Smiling deities, hostesses clad in Kanchipuram silk, with kungumam and chandanam at the ready, intricate maakkolams , gleaming brass lamps and the promise of tasty sundal – the Navarathri Kolu is held dear for a lot of reasons. For one, festivities run for nine full days, lending the household a positive energy that is sure to stick on for weeks to come.
Once restricted to steps designed specifically for the purpose, kolu has evolved greatly. Themed kolus are in these days, and Rama Venkat of Tatabad does it so well that her house resembles a mini temple. Starting at the front door – Ganesha and Krishna are all decked up to welcome the guests. Rama is the custodian of life-sized Nala Gowri dolls. Made of wood-pulp in a village near Mysore, the dolls are over 250 years old. “These dolls can be assembled into a variety of figures,” says Rama.
Old treasures
“They were handed down to me by my grandmother.” Rama painstakingly designs a unique Kolu theme each year. “It's actually a team effort,” she says, adding that, “The entire family takes part. We start with the preparations a month in advance.” Shiva seeking alms form Annapurani and the young Muruga interrogating saint Avvaiyar form this year's theme. There is a special corner for display of artefacts from the past, such as a 70-year-old coffee grinder, a brass jewel box, ceramic pickle jars and palm leaf manuscripts. “Most of my kolu dolls are over 50 years old. Idols such as the Adhi Andha Prabhu (Lord of the beginning and the end), that is half Ganesha and half Hanuman are extremely rare.” says Rama.
For Padmini Raghavendran of R.S. Puram, kolu is all about creativity. She seldom buys kolu dolls – she makes them. Modelled in clay, it's the subtle imperfections that lend her dolls an extra touch of charm.
Handcrafted
“I've been setting up the kolu for 30 years now. It's a tradition I adore,” she says. Padmini has beautifully illustrated the story of prince Prahaladha and Sundara Kandam from the Ramayana with handmade dolls.
Her attention to details is impeccable. A village scene, for example, has a postman with a miniscule addressed envelope in hand! She has given the mandatory marapachi dolls a one-of-a-kind wardrobe. The male marapachi is clad in a stylish pair of hand-stitched jeans and a chequered shirt.
“A lot of credit goes to my husband. His assistance makes things a lot easier,” says Padmini. She aptly explains the essence of Kolu. “It is believed that Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi visit our households during Navarathri (nine nights). Kolu is a way of offering our obeisance to them.” This tradition is also a celebration of togetherness and creativity. As 24-year-old Sindhuja puts it, “Kolu is an ornamental slice of Hindu mythology.”
