Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Seeking to promote social bonds

TIRUCHI: The festival of Navarathiri has several facets. While it basically signifies the divine powers of the Female Trinity — Sakthi, Saraswathi and Lakshmi — the festival is also conventionally used as a platform for talented artistes to exhibit their knowledge and skill in fine arts such as Carnatic music.

‘Kolu’ also seeks to promote social bonds and cultural heritage, when people invite each other to their houses to have a glimpse of the dolls.

Extending the invitation, by itself, is an art. Children attired as gods or goddesses, mostly as Krishna or Muruga, offer the conventional ‘thamboolam’ to their neighbours, friends and relatives and ask them to visit their houses to have a glimpse of the ‘kolu’ displays.

In course of time, while the practice has become a thing of the past, it is still in vogue in certain places such as Srirangam. In an endeavour to revive the custom, students of Srirangam Bharata Natyalaya here took upon themselves the responsibility of demonstrating the significance of the cultural values that have its origin in the hoary past.

Thirty students of the Natyalaya, attired as gods and goddesses, posed as ‘kolu’ dolls. There was Lord Subramanya with His Consorts Valli and Deivayanai.

With resplendent peacock feathers, they were the cynosure of all eyes. There was Lord Krishna, Goddess Meenakshi and Sri Andal to attract the onlookers.

“The students will motivate the visitors to realise the importance of our rich culture,” says Natyalalya director Revathy Muthusamy.

She says she made the maximum use of the costumes and other material available at the dance school.

She expressed appreciation for the co-operation extended by parents, who readily accepted her proposal.

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