The vibrant and time-honoured tradition of ‘Bommai Golu’, also known as ‘Bombe Habba’ or ‘Golu’, was celebrated enthusiastically in Auckland, where it continues to thrive and bridge the gap between cultural heritage and life abroad.
Bommai Golu is a south Indian tradition where colourful dolls and figurines are displayed on multi-tiered shelves during the navratri festival, showcasing gods, goddesses, mythological characters and scenes from daily life.
About nine years ago, Epsom residents Yogi, her husband Ram, and the community began celebrating Bommai Golu in New Zealand.
Sharing their journey of keeping this tradition alive, Yogi, who works as Organisational Change Manager with Fonterra, says, "It's a tradition we've always followed, and when we inherited the ‘kalasam’ from our parents, we naturally carried it on.
“In the past, we invited people from our community to come to our home and celebrate with us. We'd work together to create a special display for the occasion. Our guests included friends, family, co-workers, other parents from our kids' school, and even people from the general public.”
She says preparations for the Bommai Golu festival are significant for the community. Months of meticulous planning go into curating the display, including carefully arranging dolls imported from different places on multi-tiered steps.
The display typically adheres to tradition, with odd-numbered steps featuring gods and goddesses on the top tier, while the lower steps depict traders, devotees and everyday scenes.
The festival serves as a means of connecting with cultural roots and an opportunity to share this vibrant tradition with a wider audience. Over the years, the event's attendance has grown, with up to 70 people participating in this year's celebration at Yogi and Ram's residence.
Yogi with husband Ram
The highlights of this year's event, which took place on October 21, included unveiling new additions to the doll collection, captivating performances of traditional songs, and a heartfelt aarti, followed by a delicious dinner.
Reflecting on the response to the event, the hosts expressed their joy at seeing people's interest in upholding traditions and culture.
Ram, a SAP consultant, emphasises the importance of events like Bommai Golu. "We had guests from northern and southern India, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayali, Marathi, and Sindhi. We're happy to see people's interest in upholding traditions and culture, and we have had a great response to this event every year.
“These cultural celebrations are crucial for the Indian community in New Zealand as they emphasise the significance of preserving traditions and culture while living far from home. They offer a means for the younger generation to learn and connect with their roots."
Guests too seemed pleased at being part of the event. Auckland Tamil Association President Vai Ravindran says, “By keeping age-old traditions alive, Yogi and Ram have decorated their home and invited the wider community, giving everyone a feel of their home. I felt great to be here and see the theme-based setup. These dolls depict a huge variety of Indian culture and heritage.”
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