This year, I have my second daughter is who just turning one this month on the 24`th, so planning for Golu was something I had postponed to the very end of the day! I had all the paraphernalia out and I was wondering If I was really out to put myself through monitoring the little one all through the day…and finally It dawned on me, that I really had to do it this year. I wanted the fun of watching her out of the corner of my eyes, to see if she is getting anywhere close, while she watches me closely so she can pounce on the little wax squash that I had added to the vegetable collection and disappear with it!!!. I wanted to experience the joy of seeing her eyes light up when she finds a little gap between the chairs that I have used as reinforcement, just before the golu shelves, and tries to reach out and climb the stairs!!! I wanted this as I know she will be growing up to be a sensible toddler very soon….and I am enjoying every moment of it. I hardly get to chant my shlokams in one contiguous slot, nor complete my chores at any point of time…but I am enjoying this minute, with my little baby…and loving every moment of it!!!
Every time there is a festival or a special day marked by a religious custom, my daughter would want to know the reason and the significance of that festival, which led to Significance of Navarathri . Many times this leads me to soul searching for the same . I firmly believe in the Hindu culture and that every ritual has been evolved with a very scientific reason, within the premises of the traditions at that time. The Marapachi Dolls are one such tradition which form one of my prized possessions, of my wedding gifts from my mother`s home. The Marapachi Dolls , are a pair of male and female dolls, carved out of this reddish wood called “Marapachi” have been a traditional part of every wedding , which is gifted by the parents of the bride. Tradition dictates that the bommais are brought out in display, every year, at the time of Navarathiri. The bride’s parents present these dolls to the bride and initiate the yearly tradition of Navarathiri Gollu in her new home with her husband. These bommais come as couples dressed in their wedding attire, signifying the start of the bride’s Gollu collection, which then grows over the years with the addition of various clay dolls signifying various Gods and Godesses.
Marapachi bommais are special dolls from Tirupathi, the land of Lord Venkateshwara. Some explain the word Marapachi as a special kind of
wood that has medicinal values and hence the name Marapachi Bommai . And like any age-old tradition, you can’t help but wonder, what is the significance of Marapachi Bommais? Some believe that these dolls were presented to the bride and the groom at the time of marriage as toys for the couple. After all when two people, rather two children, get married at the age of ten what better gift than toys to keep them happy. So, it is reckoned that they were truly for enjoyment purposes to please the little couple. Yet another lore had it that these dolls dressed in their wedding attire helped in capturing the moment in the days where technology was clearly non-existent. In the absence of pictures, what better way to remember the way you looked when you were married !! That seemed to me , to be a lovely explanation for this beautiful custom.
(Source : Shalu Ramachandran)
Anubhavati -Tastes from my kitchen 
Wow…this is beautiful !!
Nice first golu to start with Shoba. My first time has a whole padi of only Barbies!!
Marapachi’s indeed are special for Golu. I have my set too – but I love the dresses on yours. We had to dress mine and its not as pretty. But, they still stand beautiful on my padi.
We were all talking about the significance of Golu over the weekend too – and I heard so many different but conceptually correct stories.
Happy Navarathri to all of you!
wow..such a cute golu!..so are the marapachi dolls 🙂
Hi Anubhavati,
Thank you so much for stopping by my space and also for the comments.You have a cool blog.”Happy Navaratri”.Your Golu looks very nice, we also have golu at my home 🙂
Lovely arrangement Shobha. It is simply such a joy with a toddler around. I am smiling all thro’ the post and as I am writing this comment.
Happy Navarathri to you.
Your marapachchi pair is truly beautiful!
thanksquiet informative happy navratri
Hi Shobz, I always look forward to your write-up. Nice to see you have kept a small neat lovely Kolu.Hope you are making varities of Chundal each day to offer to the dolls and Deity!
All the very best for this festive season and love to all
Mama
Beautiful looking golu..thanks for sharing the significance of marapachi dolls, first time i came to know this..
nice golu!
Wow ..so beautiful..love the write up too..your little one must be very excited n happy!
Happy Navaratari to you and your family dear!
US Masala
golu looks very beautiful Shoba …Happy navaratri to u n ur family
Satyahttp://www.superyummyrecipes.com
Cute pics.Wounderful presentation
Hey Shoba,
It was nice reading your article.. I didn’t know the significance of marapachi dolls till now. I dont think brides these days are given golu dolls as gift from their parents on their wedding day.. I sure am gonna ask my parents to bring them for my next navarathri 🙂
Happy Navarathri. Marappachi dolls always facinates me, may be because of their simple yet mystic looks.
Lovely golu..
Shoba, beautiful golu. Sorry for the late visit. Love the colour co-ordination – wall, saree etc. Very artistically done! I need to ask my mother why she never gave me marapachi. I know we had it at home.
Lakshmi
ps. I made your tomato chutney (well almost your recipe) and it was superb. Loved it
Hi Shoba, Lest i may forget, I wish your second daughter a very happy birthday on 24th with love and blessings.Say my love to Sneha.
Thanks Mama for your blessings.
Shobha
Hey laks,
I loved the Golu this time around too!!! and which tomato chtney are you talking about? I have three posted!!!
Shobha
hi shoba,
Very nice kolu… I just wanted to add that the marappachi truely has medicinal values. In fact in those days when babies are born and when they reach the teething age, these marappachi dolls were used as natural teether….
Anu
V hav 2 develop the tradition of marapachi toll in modern world
Hello,
Very nice pics, even my mom used marapaachi for the gollu, we even designed the lamp into Amman,I’ve posted the pic in my blog