The Hindu Festival of Dolls
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BIBLIOASIA OCT - DEC 2019 VOL. 15 ISSUE 03 FEATURE Anasuya Soundararajan is a researcher at the National Library, Singapore, where she provides information services to government agencies. Her research areas include culture, communications and education. Every year, dolls in various forms and sizes take centre stage in many Hindu Ehouseholds for nine nights and 10 days. Known as Bommai Golu in Tamil (mean- Navaratri ing “Court of Dolls”), this celebration is an integral part of the Navaratri festival. Navaratri, meaning “nine nights” (nava is “nine” and ratri is “nights”), honours the The Hindu Hindu goddess Shakti in all her different manifestations. Festival of Dolls Navaratri Golu is believed to have been celebrated since the existence of the Golu Vijayanagar kingdom in 14th-century India, Celebrated by Hindus of South Indian origins, the Golu and was especially popular with the royal festival is a lively melange of colourful dolls, womenhood and families of Thanjavur and Pudukkottai in 1 spirituality. shares with us its origins. the state of Tamil Nadu. Today, Golu is Anasuya Soundararajan mainly observed by South Indians from the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. (Above) A Golu display at the author’s home in 2006. The topmost two steps feature dolls representing Interviews with older Singaporeans Hindu deities. The kalasam (silver or brass pot) is placed on the second tier. Behind thekalasam is the pair reveal that this quaint custom of displaying of marapachi dolls. On the right-hand corner of the third step is a village scene in India. On the second step dolls in the home has been a tradition for from the bottom is a pair of grandfather and grandmother dolls in the traditional Thanjavur bobble-head a number of Indian families in Singapore style. In front of them are traditional cookery toys made of wood. Courtesy of Anasuya Soundararajan. since the 1940s, or perhaps even before (Facing page) A painting of Goddess Durga fighting the buffalo demon Mahishasura. She holds the divine that.2 Over the years, there seems to be weapons (trident, spear and conch, among other things) given to her by the gods to empower her to more families and even younger Singa- slay the demon. Artist unknown, Kota, Rajasthan, c. 1750. Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994, Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons. poreans embracing the practice. Besides the homes, Golu is also observed in Hindu temples in Singapore. ensuing battle between Durga and Mahi- to worship and enjoy the festive spirit shasura, all the other gods and goddesses as well as indulge in her mother’s delec- The Legend of Navaratri spiritually imbued Durga with their divine table home-cooked vegetarian meals. Golu is celebrated annually as part of the powers and weapons. Mrs Vaidyanathan has since continued Navaratri festival. The festival begins on At midnight, on the 10th and final the tradition in her own home after she the day of a new moon, between Sep- day of the ferocious battle, Durga finally married in 1980.8 tember and October, in the Hindu month managed to pierce her trident into the The Navaratri Golu was an integral of Purattasi. buffalo demon’s chest and behead him. part of the yearly festivities at my home Shakti, one of the goddesses in However, the gods and goddesses, whose when I was growing up. Every year during the Hindu pantheon, takes many forms powers were completely spent after aiding the Navaratri period, my mother would and names.3 Her most important mani- Durga, were turned into statues. Devotees arrange the dolls and figurines on a plat- festation is Durga, the warrior goddess honour and remember the selfless acts form, and perform a nightly puja (prayer). who vanquished the evil buffalo demon of these gods and goddesses, which are Relatives and friends would be invited Mahishasura.4 symbolised by the dolls displayed during to partake in the festivities, resulting According to the legend of Navaratri, Golu. Navaratri ultimately commemorates in a lively confluence of colourful dolls, Mahishasura waged war in heaven, the victory of Durga over Mahishasura – animated guests, devotional songs and imprisoned all the gods and wreaked the triumph of good over evil.7 delicious food during the nine nights. As havoc on earth. In retaliation, Brahma, little children, my brother and I eagerly Vishnu and Shiva, the three gods making Celebrating Golu looked forward to this celebration each up the Hindu Trimurti, enlisted the help of Mrs Lalitha Vaidyanathan, a musician and year. My mother, who is 80 this year, has their respective consorts, the goddesses retired teacher, remembers her family’s been putting up Golu displays since 1972 Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati.5 From Golu celebrations in their home from and continues to do so until today. the combined strength of the