During this period, it is customary in many homes in Tamil Nadu to display a ‘Golu’ (கொலு). This is an exhibition of various dolls in odd numbered tiers (படி, ‘padi-s’). The Golu-s vary in theme from house to house - from the elaborate, extravagant ones to the simple, traditional and artistic ones.

Golu is adorned with dolls - predominantly with that of the Gods and Goddesses depicting mythology. The most Common ones are Dasavatharam (தசாவதாரம்), Ramar Pattabhishekam (பட்டாபிஷேகம்), Meenakshi Thiru-kalyanam (மீனாக்ஷி திருக்கல்யாணம்), Murugan and Valli (முருகன், தெய்வானை, வள்ளி), Krishna-leela (கிருஷ்ண லீலை), etc. Themes such as marriage, school, etc are also adopted.

Golu does not mean that the dolls are kept only on the steps. Innovation plays a vital role. Creativity and divinity combine to form a veritable presentation.

Generally, when people come to a person's house to see the Golu, they are given prasadam (பிரசாதம், the offering given to God that day), kumkumam (குங்குமம், red powder), and a small bag of gifts usually containing a mirror, a comb, a small box of kumkumam, and fruits. These are only given to girls and married women. This is chiefly a woman's festival.

In the evenings, a lamp is lit, in the middle of a decorated ‘kolam’ (கோலம், Rangoli), before the Golu and devotional hymns and sloka-s are chanted.

On the 9th day (Saraswathi Pooja, சரஸ்வதி பூஜை), special pooja-s are offered to Goddess Saraswathi - the divine source of wisdom and enlightenment. Books and musical instruments are placed in the pooja and worshipped as a source of knowledge.

Click here to have a look at the spcial issue on Ayutha pooja.