Marapachi Bommai: Heirlooms of Heritage

In many South Indian homes, tucked away in quiet corners or brought out with joy during Navaratri, lives a pair of wooden figures, simple at first glance, yet full of soul. These are the Marapachi Bommai. For some, they’re memories. For others, blessings. And for many, they are a soft reminder of everything passed down with love.

More Than Just Figures

Carved from the rich, reddish wood of the marapachi tree (red sandalwood), these bommais usually come as a pair, a king and queen. They're always together, standing tall at the top of the Golu steps, watching over the celebrations with quiet grace.

But their story begins long before the festival. In many families, a mother gives her daughter a set of Marapachi Bommais when she sets up her very first Golu. It’s not just a gift. It’s a gesture v that says, “This is yours now. Carry it forward.” A piece of family, a thread in the story.

Carved by Hand, Held by Heart

Most Marapachi Bommais are lovingly handcrafted by artisans in temple towns like Tirupathi. Their tools are simple, but their hands know the rhythm of tradition. They carve, sand, and smooth each piece, giving life to what will one day become part of someone’s home, someone’s memory.

The wood is chosen with care, not just for how it lasts, but for what it gives. Red sandalwood is known for its calming properties. In older times, when children played with these bommais, it wasn’t just pretend, it was wellness wrapped in tradition.

For those who grew up around them, the Marapachi Bommai brings back little flashes of memory. The smell of jasmine in your braid. The rustle of your silk pavadai. The warmth of your grandmother’s voice telling stories as you placed the bommais on the top step. Dressing them in little sarees. Watching them stand there, year after year, without a word, but always present.

They were always more than decoration. They were part of the celebration. Part of you.

A Tradition That Grows With You

A Tradition That Grows With You Even today, the Marapachi Bommai finds a place in modern homes. Some still place them during Navaratri, others keep them safe all year round. No matter how they’re kept, they carry with them everything they’ve seen, every festival, every prayer, every pair of small hands that once held them.

At Sundari Silks, the Marapachi Bommai is close to our heart. It’s even part of our logo. It represents everything we believe in: tradition, grace, and stories that last. Just like our silks, these bommais are passed down, from one generation to the next, wrapped in memory, wrapped in love. They remind us where we come from. And they quietly whisper, “Carry it forward.”