Chennai artisans restore family Golu dolls for Navaratri

Customers in Chennai's Mylapore neighbourhood are turning to artisans to restore old Golu dolls for Navaratri. A report in The Hindu explores the objects' sentimental value amid rising prices for new pieces.

S. Paramasivan of Jayamaruthi Manual has restored deity figures for 22 years. His son-in-law, Murugesan P., works alongside him. Some commissions involve dolls that are decades old.

The artisan attributes demand to owners' attachment to family objects. He recalled a mother and daughter bringing in a broken doll in tears. During Navaratri, he said, restorations are completed in about two days.

Collector Praveen Babu from Andhra Pradesh brought a clay Andal figure made around 40 years ago. He prefers preserving its hand-crafted detail to buying newer papier-mâché pieces.

On North Mada Street, vendor Bhuvaneshwari G. described customers looking for particular Hindu deity figures. She said suppliers in Kancheepuram had raised the price of each doll by 300 rupees, reducing room to earn from sales.

An older couple from Anna Nagar, S. Lakshmi and Venkataramanan N., sees customers choosing both new dolls and restoration. They noted that emotional connections influence decisions to preserve older pieces.

The report shows seasonal demand supporting vendors and restorers. Owners' choices reflect both prices and a desire to continue family traditions.