goddesses the early 1940s. Neighbours and friends Families would first clear their furni- emerged Goddess Durga – full of vora- would visit their home at 16 Kirk Terrace ture to create space in the living room for cious strength and power, and riding a during the festival, which she describes the makeshift steps, which are erected a tiger with a trident in her hand.6 In the as a happy gathering of people who came few days before Navaratri. The dolls are 26 27 BIBLIOASIA OCT - DEC 2019 VOL. 15 ISSUE 03 FEATURE The dolls are usually made of clay, invoking their blessings for good health, participate in the prayers and celebrations. stone or wood and mainly produced in happiness and prosperity. Visitors are then served light refreshments the villages of southern Indian states On the new moon day of the month and prasadam (offerings of food). such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana of Purattasi, akalasam (silver or brass pot) When the guests leave, each woman and Andhra Pradesh. A smaller number is placed on the middle step of the tiered is presented with a thamboolam – a tray of such dolls are made in the northern platform. The pot of water, which repre- containing auspicious items like kungu- state of Rajasthan and the eastern state sents Goddess Shakti, has mango leaves mam (red powder), turmeric, betel leaves, of Kolkata.18 My parents bought our dolls covering its opening and is topped with flowers, fruits, sweets and other gifts. during their travels to India in the 1970s a coconut and ringed by a garland of rose The belief is that whatever you give will and ’80s, as it was difficult to find Golu and jasmine blooms. Worshippers invoke be returned to you by the goddesses – as dolls in Singapore at the time. Today, one Goddess Shakti with prayer offerings of represented by the dolls – that are resid- can find a wide assortment of dolls in flowers, oil lamps, camphor and incense.21 ing in your home for the nine nights.26 In shops in Little India during the Navaratri The first set of dolls to adorn the dis- some homes, a kanya puja27 (young girls’ season, with prices ranging from $20 for play is a pair of wooden ones symbo lising prayer) is performed on any chosen night the simpler ones to $150 for the more a man and a woman, known as the mara- of Navaratri. During the prayer, nine pre- elaborate creations. pachi dolls. Usually placed on the upper pubescent girls are revered and offered steps of the display, these dolls represent gifts such as clothing, fruits and sweets.28 Rituals and Customs Venkateshwara, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, On the 10th and final day, or Vijaya- Besides commemorating the victory of and his consort Mahalakshmi. Dressed dasami, the marapachi dolls are made to good over evil, Navaratri is also a cele- in the traditional silk veshti and saree,22 lie down and symbolically put to sleep, to bration of womanhood where feminity they also depict the union of a husband mark the end of the year’s Navaratri Golu.29 is elevated to a highly auspicious state.19 and wife, and symbolise prosperity and All the dolls are then removed from the Three forms of the Goddess Shakti are wor- fertility.23 If there is a girl in the family, it display, carefully wrapped in cloth and shipped during the festival. The first three is customary for the mother to gift a new stored in boxes, ready to be taken out again (Above) A devotee praying in front of the Golu display at the Sri Mariamman Temple during the Navaratri festival, 2019. Courtesy of Kesavan Rajinikanth. nights of Navaratri are devoted to Goddess set of marapachi dolls to her daughter for the following year’s Golu. Durga when devotees pray for the eradica- when she gets married so that she can Mrs Vijayam Balakrishna Sharma, (Above right) Jothi Flower Shop in Little India, Singapore, selling Golu dolls during Navaratri, 2019. On display are dolls of deities and Hindu mythological tion of evil in thought and deed, and for the start her own Golu tradition.24 a renowned Carnatic musician who has characters, as well as dolls from a wedding scene and village temple procession. Courtesy of Kesavan Rajinikanth. strength to overcome this struggle; the next All the dolls are ritually worshipped celebrated the festival for many years, three nights honour Lakshmi, the goddess during the celebrations.25 In the evenings, exhibited on odd-numbered steps – three, on the steps. This is a task traditionally position. The middle steps are dedicated of wealth, fortune and prosperity; and the a lamp is lit in front of the display, and five, seven or nine – as odd numbers are performed by women. to saints and religious figures, while dolls last three nights celebrate Saraswati, the bhajans (devotional songs) are sung in TEMPLE FESTIVITIES DURING considered auspicious in Hindu custom While most of the dolls represent in the lower steps portray vignettes such goddess of know ledge, wisdom and the praise of Goddess Shakti.