By Latha Sambamurti
Navarathri, a popular Indian festival signifying the triumph of good over evil, is widely celebrated around this time of the year. Between Sept. 20-30, the Vedic Education and Development Academy (VEDA), a 501(c )(3)nonprofit community organization in Redmond, organized special traditional displays and events in a grand celebration of the festival.
South Indians celebrate Navarathri (“nine nights”) by assembling and displaying Golu, an arrangement of figurines, dolls and miniature statues on a step structure. The figurines typically depict themes, characters and episodes from Indian epics and legends, life in royal courts, processions, weddings, everyday scenes, birds and animals, and so forth. Considerable creativity is exercised in selecting the themes of a golu display. The figurines are often passed on from one generation to another as heirloom in Indian families. The nine evenings and nights are filled with liveliness and charm, as folks in neighborhoods invite and visit one another wearing beautiful traditional attires, and watch golu displays, sing songs and savour tasty preparations.
During this year’s Navarathri festival, VEDA created a grand thematic display of the great Indian epic Ramayana. In seven major chapters, or kandas, it narrates the story of Rama, who is regarded as the ideal king, son and husband. The volunteers of VEDA have created 24 sets of displays to depict the seven kandas, with intricate artifacts showing minute details bringing the story live, with backdrops of grand palaces, deep forests, soaring mountains, roaring rivers and even a bridge to cross a mighty ocean.
Shruti, a youth group leader and active volunteer at VEDA since 2012, said: “Being a volunteer at VEDA, I had the honor to not only visit their dazzling golu display, but also prepare and build it, along with numerous other volunteers.”
The project provided an invaluable learning experience to the volunteers ranging in age from 4 to 70-plus, ample scope to express artistic creativity, and a pleasant opportunity to bond closer with one another.
VEDA is devoted to the culture and the arts of India, and aims to transmit them to the younger generation. It organizes Indian classical music and dance classes, and Indian language classes. It also presents concerts, lectures, yoga sessions and other cultural events. VEDA is located at 18109 N.E. 76th St. #108, Redmond.
The Ramayana golu has mesmerized the community and become the talk of the town for its grandeur and attention to detail in exhibiting the cultural richness of India. Owing to overwhelming response and demand from the community, VEDA has extended the display of the Ramayana golu through Oct. 6.
Latha Sambamurti is the Washington State Arts commissioner.
