Bengaluru: ‘
Gombe helutaite
(the doll says)….’ So goes a famous Kannada song. As Dasara has begun, Bengalureans are creating live storyboards out of dolls to mark
Gombe Habba
, which is celebrated by putting up elaborate displays of dolls. With each doll being used to spark imagination, thematic setups are breathing life into mythology, folklore, and even modern narratives this time around.
At Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, around 2,500 dolls are arranged to narrate 10 themes from the Ramayana.
The setup, curated by Aparna and Shreenath Acharya, offers visitors a captivating journey through the epic’s timeless stories.
Highlighting her themed display of gombes (dolls) depicting women from the Ramayana, Aparna told TOI, “We’ve been celebrating Gombe Habba for about 20 years now. In the beginning, it was more about following the tradition. But, as time went by, we realised the incredible potential these dolls have in conveying meaningful messages and life lessons. Through carefully curated concepts and stories, we saw how beautifully we could express ideas through the dolls, especially those rooted in our puranas
