachi Bommai she starts collecting dolls and observes the ceremony annually. All Gods and Goddesses of our epics and puranas are displayed on the tiers which are beautifully decorated. For example, for `Garuda Vahana' i.e. God Narayan taken in Garuda Vahan or vehicle is kept. One of the items exhibited is the called `Marriage Set Malam Talam' i.e. the marriage procession of relations and friends led by musical players of clarionet (malam) and mridangam (talam). Then there, is the `Dashavatar' set episodes from Ramayana and Krishna Leela. One can add more dolls but should not decrease the number.
During these nine days ladies are invited and offered haldi kumkum with betel leaves and fruits. Sweets and 'chundals' (made of chana) are offered to the ladies. Ladies dress up in their finery and ornaments and find an opt occasion to dress up specially their daughters.

On the ninth day, the day before the Vijay Dasami day, falls the Saraswati Puja. is the Goddess Saraswati  Goddess of Learning and hence books musical instruments etc, are decorated with flowers and worshipped. Vijay Dasami or the Dussera Day is the auspicious day when all fine arts like, dance, music, or any new venture in learning is begun.

It is the 'Learners' Day. A child beginning his first lessons of alphabets begins it on this day ceremoniously. Prayers are offered to Goddess Saraswati and her blessings sought. Token of Guru Dakshinas are also given to the respective Gurus. The lamp or diya once lit is continuously kept burning for twenty-four hours for ten days. Some people observe it even today.
On the tenth night after the ceremonial arti and prayers the, `Marapachi' are put to sleep. And, the next day the exhibits are packed carefully in cloth or paper and preserved for use the next year. Vijay Dasami and Navratri are also the auspicious time for buying new clothes and feasting. Unlike other Vrats, there is no custom of fasting during Navratri Kollu. Navratri Bommai Kollu is celebrated more out of enthusiasm, according to one's space, time and purse, and more for meeting each other and keeping good relationship with all.*****
Golu or Kolu, doll arrangement, is an essential part of Navrathri and Dasara celebrations in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu..   The Bommai Golus are proud possessions of a family and they are handed down through generations. Apart from the traditional Navratri Bommai Kolu display, nowadays there is an emphasis on Golu themes with different ideas.

Majority of the Bommai Golu displayed in homes opt for the traditional method of display. Kolu – the royal court of Goddess Durga is created 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 steps. The most important dolls in the kolu arrangement are the Raja-rani or the marapaachi bommais. These are expensive dolls and a set of them is found in all traditional households. Another important idol is that of Goddess Saraswati. A Kalash is also placed along with the Golu.

Golu ideas and How to Create
Stories from Hindu Mythology continue to be the favorite theme during Navarathri Golu. Community Golu and displays by organizations also opt for various other themes - current issues, social message or something related with their field of activity.
With kolu sets with different themes readily available in market, many people also opt for it in their homes. Each year various companies come out with different Kolu sets mostly related to Hindu mythology.
Some young men and women prefer to be creative and opt for something unique.
If you are planning to create a unique Navarathri Bommai Golu:

    First decide on a theme or select a story from mythology.
    Draw a sketch of the Golu theme in paper or create one in Computer.
    Mark all the dolls, back grounds and props needed.
    It would be wise to hunt for dolls after deciding on a theme or story.
    While selecting a theme make sure that it does not exceed the budget.
    Also make sure that the dolls are available in the market or you can create it in a short period.
    Depending upon your theme, you will also need backgrounds and other props like forest, trees, ashrams, animals etc.

Know Your Limitations

    A simple and well-defined Bommai Kolu will be more attractive than a crowded Kolu, which does not convey any idea.
    Don’t jump into creating a Bommai Kolu by being impressed by a professional Kolu arrangement or one done by a person with artistic sense.
    Some of the Golu arrangements that might have impressed you are the product of years of practice and the dolls might be part of traditional collection.
   Therefore know your limitations in creating props and backgrounds before deciding on a theme.

If you are creating Kolu for the first time:
Decide on a mythological theme and then hunt in the market for dolls.
It would be easy to get dolls associated with Hindu myth. Even you might stumble across backgrounds and props.

Apart from the mythological subjects, you can opt for festival themes, karagatam, various dance performances, concert, market, village life etc.
You can also use modern toys to create themes like olympics, cricket, IT related themes, Harry Potter or any other famous stories like Cinderella. Zoo, town, park are some of the usual themes with readily available props in market.
Look around in your home and neighborhood, you will find several props and ideas. Props like forest, trees, ponds, paddy field etc can be created easily at home.

For paddy field, take a flat basin fill it with some mud and sow wheat. Wheat grows quickly. While placing the tray in Golu hide the tray cleverly, so that only the green part is seen. Ponds too can be created in similar fashion. Trees can be done on cardboards and thermocole. If you are interested in vegetable carving, depending upon your theme you can make props using melon, carrot and other such vegetables.

                   By.K.N.Subramanyam