About Navaratri

About Navaratri Kolu

A Celebration of the win of Good over Evil

‘Navratri’ means ‘nine nights.’ ‘Nava’ means ‘nine,’ and ‘Ratri’ means ‘night.’

Kolu is a Hindu autumn festival celebrated over 9 nights (Navratri). It is an exhibition of dolls and figurines. Spiritually, it is believed that Goddess Durga fought with a demon and won on the 10th day. Every night, all the Gods/Goddesses and living beings visited to seek her blessings. The Navratri Kolu doll exhibition is said to represent this scene.

Known as Bommai Kolu in Tamilnadu , Bommala Koluvu in Telugu , Gombe Habba in Kannada or simply as Kolu . It is an annual festival celebrated in the southern part of India . The name translated to Divine presence which refers to the presence of Gods , Goddesses , Demigods , Saints and other spiritual elements in form of the doll in the display . There are mythological ,historical , and spiritual reasons for having a Golu at one’s home

Why Navaratri Kolu

Historical / Communal reason for Kolu

Historically, Kolu has a significant connection with the life of the farmers and the artisans in India. The season when Navratri is celebrated is during a downtime for the farming activity due to the availability of water . Farmers and artisans would be dependent on the handicraft and clay based doll making for their living .

People bought these dolls and handicraft items to display in the kolu thereby giving the farmers and artisans a source of income until the farming activity can commence again.

In addition to the economic aspect of the festival, Kolu also serves as an important occasion for socializing. During this season people invite their relatives, neighbors , and friends to their home so they can view their doll exhibition . They also feed the guests with protein rich food to help them stay healthy .

Every one in south India makes sure to visit each other’s homes, this promotes the sense of togetherness within the families and in the communities

Navratri Kolu also promotes creative expression for women and for the family to work together on an aesthetic aspect of decorating the home and the kolu . They also sing songs in the evenings to entertain each other. This festival thereby promotes creative expression.