Mangalore: Dasara - Culture of Old Mysore Exhibited Through Dolls
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)
Mangalore, Oct 20: The splendor and grandeur of the world-famous Mysore Dasara is unparalleled. A part of the culture associated with the festival has made its presence felt in Mangalore too, with a Dasara doll collection showcased by city-based 'Nammavaru Sangha' at Sri Raghavendra Swami Math near Car Street.
The ‘Nammavaru Sangha’, was originally started by Brahmins who migrated to the city for education, job and other needs from old Mysore regions.
The display of dolls in houses and offering of puja is an important part of Dasara festival in Old Mysore regions which include Bangalore, Mysore, Mandya, Mandya, Chikmangalur, Kolar, Tumkur, Hassan, Chamarajnagar, Shimoga, Chitradurga, Bellary, mainly places ruled by Mysore Kings.
The 500-year-old tradition of displaying dolls began during Vijayanagar dynasty and was followed by the Mysore Wodeyars.
Speaking to Daijiworld, M S Gururaj, general secretary of Nammavaru Sangha said that the tradition, custom, style of puja rituals of old Mysore region is totally different from that of coastal regions. The main motto behind the exhibition is to introduced the Old Mysore culture to the coastal people, he said.
Gururaj said that they have been displaying dolls for the past five years and every year they come out with beautiful themes. This year the entire exhibition is centred on ‘Mantralayam’, while 'Vaikunta' was the theme last year.
The expo consists of as many as 800 dolls, around 75 percent belong to the sangha while the rest have been contributed by members. The ‘Nammavaru Sangha’ consists of 125 families as its members.
The dolls are created in the form of idols such as Dashavathara (10 forms of Lord Vishnu), Krishna Leela, Astalaxmi, Krishna, Narasimha, Vaikunta and various others which are displayed on nine different levels, embodying the essence of Navarathri.
'Pattada Gombe' forms the first level of doll collection meaning Royal King and Queen. The King and Queen dolls are made of sandalwood/rosewood. These dolls were gifted to the girl on her wedding day by her parents in those days.
The entire Mysore Dasara celebration is showcased in the form of dolls of Jumbo savari, royal family, palace, soldiers and others. The expo also depicts rural games, life of rural people and others. A very special attraction this year is the model of the Raghavendra temple itself.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Friday October 19 by Raghavendra Shasthri of Sharavu Mahaganapathi temple and by MR Vasudev, Mangalore International Airport director at 6 pm. The expo will be open till October 24.