Golu Theme: Annapoorneshwari: The Goddess of Nourishment

My Golu theme was Annapoorneshwari: The Goddess of Nourishment.

They say, 'anna dhaanam' is the most shresta dhaanam, which means offering food to the hungry is considered the greatest service. It is the only form of service where the receiver is completely satisfied and says, "that's enough, I'm full, thank you". All other forms of service and offering leaves the receiver wanting more.It is  also a beautiful uniformity that every religion around the world incorporates anna dhaanam as a part of their tradition.

The Golu has been set to highlight the fact that Goddess Annapoorani has been so generous and showered us with bountifulness of food, water and grand nature. As water and blessings flow down from Goddess Annapoorani from heavens to earth enriching all life forms on earth...

Tips:
1. Use wet mud as base and sprinkle dry beach sand over it to highlight pathways etc. You will also need bricks as fencing or barricades to hold the mud and sand.(Remember mud attracts a lot of red ants, so along the borders use some lakshman rekha or ant powder.).
2. You could plant nava dhanyam (9 grains) or just mustard 2-3 days earlier to grow lush green fields. I prefer mustard seeds. Mustard seeds need to be first soaked in water over night, and then sowed in a base filled with soil. Once they grow a few inches tall transplant the entire bed with the base soil into your golu.
3. To show water flow you could use a simple fish tank water pump mechanism.Or to mae it simple just use blue glazed sheet.
4. While creating a village...it always helps to keep a theme and build as if you were designing a real village...a residential area with wells and ponds, fields, market place near the temple street a wedding scene in the temple etc.
Try it...It is actually a lot of fun!

Golu Rules! (Golu Samprathayam)

Over the years I've learn't a lot of Samprathayam (or procedures) to be followed while keeping a Bommai Golu. Thought I'd share a few pointers.


Every Bommai Golu must have the following:

1. The Golu Padi

The Golu dolls are kept on steps called the Golu Padi. Traditionally 9 steps are kept...the significance of 9 are many: in honor of 9 nights of the festival or the 9 planets (nava grahas) or the 9 forms of devotion (nava vida bhakti) or the one I personally believe in is the 9 steps to attain Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth - death - rebirth). However one could also choose to keep less than 9 steps. The steps should always be an odd number 3,5 or 7 steps and should not exceed 9 steps. The steps are covered with a cloth before the dolls are placed. Most people use a white cloth...I use a white cloth first and then drape a saree over it to add color.

2. Golu Padi reeti (or the rules to be followed while keeping the golu dolls)

• Counting from the top, the first 3 steps are usually occupied by Gods.  I personally follow the
  
  following order: the first step is for dolls of Supreme Gods: Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga or Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. 
• The Ashta Lakshmi's occupy the 2nd step. The order of keeping the 8 Lakshmi's is: Adhi lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi (grains: symbolizing food), Dhairya lakshmi (bravery), Gaja lakshmi (for the animals), Santhana lakhmi (for progeny), Vijaya lakshmi (for victory), Vidhya lakhmi (for knowledge) and Dhaya lakhmi (for compassion).
• On the 3rd step we have Dasavataram (the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu). The order is: Matsya (Fish), Kurma (Tortoise), Varaha (Bore), Narasimha (Half lion half man), Vamana (with an umbrella), Parasurama (with axe), Balrama ( with plough), Sriram (with bow), Sri Krishna (with flute) and Kalki.
• The 4th step is reserved for the siddhars, saints and enlightened souls: like Alvars, Nayanmars, Shankarachariya...
• 5th Step is for those who have contributed to the society...like the freedom fighters, philosophers, philanthropists, composers etc:  Vivekananda, Chinmayananda, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Shaama Shaastri, Thyagaraja, Mahatma Gandhi...to name a few
• 6th step is where mere mortals are placed...most people will set the village scene, farming scene,
  
  wedding scene, temple scene etc in this step...In honor of the traders community, every Golu has a Chettiar and his wife along with bowls of salt, sugar, lentils and rice. They are also placed in this step. 
• The last 3 steps are for animals, bird and crawling insects in that order.
• It is believed that every soul has to pass thro' these 9 steps to attain Mukthi from the cycle of rebirth.

The Kalasam
A kalasam is a representation of creation. A way of invoking The Goddess - Devi. Thro' the 9 days archanai (offering flowers) is performed in front of the kalasam.

First rice is mixed with manjal (turmuric powder) and kungumum (vermillion powder) and placed on a base plate. A pot (made of mud, brass, copper or silver) forms the base of the kalasam. The pot is filled with water. (5 or 7) Mango leaves and a coconut are placed at the mouth of the pot. The coconut is also smeared with manjal. Once the kalasam is placed, it should not be moved for 9 nights, hence care should be taken to ensure that the water doesn't go stale or the mango leaves don't dry up. (Tip: Add camphor and elaichi to the water). The Goddess' face is then tied on the coconut. A new red blouse piece is placed on the head of the coconut and the entire kalasam is decorated with flowers and jewellery.The method os setting the kalasam differs from region and also family traditions followed. I've explained what we have been practicing in house for the last 4 generations.
                                           This is how the kalasam looks in our bommai golu

4. The Marapachi Bommai (Wooden Couple Dolls)
A male and a female form are chiseled out of special medicinal wood, decorated like a bride and a groom and presented to every girl at the time of her marriage. A tradition, that, perhaps began during the era of child marriages, what better gift to give a 10 year old bride...dolls. Over the years these dolls have become family heirlooms. Every Bommai Gollu reserves a special place for the marapachi dolls handed down over generations.

5. Kolam and Prasadam
Rangoli or kolam is usually put at the doorstep of the house and in front of the kalasam. The kolam is made of rice powder which attracts and feeds ants. Every day fresh prasadam is made and offered to the goddess. The prasadam is usually a different kind of sundal each day. Apart from the sundal prasadam, fresh flowers, water and fruits are also offered.

6. Kutu Velaku
A pair of kutu velakus' or a diyas are placed on either side of the kalasam.

All about the Nine Nights! Nava-Ratri

Navaratri is the festival of nine nights: Nava: means nine while ratri means nights). The first three nights are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Goddess of Power), the next 3 to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and the last 3 to Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge).

In Tamilnadu Navrathri is celebrated by keeping a doll show (Bommai golu) at home and inviting neighbours, friends and relatives over. When guests come to see the Bommai golu, they are received with jasmin flowers, glass bangles, cooked sundal (usually chick peas), kungumam (vermillion powder) and a small gift in a bag.
I personally prefer giving small plants, that would enhance peoples garden. 

In my house, we also offer the guests something to drink like buttermilk, panakam (jaggery drink) or aam panna (mango drink). We even invite bhajan and chanting groups to come and perform, during the 9 days...to add to the festivity and spiritual entertainment.


The 9th day is Saraswati Pooja. On this day students place their books in front of the golu kalasam while artist place their instruments (Veena, Violen, Flute or even Ghunguroo/Salangai) and worship Godess Saraswati to receive her blessings in their quest for knowledge in their chosen field.

The 9th day is also celebrated as Ayuda Pooja: a day to worship all the weapons on 'implements'. Traditionally on this day all the objects used in ones profession (for eg: farmers: plough, cart etc, other professionals: computers, vehicles etc) are cleaned and adorned flowers. Manjal and Kumkum are sprayed as a mark of auspiciousness.

The 10th day is Vijay Dasami. This is usually considered a very auspicious day to begin learning anything new. Most students who want to commence learning a new art form start their first class on this day. Students also pay their respects to their teachers on this day.