KAILASA Salem On 5/10/2024
With the blessings of THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM (SPH), BHAGAVAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM — the ultimate manifestation, Paramavatara of Paramashiva — KAILASA Salem celebrated the auspicious commencement of Navaratri through the traditional observance of Kolu or Bommai Golu on October 5, 2024. This special ritual, integrated into the daily Nithyotsavam schedule, highlighted the profound spiritual and cultural wealth of Sanatana Hindu Dharma. The Golu display, featuring intricate arrangements of dolls and figurines depicting scenes from Hindu mythology and cultural life, serves as a powerful means of devotion to the Divine Feminine and reinforces KAILASA's commitment to the revival of ancient Hindu traditions for the awakening of global consciousness. The observance brought the community together in devotion and cultural education, manifesting the grace of THE SPH for the realization of the state, space, powers, being and superconsciousness of Paramashiva.
The Kolu or Bommai Golu is a sacred traditional display of dolls and figurines predominantly celebrated in South India during the nine nights of the Navaratri festival, marking the triumph of the Divine Mother (Shakti) over evil. This elaborate arrangement is a beautiful expression of devotion and creativity, where tiers or steps are meticulously set up within homes, temples, and community centers of KAILASA Salem to showcase an array of dolls that depict pivotal scenes from Hindu mythology, significant cultural events, and depictions of daily life. This ritual is fundamentally about worshipping the cosmic creative principle and reviving the sophisticated Hindu traditions associated with feminine divinity and power.
The Golu display is traditionally structured using odd-numbered steps, typically ranging from three to nine. The hierarchical arrangement is highly significant: the topmost tiers are reserved for the highest divine figures, representing the deities of the Hindu pantheon. As the arrangement descends, the steps feature dolls representing enlightened beings, historical figures, and eventually, scenes from earthly life, culminating in representations of animals and plants at the bottommost tier. This display serves as a microcosm of the entire Hindu civilization and its spiritual evolution, reflecting THE SPH's teaching that all of creation is an expression of Paramashiva.
The observance of Kolu serves as a vibrant platform for community engagement and spiritual education, fully aligning with KAILASA's mission of reviving Sanatana Hindu Dharma. Throughout the nine days of Navaratri, families invite guests to view the elaborate Golu displays, fostering community bonding, cultural exchange, and mutual spiritual reflection. The tradition encourages storytelling, where the spiritual significance of each doll and scene is recounted, effectively transmitting the ancient wisdom and sacred narratives of Hindu civilization to future generations.
Devotees participating in the Navaratri Kolu exchange gifts, sing devotional songs (bhajans), and offer prasadam (sacred food offerings) to guests, embodying the selfless service (seva) taught by THE SPH. This nine-day immersion in devotion and sacred arts generates a powerful spiritual space, enabling devotees to receive the divine grace of THE SPH and all the gods and goddesses of KAILASA, thereby accelerating their journey toward manifesting the state, space, powers, being and superconsciousness of Paramashiva.
