The Karmic Kolu

As the lamp is lit in the evening, a bunch of ladies dressed up in silk sarees start with an alaap or the musical notes invoking one of the nine goddesses of Navratri celebrations (religious festival in India). Two young girls of the hostess' house, who were arranging a set of dolls on rows, a while back, join the ladies in singing. Both the girls exchange smiles acknowledging each other’s good job of the 'kolu' or 'golu'.

A pretty common sight in much of the southern part of India, this part of the festivities assumes a larger context in the amalgamated cultures of cities like Delhi. It is that time of the year where feminine power is invoked in the auspices of different names for similar festivals across India. The Tamilian community in the capital celebrates Navratri by putting up 'bommai kolu' or rows of toys and dolls displayed on odd-numbered tiers or 'padis'. While festivities involve a large gathering, classical music, shlokas and songs, 'prasadam' and gifts for each of the visitor, the set of toys in the house are the prominent attraction.

The presence of the divine is sought in creating the three, seven, nine or eleven numbered wooden staircase. Creativity entails the household as they design their entire kolu on or around a theme. They adorn the stairs with wooden or handmade toys which convey stories relating to the chosen theme.

Now, as singing rises, one after the other, both the girls are eagerly waiting to receive praises for their creations. Having depicted the war scene between 'Ram' and 'Raavan' from the mythological text, 'Ramayana', both the girls are ecstatic as the 'pooja' finishes. They started the decorations a fortnight ago. Most of the toys are traditional idols from their mother's set of dolls. The ‘marapaachi bommai’ or the wooden dolls, symbolising a married couple is the first doll kept to inaugurate the kolu. The thread of marriage as a sacred institution is kept as much in these ladder of toys as the social ladder.

If story-telling is an art form, this bit of story-telling is no less. It encourages one to go deep into imagination and provides a platform to display variety, from the most simple to the most challenging ones. Each time, stories may be same or similar, but the treatment to it differs. An art that is so intimate to the people's minds’ and yet different to the individual. Kolu brings that part of aesthetic brilliance, beautifully. The thought itself becomes highly inspiring. It is just like a child's play with layers of learning, teaching, practicing and understanding.

There are others who think that these small gatherings in a city like Delhi might not survive in the younger generation. The reasons vary. The idea of community celebrations’ has taken a hit as also the physical distance from the native place. Few others point the lack of time to issue of taking interest in investing energy to set up these dolls. Yet, many do not know that such a tradition exists at the first place.