Take a look at the largest bommagolu display in Thiruvananthapuram
The car porch looks like an arts and crafts class with pieces of cardboard and sponge, forex and resin, paper, paint, etc. scattered on the floor. It is the final stage of preparations for the annual bommagola at Sakthi Kripa, the residence of Sreekantha GS aka Kuttu Veerashaiva, near Kavaradi Junction, Pettah, in Thiruvananthapuram. The house was the center of attraction every Navarathri for the display of the biggest goal in the capital. It is open to the public every year.
With over 10,000 items on display this year, the 1,800-square-foot house is overflowing with dolls and figurines made of clay, wood, brass, bronze, alloy, ceramic, papier-mâché, etc. In addition to the car porch, porch, living room, and dining room, this year it also expands to a terrace. “Last year it was 7,000 pieces. This Navarathri, I have decided to keep everything I have in my collection,” says Sreekanth, 38.
And it is the work of almost one person and the sight is really stunning for every visitor. “Preparations started two months ago, during Onam. My brother and cousins helped assemble the steps (for the gola), but I place each piece myself,” he says. There are also many idols and models on display that have been sculpted or handcrafted by Sreekanth, who is an artist with a background in animation.
Sreekanth GS aka Kuttu Veerashaiva organized over 10,000 dolls in bommagolu exhibition at his home | Photo credit: SREEJITH R KUMAR
The interest in scoring came from his paternal grandmother, the late Gomathi Ambal. “She treasured her golu collection. She told me it would be my treasure. When I asked its value, she said sokka thangam (pure gold). The determination and enthusiasm with which she arranged the golu every year rubbed off on me. Growing up, we used to buy dolls and figurines from Telugu Chettiar Street vendors that we could make and other items we sold in town. They were mostly containers that we received in the form of presents and gifts at festivals and weddings, I also started collecting things on my travels, especially in parts of Tamil Nadu, mainly in Velachery, Madurai.
Sreekanth adds that he worked abroad for several years before returning home to look after the affairs of their family temple, Isakki Amman Kovil, which shares a boundary wall with his home. He is currently the mukhya karyadarshi (as head priest) of the temple and is also an astrologer.
Sreekanth GS aka Kuttu Veerashaiva organized over 10,000 dolls in bommagolu exhibition at his home | Photo credit: SREEJITH R KUMAR
In 2013 or 2014, golu was featured in the pages of a national daily in Tamil Nadu and also won the second prize in a competition, recalls Sreekanth. “Later, I used to win first prize in competitions organized by a regional daily in Thiruvananthapuram for many years. But after some point I stopped participating. Now it’s a passion, an emotion and I enjoy arranging it all myself.”
Thanks to social media, the display became a talking point during the pandemic. “I set up the arrangement during Attukal Pongala and it went viral on Instagram. That’s when I started doing themed displays. Navarathri was one of them. Eventually it got wide publicity and I opened the doors to the public to watch,” he adds.
Bommagolu exhibition at Sakthi Kripa, residence of Sreekantha GS in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo credit: SREEJITH R KUMAR
This year he embarked on 25 topics, compared to nine last year. It begins with the Vaishnavalokam, one of the three themes on the porch, with figurines related to Lord Vishnu and his avatars. Guruparampara, another theme, is for saints and teachers, which include the Nayanmars, Tamil poet-saints who believed in Lord Shiva. Then there is Maavadi Seva, a presentation depicting Goddess Parvathi praying under a mango tree, seated next to a Shiva linga. “The Siva linga is made of sea sand, resin is used to depict the river; to depict the mango tree, I have kept real branches with leaves made of cloth.”
The parlor has a traditional golu arrangement with a kalasam (a metal pot filled with rice and mango leaves). Some of these dolls are over 100 years old. Another attraction is the decorated pooja room with idols of the family’s ancestral deities. The dining area has been converted into a brassware display area. “There is a brass golu, brass miniatures and brass vessels. While some of them have been in the family for generations, I bought the rest,” says Sreekanth.
The rest of the themed displays are on the terrace with dolls and models made by Sreekanth — Namma ooru gramam (signs of village life), Sreechakrapeedam, Kailasam (Siva’s abode), a section dedicated to Attukal Pongala and figures depicting the powerful guardian deities Parakramam. Other attractions include Ashta Sastha, nine forms of Lord Ayyappa, various forms of Shiva’s Tandava and 108 ceramic idols of Ganapathy, besides a series dedicated to episodes from the Ramayana. The annual arattu procession across the airport runway is a dedication to the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple and its premises.
Bommagolu exhibition at Sakthi Kripa, residence of Sreekantha GS in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo credit: SREEJITH R KUMAR
Also on display is a series on Dussehra celebrations in Mysore and the annual Navarathri procession in Thiruvananthapuram. The wedding set which is an integral part of the goal 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 from foam cloth and soft clay. The collection also includes dolls of famous Indians from various fields.
Anandanarthaki, the goddess figure sculpted by Sreekanth, draped in a saree and wearing beautiful ornaments is a visual treat. “I buy ornaments during my travels. We also make decorations and ornaments for various religious occasions,” says Sreekanth.
Bommagolu exhibition at Sakthi Kripa, residence of Sreekantha GS in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo credit: SREEJITH R KUMAR
How does he store a huge collection? “I made separate chambers in different rooms. Like the space under the porch at the entrance. The sunshade was closed to keep something in there; a lot of it goes into the space under the stairs.”
Cultural programs will be held at the residence during the exhibition of the goal.
Golu will be on display at Sakthi Kripa near Isakki Amman Temple, Pettah from October 12 to 21 from 6 am to midnight. Free entry. Contact: 9633719955
Published – 8 Oct 2026 10:08 IST