Navratri, a 10 day festival in India is the threshold for the holiday season. Homes are adorned with rangolis with the most intricate designs and there is a festive mood all around.
South Indian culture adds to the glory of this festival by displaying dolls on odd numbered steps. Miniature parks are created with varied themes and each household out does the other in creativity. It is a great time for social gathering, and, the sounds of bells and melodious vibrations reverberate throughout the community.
Having left this behind over a decade ago, I started the doll tradition in the US about 5 years ago. My mom has been adding little trinkets of dolls over time to build my collection. During my recent trip to India, I brought another such collection.
As I carefully opened each one, my daughter’s eyes grew big with amazement at the display of clay Lilliputians around her. She was quick to beg for permission to play with them as my mom and I sat and admired the little hands placing things fondly and communicating to these inanimate objects. I was driven by the nostalgic memories these brought when I was enamored by these very things, only bigger in size. Three generations of women, each living their past or present memories at that very moment.
The excitement soon grew and she wanted to hear all about the arrangements we plan for the festivities this year and my mom told her stories of how her mom would have a grand display of 11 steps in her house. She told her stories of the many artists who would come and sing melodious recitals in praise of the many Gods and Godesses that adorned those steps. I still remember all the yummy savory and sweet snacks my grandma and great grandma prepared. I would gingerly step into the kitchen every day to get into the forbidden snack box and sneak away with a snack or two.
While, we were all engrossed in the storytelling, one little monster has crept up to the clay creations and was eying them with bated breath. My 15 month old tyrant was all ready to charge at them with all his might and leave them with missing parts. One poor cow now has a missing ear, but we managed to save the rest before any further cruelty was instilled on them.
Phew! what a difference a boy and a girl make. I have a yin yang experience with my kids, one who is a doll and keeps her stuff like a diamond that shines in the sky and other, who like the crates of the moon better
Nonetheless, I love them for what they are but I made mental notes to first invest in a safety gate to prevent the carnage on the dolls for the 10 days that they beautify my home.
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