kolu

Kolu is a traditional Tamil Nadu practice of displaying dolls and figurines on a multi-tiered platform during the annual festival of Navaratri. The display, often called bommai kolu or simply kolu, is both a religious and social activity in which families set up a stepped arrangement, typically five to nine levels, on which dolls are arranged. The term kolu refers to the tiered platform and the arrangement itself.

The dolls, or kolu bommai, can include deities such as Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Durga, as well as mythological figures, animals, musicians, and scenes from daily life. Traditional sets often feature marapachi dolls—carved wooden figures of a king and queen—alongside clay or wooden figures. Modern displays may incorporate plastic or resin figures, but many households continue to emphasize handmade and traditional elements.

Rituals and practice center on presenting and viewing the kolu during Navaratri. Families perform daily prayers before the display, and the dolls are placed with attention to symbolism and storytelling. It is common for relatives and friends to visit kolu displays, view the dolls, exchange greetings, share sweets, and participate in small rituals or devotional songs. At the end of Navaratri, the dolls are dismantled and stored, sometimes after a final ceremony, and the space may be cleaned in preparation for the next year's display.

Regional variations exist across South India. Similar doll-display traditions are known in other states under different names, reflecting local customs while sharing the core idea of a decorative, devotion-centered exhibit during the festival season.