Navratri season in Tamil Nadu
Bommai Golu or Kolu displays arrange dolls and figurines on stepped tiers. Families invite guests, exchange sundal and gifts, sing devotional music and use the display to tell sacred, social and cultural stories.
What visitors should understand
- This is a regional tradition, not a template for all Navratri celebrations.
- Local terminology, deity focus and ritual sequence matter.
- Public celebrations can be civic, artistic and social as well as devotional.
- Event schedules change annually; check official local sources for this year's dates and routes.
How Golu works
Families arrange dolls on stepped tiers, often in odd numbers, and may combine deities, saints, village scenes, animals and contemporary themes. Guests visit, sing or recite, and are offered sundal or gifts. The display becomes a storytelling medium across generations.