Indianness XII - Golu....

This post is heavily inspired by two events in the author's life: a friend's seemingly innocuous question, "What is the significance of Golu", and my childhood friend's keeping Golu at her own sweet home. Further, this post is dedicated to all the women in my life, keeping with the spirit of this heavily women-oriented festival of sublime joy.

Golu or Bommal Kolu, is a beautiful tradition followed in the southern parts of India: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Fortunately, for the author, he has been born into a family that is steeply rooted in its influences from all of these three southern states. Moroever, with the heavy migration of people from these places, to all parts of the world, Golu is more or less associated now with the entire world. For e.g. the Malibu temple of Los Angeles, sports its own 11-step and 5-step Golu display for this year. The exact importance given to the odd-numbers is a mystery to many people. The quaint excuse given by many elders is, "Don't question the wisdom of our ancestors". Reading about this fanatically upheld rule revealed interesting insights into the concept of the One. The simplest reasoning would be, there is that enchanting continuity with odd numbers, which is a sign of fertility, prosperity, growth and development.

The Golu is associated with Navratri, the festival of nine nights, to be culminated on the tenth day of Vijayadasami, the day of celebration of the victory of the good over the evil. This festival is usually in the month of October, and the festivities begin in the months of August and September. Usually, the dolls are stored in the attic/ the legacy trunk(s), safely wrapped in pure white dhoti's (now dusty with that claustrophobic smell). To the commands of the women in the house, be it the wife, mother, daughter or sister, the lazy weekends for the menfolk during the month of late August/early September are spent, getting the dolls down from the attic. The womenfolk now proudly take over, having been waiting for this, the entire year.

Ragini erupts with pure joy, when she sees her favorite Saraswathi Devi with her veena again. Raga goes crazy when they take out the cricket set, with its eleven players, and the neat stadium. One by one, the dolls slowly come out. To the dismay of the lady of the house, she, Ravana's nose, in the expensive Shiva-Parvathi set purchased last year, has been broken. Mythology states that Ravana tries to dislodge the divine couple by attempting to shake Mount Kailash, their place of residence. She blames it on her husband for his usual lackadaisical attitude. One can see the stage being set for a battle, when, Ragini smartly chips in, "Amma, why do you worry about Ravana, the evil kidnapper of Sita. Look at this set of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman. Just see, as to how beautiful it is." He gives a naughty, understanding, and an all-knowing you-saved-my-day-i-owe-you-an-ice-cream look to his beautiful daughter.

With that timely distraction in place, Ragini, Amma and Paati/Aji/Avva, get hyper-excited with the dolls to be purchased this time. Not to be left out in this, Raga recommends the new LEGO based "City". He, so as to not be outnumbered by the women in the house, supports his son, telling her, "It is good for them. Encourages them to use their minds. Worth the expense". Paati/Aji/Avva's fear is that such things are purely satanical, and gives Thatha/Aja a look, which makes him tell his son, "They should know the traditions of our culture. Why don't we get a huge marriage-based set this time". Like this, the discussions/ arguments/ suggestions keep going on for most of the weekends. The womenfolk, however know that the final veto lies with them. In fact they would be the ones to make the purchases. Why do we need the menfolk to interfere in these feminine aspects of life. Everything is fine, as long as he doesn't object to the use of the joint-credit-card.

Usually, the family decides on a theme, and it definitely brings out the creative and aesthetic juices flowing in everyone at home. With the dolls purchased, and arranged in a neat odd-numbered-padi stand, with the feminine trinity - Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi, gracing the highest step, the entire golu display, displays sheer grandeur, majesty, beauty and energy. With the onset of Navarathri, the womenfolk are busy with the sundal preparations. One must admit as to how ingenious our ancestors were, when one thinks of the sheer number of different varieties of the sundal. Friends and relatives, especially, women and girls, are invited. Ragini sports her new peacock blue, pattu-pavadai, and she is beautifully dressed in her new haldi-kumkum Kancheepuram silk saree. Both sport a string of jasmine flowers on their well-oiled, amazingly long, well-braided hair; and are well-dressed with that dash of pottu on their face with the sandalwood powder and fair-and-lovely cream giving it company; and the kajal lining on their eyelashes, with the minimalist glistening gold jewellery, greatly enhancing their beauty.

To the tunes of Himagiri Thanaye, in praise of Parvathi, Ragini's friend captivates the audience, with her sweet, and mellifluous voice. Ragini does a short recital of Jagadhodharana on the Bharatanatyam. The womenfolk sing songs in praise of the divine. Most of the menfolk are blissfully ignored. When such amazingly aesthetic musical festivities are going on inside, Raga is found playing street-cricket with his friends. The menfolk are involved in their seemingly endless and infact, pointless, arguments and discussions on the state of political affairs of the country. One often wonders, families do a better job when it comes to honing the aesthetic sensitivities in a girl. Their main line of reasoning being, "She will go to an another house once she gets married. In times of trouble, when we are not there, only music, dance and arts would help her remain centered."

Time just flies by, and the nine days are over in no time. With almost tears in the eyes of Ragini, she moves the sacred kalasam, signifying the end of Navaratri. But then, there is Vijayadasami, and the eternal favorite of all, Deepavali, to come. The thought of the new crackers to be bought, and the new dresses, makes this compelling and yet painful, routine, of keeping the dolls safely packed, to their journey back to where they came from, the attic/trunk, possible with heavy hearts. From this post, one can evidently see the heavily women-centric nature of this festival. In fact, as men, all that we can do, is to encourage the women to have a great time during this festival. And, it would be a great idea to inculcate/hone the aesthetic sensitivities of the boys too. Think beautiful.

Both these festivals, signify, the victory of the good over the evil. May the force be with all of us. One, doesn't need to crassly generalize such beautiful customs as mere tradition. It is a great quality time with the family for the family. Creative talents are greatly encouraged. The benefits accrued there of are many. In the name of modernism, one often wonders, as to what would happen to such beautiful things that exist in this world. But then, the eternal optimist says, "What has withstood the tests of time, be it the Mughal invasion, dis-unity amongst the people, British rule, etc., will continue to exist. It is just that people would miss out on the beautiful things, rather than, the beautiful things becoming a non-existence". A thing of beauty is a joy forever. A very happy Navaratri to one and all. The author ends this post, with a heavy heart, thus, with one of the most sacred sayings, Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya.