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Golu Navratri - The South Indian tradition that creator Roobanithiya Kannan helps you understand

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Smrithi Mohan
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Navratri Golu preps

Arranging wooden dolls on different steps to tell a story, Roobanithiya Kannan shares her preparation for Golu Navratri.

What’s Navratri? It’s about nine days of total chaos, as people deck up in their most vibrant outfits and prepare to dance it out on an open floor along with strangers all night.  Amidst the lively atmosphere, drums play along with live music, creating an unforgettable experience. However, how Navratri is celebrated varies significantly between regions. In contrast to the festivities in the North, South Indians celebrate in a more intimate setting. They honour this colourful festival in the comfort of their homes, highlighting ancient epics that enrich the culture of our country. Calling it Golu Navratri, families spend days prepping for an elaborate and often thoughtful presentation of wooden dolls that's both aesthetically pleasing and spiritually meaningful.  

Prepping for Golu is a whole process that takes a lot of time. Creator Roobanithiya Kannan, who is experiencing this for the first time, has been sharing her journey with her followers as she sets up her Golu. Following her mother-in-law's traditions, she describes this practice as a blend of storytelling, devotion, and joyous celebration with music, food, and visits from family and friends.

One unique aspect of Golu is that it often tells a story. This year, Roobanithiya's Golu centres around a wedding theme, as her family has a wedding coming up. "We poured in all our wishes and ideas of how we’d love the wedding to be; it felt like a fun little preview of the celebrations ahead."

As someone who enjoys the sense of community and family that Golu brings, she describes the experience of preparing for it as enjoyable. She emphasises the effort and thought that goes into setting it up. "We first decided on the backdrop and picked up some white floral malai that we can reuse. Then we pulled out an old silk saree from my grandmother’s collection. It felt really special to include her in the tradition that way." While they usually do three steps for Golu, Roobanithiya and her family decided to go for five this year. "Since we didn’t have enough bricks or slabs, we got a little creative and used tables to make the extra steps." They covered everything with crisp white dhotis, added fairy lights for that festive vibe, and set up their old collection of God and Goddess dolls. "The highlight this year was creating a full kalyana set, since we have a wedding in the family coming up. And through all this chaos, our pet Tharagai was just calmly watching, super excited to see it all come together!"

Since Golu incorporates creativity with tradition, it is only fair that people are intrigued and want to start one at home. "My mother-in-law actually started Golu 30 years ago when she was a newlywed, so I’d say, just start now if you feel like it!" She suggests beginning by collecting dolls and even trying DIY steps for stacking them. One part of their Golu also includes making different types of sundal (legumes salad) and a sweet as prasadam for the idols. This is something else that people can include in their Golu preparations. "Overall, it’s such a fun-filled celebration, hosting people, sharing food, and enjoying life while keeping some traditions alive."

Also Read: How to up your Navratri bindi game ft. Aashi Adani and Tanya Singh

Roobanithiya's Golu preparations show us how tradition can be both deeply personal and beautifully creative. It’s a reminder that festivals aren’t just about rituals, but about weaving stories, memories, and sharing the same with the world.

How has your Navratri been so far? Let us know in the comments below.

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