A peek into the largest bommagolu display in Thiruvananthapuram

The car porch looks like an art and craft class with pieces of cardboard and sponge, forex and resin sheet, paper, paint etc strewn on the floor. It is the last leg of preparation for the annual bommagolu at Sakthi Kripa, the residence of Sreekanth GS aka Kuttu Veerashaiva, near Kavaradi Junction, Pettah, in Thiruvananthapuram. The house has been the centre of attraction every Navarathri for displaying the largest golu in the capital city. Every year, it is kept open for the public.

This year, he is showcasing over 10,000 items and therefore the 1,800 sq ft house is overflowing with dolls and figurines in clay, wood, brass, bronze, alloy, ceramic, paper mache, etc. Besides the car porch, verandah, drawing room and dining room, this year it extends to the terrace as well. “Last year there were 7000 pieces. This Navarathri I decided to keep all that I have in my collection,” says Sreekanth, 38.

And it is almost a one-man effort and the sight is truly overwhelming for any visitor. “The preparations started two months back, during Onam. My brother and cousins helped with assembling the steps (for the golu) but I place each piece myself,” he says. Also, there are many idols and models on display that have been sculpted or handcrafted by Sreekanth who is an artist and has a background in animation.

The interest to arrange golu came from his paternal grandmother, late Gomathi Ambal. “She cherished her golu collection. She used to tell me that it would be my treasure. When I asked its worth, she would say, sokka thangam (pure gold). The dedication and enthusiasm with which she arranged the golu every year rubbed off on me. While growing up, we used to buy dolls and figurines from vendors of the Telugu Chettiar Street in the city who used to do door-to-door sale. As years passed by, more items got added to it, mostly vessels, which we received in the form of gifts and presents during festivals and weddings. I also started collecting stuff during my travels, especially across parts of Tamil Nadu, mainly Velachery in Madurai. Many of them were custom-made as well.”

Sreekanth adds that he had worked abroad for a few years before coming home to look after the affairs of their family temple, Isakki Amman Kovil, which shares boundary wall with his home. He is currently the mukhya karyadarshi (like a head priest) of the temple and is an astrologer as well.

In 2013 or 2014, the golu got featured in the pages of a national daily in Tamil Nadu and he also won second prize in a contest, recalls Sreekanth. “Later, I used to win first prize at the contests organised by a regional daily in Thiruvananthapuram for many years. But, after a point, I stopped taking part. Now it is a passion, emotion and I enjoy arranging it all by myself.”

The display became a talking point during the pandemic, thanks to social media. “I put up an arrangement during Attukal Pongala and that went viral on Instagram. That’s when I started doing theme-based displays. Navarathri was one among them. Eventually, it got wide publicity and I opened the doors for the public to watch it,” he adds.

This year, he has gone for 25 themes, while it was nine last year. It starts with Vaishnavalokam, one of the three themes at the car porch, with figurines related to Lord Vishnu and his avatars. Guruparampara, another theme, is for saints and teachers, which include the Nayanmars, the Tamil poet-saints who believed in Lord Shiva. Then there is Maavadi Seva, a presentation depicting Goddess Parvathi praying under a mango tree sitting next to a Siva linga. “The Siva linga is made from sea sand, resin is used to depict the river; to show the mango tree, I have kept real branches with leaves made from fabric.”

The drawing room has traditional golu arrangement with the kalasam (metal pot filled with rice and mango leaves). Some of these dolls are over 100 years old. The decorated pooja room with idols of the ancestral deities of the family is another attraction. The dining section has been converted into a space to showcase the brass ware. “There is brass golu, brass miniature items and brass vessels. While some of them have been in the family for generations, the rest I have purchased,” says Sreekanth.

Rest of the theme-based displays are on the terrace, with dolls and models, which are made by Sreekanth — Namma ooru gramam (vignettes of village life), Sreechakrapeedam, Kailasam (Siva’s abode), a section dedicated to Attukal Pongala, and figures depicting the powerful guardian deities such as Ugra Pratyangara, Aswarooda Varahi and Varahi Parakramam. Among other attractions are Ashta Sastha, the nine forms of Lord Ayyappa, different forms of Siva’s tandava, and 108 ceramic idols of Ganapathy, besides a series dedicated to episodes from the Ramayana. The Royal Trivandrum is a dedication to Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple and its premises and the annual arattu procession through the runway of the airport.

A series on the Dussehra festivities at Mysore and the annual Navarathri procession in Thiruvananthapuram are also in the display. Marriage set, integral to the golu, is also there and Sreekanth has added some fun to it with one showing the wedding of vegetables! One of the dolls on display is Panjurli, the guardian spirit in the movie Kantara, which he made with foam sheet and soft clay. Dolls of famous Indians from different fields are also in the collection.

Anandanarthaki, a figure of a Goddess sculpted by Sreekanth, draped in sari and wearing beautiful ornaments is a visual treat. “I buy the ornaments during my travels. We are also into the business of making decorations and adornments for various religious occasions,” says Sreekanth.

How does he store the huge collection? “I have made separate chambers in different rooms. Like the space under the verandah at the entrance. The sunshade has been closed to keep some of the stuff; a lot of it go into the space under the stairs.”

Cultural programmes will be held at the residence while the golu is on display.

The golu will be on display at Sakthi Kripa near Isakki Amman temple, Pettah, from October 12 to 21, from 6am to midnight. Entry free. Contact: 9633719955