The festival of Navarathri has just concluded and we are heading towards the grand fes
tival of India, The Deepavali 2011.The actual festive mood is set in the city of Chennai a month before the start of Navarathri. However, it is strange that while South Chennai makes elaborate arrangements, the North celebrates only Ayudha Puja.
The nine day kolu gives prominence to the women and children of the household, but the men behind the show play a significant role in the success of the celebration. Even today the senior lady of the house takes immense pleasure/satisfaction in shopping for kolu, be it the new dolls or the umpteen number of gift articles that flock the market.
People involve the children for what? This is the time when elders can teach the kids, our tradition, culture, history, heritage, religion and the pride we have to carry as Indians.
Children enthusiastically participate in arranging the dolls and show their creativity in putting up parks with a theme.
Here I am presenting some scenes in some popular dolls sales outlets, the new arrivals of this year, some thematic displays of parks, a couple of kolu displays and finally Goddess Karpagambal of Mylapore in Kamakshi alankaram.
Some new arrivals of dolls are Vasthu Lakshmi, Andal Ranganathar, Narasimha, Panduranga etc.
Few popular shops selling dolls, gift articles and other accessories.
We have some thematic kolu presentations.
Birthday theme represents newborn, first birthday, sixtieth birthday and eightieth birthday.
Wedding theme consists of wedding, reception, kutchery, procession and grahapravesam.
Chennai the Super Metro theme
depicts the culture, tradition, heritage, secularism, medical 
facilities, global recognition, intellectual superiority, tech savvy, nature, promotion of sports etc., of the Metro, i.e. Chennai.Here there is some extra treat. The story of crow drinking water from the pot by dropping pebbles. The set was on display in a store at Mada street of Mylapore.
People do create high-tech parks like Kathipara Junction, Hills of Ahobhilam, festivals of all 12 Tamil months, Five divisions in the land scape of Tamilnadu, etc.
We finally have the kolu arranged inside the temple at SSM Old Age Home,Perunkalathur and the grand Mylai Karpagambal in Kamakshi Alankaram.
Pictures of Deepavali eve and Deepavali day follow in the next article.
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