SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, July 1, 2026 (Hinduism Today): Vidya Mohan explores the South Indian Navaratri tradition of golu, in which families arrange handcrafted dolls on stepped displays and invite friends and neighbors to visit during the festival. Known variously as bomma, bombe or golu, the displays include Gods and Goddesses, saints, historical figures, people, animals and scenes from Hindu scripture and everyday life. During Navaratri they are worshiped with food offerings, flowers and incense and often accompanied by music, dance and other arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The arrangement traditionally carries spiritual symbolism. Animals occupy lower levels, followed by humans, gurus and exemplary people, divine avatars and finally major Deities such as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati or Siva, Vishnu and Brahma. Above them is the unrepresented, formless Brahman. Mohan notes that golu celebrations have spread with the South Indian diaspora to countries including the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, helping families transmit stories, religious concepts and cultural traditions to younger generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n