Hina matsuri (Japan) and Navartri Golu (India)

"Hina Matsuri (usually known as Doll's Festival)" is held on March 3rd. This is a day to pray for young girl's growth and happiness. It is also called "Momo no sekku (Peach Festival)" because of the peach blossom season on the old lunar calendar. May 5th is "Kodomo no hi (Children's Day)," and this is so called "Boy's Festival." While Children's Day is a national holiday, Hina Matsuri is not.  Most families with girls display "hina- ningyo" (special dolls for Hina Matsuri, see the photo beside) and dedicate peach blossoms to them. They are usually arranged on a five or seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet. At the top are the Emperor and Empress. The next step contains three court ladies (sannin-kanjo), followed by five musicians (gonin-bayashi), two ministers (udaijin and sadaijin), and three servants ending the bottom row in a five-tiered display. There are also small pieces of furniture, small meal dishes, and other things.

Similar to Hina Matsuri, in South India, we celebrate Navarathri to display the arrangement of dolls. On the Navarathri days, kanyas (un-married) girls and Sumangalis (married women) visit the houses of the village.  The resident of the house offers them Manjal (turmeric), Kumkumam and Bhakshanam(Snacks). The visitors are invited to sing before the Kolu.  First three days of Navaraathri are dedicated to Durgaa, next three days to Lakshmi and the final three days to Saraswathi.  In the Vedic way, one can unite them as Veda Maathaa revered as Ilaa, Bharathi and Saraswathi.  In the top most step, the statues (Bommai) of Gods and Goddesses are displayed.  At the bottom most step are Bommai related to the creations of the Lord such as birds, animals et al are displayed.  Homage paid to the entire creations of the Lord and His consort.  In the smaartha tradition, Vinaayaka Bommai is the first one to be placed on the Kolu.  Generally dolls are arranged in steps of odd count i.e. 1,3,5,7,9.