Of dolls, steps and lights...

Some pre-planning and enthusiasm is all it takes to pull off a grand festival. Radha Prathi tells you how getting a head start on the Dasara preparations can make your home the star of the neighbourhood.

We know that Navaratri is about a fortnight away. So, why hurry when you can relax and go easy with the preparations, you may say. But, as we like to see it, it is never too early to plan for success. So, giving it some forethought and indulging in pre-planning might actually make you the star of the neighbourhood and infuse some enthusiasm and festivity into your home.

The Dasara season doubles up as the festival of dolls, also known as the Gombe Habba or Golu in South India. The 10 days that follow Mahalaya Amavasya are dedicated to the realms or piety, aesthetics, creativity and socialisation. Temples and homes have wide stairs built into them, numbering in odd numbers beginning with a humble five and going all the way up to 21, depending on the availability of space.

Usually, figurines of gods and goddesses from the Hindu pantheon grace the steps in addition to several doll representatives of characters from historical or contemporary tales. The impressive assembly takes quite some effort, patience, time and
creativity.

Earlier, just about every home followed this tradition. These days, most people stick to the basics of worship and are content with enjoying the display put up in the neighbourhood. Enterprising veterans who take pride in their Golu leave no stone unturned to make their function a success. Year after year, they come up with interesting themes and rearrange their resources and work on them extensively to put forth a grand spectacle. If you are also contemplating on putting up a Golu this year, here is a step by step (pun intended) methodology that you can follow.

You will find that the process involves some expenditure, but you can be rest
assured that you can treat it as an investment, because the basics of  Golu will
remain the same no matter how much you improvise on it. Here are some key pointers:

l Identify the space in which you want to put up your Golu. Remove all the furniture, carpets, wall hangings, electrical appliances, among other things, and clean the place, including the walls, thoroughly.

l It will be ideal to use half of the place for the display because you will need the rest of the space for addendums, rangolis, performing puja and making seating space for your visitors.

l These days, you get metallic, collapsible stairs in the dimensions you seek. They can be extended or collapsed to the desired number of steps. Buy one of those. They will not occupy much space when packed and put away.

l Buy a length of plain satin in white such that it covers all the angles of the steps comfortably without creasing and get the beading done. This cloth can be laundered and put away to be used year after year.

l It is customary to place the kalasha and the pattada bombe couple in the middle of the first step.

l Bring out all the dolls that you intend to display and arrange them according to a theme or sequence you like. You can arrange and rearrange them any number of times till you are completely satisfied. They can become conversation starters to regale your callers with stories from mythology and history.

l A fancy serial light can be draped over the steps for making the place brighter.


l If you are planning to have addendums like fields, pools, railway stations, cricket grounds, tea parties, zoo, sanctuary or any other scene, use the floor space.

l Place two or three layers of large plastic sheets on the ground; place sheets off an old carton box to give it a firm base before you spread soil on it. Soak a handful of ragi for a day and sow them in the prepared soil complementing the scene that you plan to put up.

Sprinkle water on the soil every morning to keep it moist. The little green sprouts will be up in a day or two and will grow tall over the next 10 days. Place the little dolls strategically around the green space to give it a near real look.

l You can create little water bodies by placing light, blue-coloured saucers and cups filled with water among the greenery.

l Draw beautiful rangolis in front of the Golu each day. If you are short of time or talent, then go ahead and buy rangolis using Kundan stones and beads, which can be changed every day of Navaratri.

l Place lighted diyas or tea light candles on little terracotta or stainless steel plates around the rangoli or along the last step of the Golu. This will not only light up the place, but also stand you in good stead when there is an unexpected power cut.

l Don’t forget to light one or two incense sticks continuously in the Golu area. This exercise will keep the place fragrant with the added bonus of discouraging insects, which will be attracted to your green carpet and the mosquitoes that will make their way in when the doors open to welcome your visitors.

l Adorn the door with a torana of fresh flowers or mango leaves to complete the festive look.

These are but a few basic pointers to get you started with the perfect Golu for your home. Remember that this is an occasion to unveil your creativity and imagination, display your talent and share your joy for 10 days of festivities. Here’s to a festive Dasara!