Golu

Golu, also spelled Kolu or Bommai Golu, is a traditional display of dolls and figurines arranged on a multi-tiered stand, observed during the Hindu festival of Navaratri in South India. The practice is most associated with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, though it is also found among diaspora communities abroad.

The display typically features a hierarchical arrangement of small dolls (bommai) and figurines made from clay, wood, terracotta, metal, or modern materials. Figures often depict deities, mythological scenes, everyday life, animals, and people. The number of shelves or steps varies by family or regional custom, with common configurations including three, five, seven, or nine steps. The arrangement is changed and added to over the nine nights of Navaratri, reflecting changing themes and stories.

Rituals surrounding Golu include cleaning the home, bringing out the dolls, and placing them on the steps. Lamps, flowers, leaves, fruits, and festive decorations accompany the display. Daily puja and recitation of prayers or folk stories are performed, and neivedyam (food offerings) are prepared. It is common for households to invite relatives and friends to view the display, sing devotional songs, and exchange sweets as part of the social aspect of the festival. On Vijayadashami or the final day of Navaratri, the Golu is dismantled or reconfigured for the next year.

The practice serves as a cultural and familial tradition, showcasing craftsmanship and storytelling while reinforcing social bonds within communities. The term Golu can also refer to the general name usage in Indian languages.