Golu and Navaratri décor at home

For nine nights in Puratasi, homes across Mylapore and the rest of Chennai set up golu: steps of dolls arranged by theme, with friends and neighbours visiting each evening for sundal and thamboolam. Families now ask us to help with the setting around the dolls, while they arrange the dolls themselves.

Start with the steps. Golu is traditionally set on an odd number of steps, usually five, seven or nine. We hire out wooden or steel step frames in widths of four to eight feet, covered with a plain silk or cotton cloth in cream, maroon or green, so the dolls stand out. A neat cloth with pleated edges makes even a simple golu look finished.

Behind the steps, a backdrop frames the display. We use a fabric drape with a thin marigold and jasmine border, or a panel of banana leaves with a string of warm fairy lights along the top. Keep lights steady and warm white; blinking coloured lights distract from the dolls. Two brass kuthuvilakkus on either side of the bottom step, lit each evening, complete the frame.

At the entrance, a mango-leaf thoranam and a small kolam with flower petals welcome visitors. Fresh flowers on the steps need replacing every two days in October heat, so we offer a refresh visit midway through the festival. A full golu set-up for a flat, with step frames, cloth, backdrop, lights, lamps and the entrance, starts at about ₹6,500, and we clear everything after Vijayadashami.