Kharghar: Preserving a cherished South Indian tradition for over three decades, Kharghar resident Jayanthi Sekhar has built an extensive collection of Golu dolls depicting spiritual tales, mythology, and everyday life. Her collection features deities, characters from epics, village scenes, wooden Marapachi dolls and miniature markets, each representing a unique story and cultural significance.

“Storytelling is part of Indian tradition, and it should be preserved in different forms. One of the forms is depicting the stories through statues that we have been preserving and enriching through the years,” said Sekhar, who has been expanding her collection for more than 35 years.

Navratri Golu is a traditional celebration across South India, known as Bommai Kolu in Tamil, Bombe Habba in Kannada and Bommala Koluvu in Telugu. During the festival, families arrange colourful dolls on stepped platforms called padis, creating displays that bring together religious beliefs, folklore and scenes from daily life.

Beyond the elaborate arrangements, Golu serves as a platform for community bonding and cultural exchange. Families invite neighbours and friends, exchange tamboolam and share sundal, a traditional legume-based dish. The gatherings also provide opportunities to narrate stories, teach children about heritage and pass traditional values from one generation to the next.

Highlighting the festival's deeper significance, Sekhar said, “The festival carries a deeper meaning. The Golu is never just about setting up dolls on wooden planks; it is an annual bridge where we pass our history, morals, and artistic heritage from one generation's hands directly into the next.”

Through her growing collection, Sekhar continues to celebrate storytelling, devotion, and craftsmanship, keeping the tradition alive for future generations.