INTRO

This gollu is second year for us after our marriage, Golu for me is close to my heart since childhood. The colors and the characters of our purnas comes to life in form golu,
This year we have vaikuntam setup , kailasam setup and madurai Meenakshi setup.
Capturing the essence of Vaishnavas, Shaivite and Shaktism.

Namaskaram.

Presenting our Navaratri Golu this year featuring beloved bommais collected over the years. We have been keeping golu for six years. I have been blessed growing up in a family keeping the Golu tradition alive through many generations , that keeps my interests alive and going.

Our display includes, Traditional Golu bommais collected over the years include , Annamalaiyar - unnamalai ammal, Sathyanarayana swami , Devis ( Kamakshi , Meenakshi , Visalakshi and Akhilandeshwari ) , Kamadhenu , Ganesha along with Lakshmi and Saraswathi.
Also included are Ashta Lakshmi and Dashavathtam.
Newly added Ayodhya Ram Lalla and Ayyappaswami.
Most of the Thatha Patti (Chettiar set) Store displays are handcrafted. We have expanded it and added a Jigarthanda stall next to Madurai Azhagar festival.

In addition to the traditional Golu display (5 steps) , we had a Satisfying and blessed journey of putting together our THEMES for the year.
1. Theme 1 for the year- **Bala Leela Kathamrutham**- Exploring joyful stories of divine childhood. This handcrafted ensemble includes enchanting childhood stories of

- Bala Andal
- Bhaktha Prahlad
- Bala Rama and Krishna
- Bala Kumara

2. Theme 2- **Velu Nachyar’s life story** - Her inspiring journey embodies courage and resilience, perfectly reflecting the true spirit of Navaratri.

Most of the themed bommais are handcrafted at home with wood , clay and scarp materials.

Thank you.

Hi, I am chitra srihari and I am keeping golu for more than 16 years. In the past few years, I have started keeping theme based golus and explain about them in vernacular language. The Aim of doing this is to impart some knowledge about our culture and temples.

My golu has five steps. It is our culture and heritage fo keep golu every year. This year too this tradition has been done. Thanks to God and all of them who visited my house for tambulam

Name: Vaidehi Shriram
Location: Brampton, Canada
Theme : Kholapur Mahalakshmi

From Last year we have started collecting Ancestors Golu bommai. Which survived more than 60+ years.
1. We got my grandma childhood bommai parvathy hugging Shivan, I got and repainted.
2. My chithi mul childhood elephant which is more than 60+ years I repainted
3. My mom gave me family elephant which we had for more than 20+ years.
4. Many of my mil dolls which I repainted

Giving importance to Brass
1. Nachiyar Kovil Vengala Kuthu vilakku
2. Kerala style kuthu vilakku
3. Kalyana pithalai Kuthu Vilakku
4. Sangu chakra 5 muga vilaku
5. Sangu chakra thiruman vilakku
6. Thirumanjana Kindi
7. Brass lamp - my mil's mil got this from her mom side as kalyana seer unique one (which I come across)

And many more......

Coming Marapachi, we have family marapachi
My FIL mom n dad, FIL and Mil, mt mom and dad, my hubby and myself, and my kids....

Side attraction:
Kholapur Mahalakshmi which we made this year is new with lot of handmade items

Vanakam, this is Nisha here. This is our 7th year of Golu display for Navarathri and our 4th thematic display.
This year’s Navarathri theme holds a special place in my heart: the Batu Caves Murugan Temple—one of Malaysia’s iconic must-visit destinations. When I first envisioned this theme, I had no idea how or where to start. All I knew was that I wanted to capture the temple's powerful and sacred presence.

Every element in this display has been handcrafted with love and devotion, with careful attention to detail to symbolize the essence of this revered place. The 272 staircase, made from ice cream sticks, has been individually hand-painted to replicate the vibrant colors that line the real steps leading up to the temple. The majestic cave formations in the background were crafted using recycled newspaper, each piece shaped to reflect the towering beauty of Batu Caves. As for the temple and its gopurams, I used foam, meticulously hand-carved and painted to capture the awe-inspiring grandeur of the structure.

By the grace of Lord Murugan, everything fell into place perfectly, and I am deeply grateful for this experience. This entire project wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support and encouragement from my parents, who stood by me every step of the way.

We also set up the classic 9-step golu padi, with the topmost steps dedicated to Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswathi, followed by the Dasavatharams and Carnatic music saints. Beautiful dolls depicting the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Raasa Leela, and the love of Yashoda for Krishna grace the steps. Each doll tells a story, and every step feels like a tribute to the doyens of divine narratives, bringing the epics to life.

This display is truly a labor of love and devotion. I hope it resonates with you all, just as it has filled my heart with immense joy.

The theme for our 2024 Golu is
Sri Krishna.I have been keeping Golu for the last three years .This is the first themed Golu for us. The Golu captures the essence of his divine Leelas . The Vrindavan setup,with its vibrant depiction of cows,gopis and playful krishna ,brings to life ,stories of Krishna . The one where he opens his mouth to reveal the universe, leaves us in awe .Each doll, meticulously arranged,tells a story of devotion,making this Golu a cherished part of our celebration.I have wrapped the Golu Padis with saree decorated by krishna murals to bring out the theme in the set up.The lighting and view from the mirror reflection adds to the divine spectacle,making the Golu ,a unique one. The flower backdrop for the Golu is done by me to create an environment of the serene Vrindavan.
Chakrathalvar,standing strong ,adds a protective energy .
The Geetopadesam doll where krishna reveals his Viswaroopam to Arjuna,gives depth to the display .I have intricately handcrafted the makhar with lights for the Viswaroopam doll to show the God's divinity ,making it a meaningful celebration for us.
I hope you all enjoy watching my video and photos.Thank you for this wonderful opportunity .

Hi Sir/Madam,

Experience the Splendor of Navratri with My Golu2024!

Dussehra has been a cherished festival since my childhood, and for the past 7 years, I've proudly set up my Golu display. I take great care in preserving these treasured dolls and handmade items to reuse them next year.

Please take a virtual tour of my themed Golu arrangement here and discover:

- Main Padi: A 7-step display featuring Lord Balaji, Durga Mata, and other revered deities.
- Main Theme: Raghavendra Swamy's Life History, with intricately crafted backdrops.
- Side 1: Marriage theme, with engagement, marriage, and thottil set.
- Side 3: Dasavatharam, showcasing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
- Temple: Lord Ranganatha's temple, complete with Bharatanatyam dance performance.
- Chettiar's Bakery and Jewellery Shop, featuring handcrafted items.

I hope you enjoy this divine Navratri celebration!

Thanks,
Swathi
9884431294
Sholinganallur, Chennai

Hi, Im Shalini Rajasekar from Chennai.

In this year we have showcased a story of Ramayanam, thiruvilayadal, and krishna, temples with thee midhi thiruvizha, Garuda sevai, kamakshi ther oruvalam, arupadai veedu, village, marriage and seemantham set.
And over all i have highlighted to show the mesaage of save forest, save trees and animals.
Thanks.
Happy navarathri to all.!

Hi Renuka since 40 years celebrating golu, traditional and happy