Golu Setup Steps, dolls and kalash, in order.
20 guides to building your Golu: how many steps to use, layouts from three to nine steps, which doll goes where, the kalash, direction and placement, decoration and lighting, and packing everything away safely.
How do you set up a Golu?
Choose a spot with room for guests, build an odd number of sturdy steps (usually three, five, seven or nine) and cover them with cloth. Place the kalash and main deities on the top step, then arrange saints, story scenes and everyday life on the lower steps. Most families finish the setup on or just before the first day of Navaratri.
Start here
The full setup in order, a checklist, and simple layouts for first-timers and small homes.
How to Set Up Golu at Home: Step-by-Step Guide
The whole setup in order: choosing the spot, building the steps, covering them, placing the kalash and arranging the dolls.
Read the guideGolu Setup Checklist: What to Prepare Before Navaratri
What to prepare before Navaratri: steps, cloth, dolls, kalash, lamps, puja items and sundal ingredients.
Read the guideSimple Golu Setup for First-Time Families
A simple setup for first-time families, with a few dolls on a small number of steps.
Read the guideHow to Set Up Golu in a Small Apartment
Setting up Golu in a small apartment: shelves, compact steps and space-saving layouts.
Read the guide
Choosing and building the steps
How many steps to use, why they are odd in number, layouts for three to nine steps, and building them safely.
How Many Steps Should a Golu Have?
Choosing how many steps to use, based on your space and the size of your doll collection.
Read the guideWhy Are Golu Steps Usually Odd in Number?
The traditional explanations for odd-numbered steps, and how families decide on three, five, seven or nine.
Read the guideHow to Create a 3-Step Golu Display
A 3-step Golu for small spaces and new collections, with what to place on each step.
Read the guideHow to Create a 5-Step Golu Display
A 5-step Golu layout with room for deities, saints and a few story scenes.
Read the guideHow to Create a 7-Step Golu Display
A 7-step Golu layout for growing collections, with themed steps and story scenes.
Read the guideHow to Create a 9-Step Golu Display
The full 9-step Golu, often linked to the nine nights, and how to plan each level.
Read the guideHow to Build Safe and Stable Golu Steps
Building steady steps from tables, boxes, ready-made stands or planks, and checking they bear the weight.
Read the guide
Arranging and placement
Which dolls go on which step, where the kalash sits, and where in the house the Golu belongs.
How to Arrange Golu Dolls by Level
A level-by-level guide to placing dolls, from deities at the top to everyday scenes at the bottom.
Read the guideHow to Arrange Gods, Saints, People and Animals in Golu
Ordering gods, saints, people and animals across the steps, and how families adapt the traditional order.
Read the guideWhere to Place the Kalash in a Golu Display
Where the kalash goes in a Golu display, and how to place it securely.
Read the guideWhere Should You Place Golu in the House?
Choosing the right room and spot for your Golu: space, light, foot traffic and room for visitors.
Read the guideWhich Direction Should Golu Face?
Which direction the Golu should face, the traditional preferences, and what to do when your home does not allow it.
Read the guide
Decorate, protect and store
Covering and lighting the steps, keeping dolls safe, and packing them away after Navaratri.
How to Cover and Decorate Golu Steps
Covering the steps with cloth or a saree and decorating them with borders, flowers and festive touches.
Read the guideLighting Ideas for a Safe and Beautiful Golu Display
Lighting ideas for a beautiful Golu that keep lamps, wiring and flames safely away from dolls and cloth.
Read the guideHow to Protect Golu Dolls from Falling or Breaking
Keeping dolls from falling or breaking, with secure placement, edge guards and child-safe layouts.
Read the guideHow to Pack and Store Golu Dolls After Navaratri
Packing and storing dolls after Navaratri so they stay clean, dry and undamaged until next year.
Read the guide
Golu setup: quick answers
How many steps should a Golu have?
Golu is traditionally set on an odd number of steps, most often three, five, seven or nine. Choose the number that suits your space and your collection; a small, well-arranged Golu is just as meaningful as a large one.
How are Golu dolls arranged on the steps?
A common order places the kalash and main deities on the top step, other deities and saints below them, then people, festivals and story scenes, with animals, village life and everyday scenes on the lowest steps. Families adapt this order to their own dolls and customs.
Where should the kalash be placed in a Golu?
Many families place the kalash on the top step, at the centre or beside the main deity, so that it is the focus of the daily puja. Make sure it sits securely and is not knocked by lamps or decorations.
Which direction should a Golu face?
Many families prefer the Golu to face east or north. When the room does not allow this, most simply choose a clean, respectful spot where the display is stable and guests can see it easily.
When should you set up the Golu?
Many families set up the Golu on Mahalaya Amavasya, the day before Navaratri begins, or on the morning of the first day. Allow time to build and test the steps before placing the dolls.