INTRO

The festive season of Navaratri brings a special energy every year, and this year marks my 6th consecutive GOLU setup. Having recently moved to Edmonton, Canada, this is my third year celebrating GOLU here. What makes this year’s GOLU particularly special is the creative effort from three generations of women in my family—my mom, my daughter, and me. Together, we handcrafted figurines to display, with my mom creating the stunning centerpiece. She used air-dry clay to portray the "Bathukamma festival," a celebration of flowers and the spirit of women, which is deeply rooted in the culture of Telangana.
Our theme this year is "Explore the divinity in you."
We follow the traditional 5-step arrangement for the GOLU, each step carrying a unique message:
• Step 1 begins with the blessings of Lord Saraswati, Lord Ganesh, and Lakshmi Mata. It narrates different chapters from the life of Lord Rama—his time in Ayodhya, Sita Kalyanam, and his exile (including the boat ride with Guhudu). This step teaches us to "master our emotions."
• Step 2 walks us through the lives of Lord Krishna, Narasimha Swamy, and Lord Balaji, reminding us to always "keep Dharma in mind."
• Step 3 showcases the Dasavatara, reinforcing the value of "doing the right thing, always."
• Step 4 is dedicated to the theme of marriage, highlighting the truth that "change is the law of the universe," and embracing that change is essential.
• Step 5 features our Bathukamma display, celebrating the essence of "living in every moment."
We invited family and friends to celebrate Haldi Kumkum over three days, with dinner, games, and dandiya adding to the joy of the occasion. We also organized a quiz and fun activities for the kids. The celebrations ended with the recitation of the Lalitha Sahasranamam, bringing the festival to a beautiful close.