TOY’S FESTIVAL
GOLU, DUSSEHRA, BOMMALA KOLUVU, GOMBE HABBA.
Golu is the festive display of dolls and figurines in South India during the autumn festive season, particularly around the multiday Navarathri (Dussehra, Dasara) festival of Hinduism These displays are typically thematic, narrating a legend from a Hindu text to court life, weddings, everyday scenes, miniature kitchen utensils, anything a little girl would have played with. They are also known as Kolu, Gombe Habba, Bommai Kolu or Bommala Koluvu.
Each displayed item in a Golu display is sometimes called Golu doll or equivalent. These are typically made by rural artisans from clay and wooden materials then brightly painted. They are generally arranged in an odd number of padis (tiers) to tell a story. Goddess-related themes are common, along with developments such as anticipated wedding within the family and of friends. During the Golu display season, families visit each other with gifts to view and chit-chat over the Golu display, share festive foods, and sometimes play music or sing devotional songs together. Major Hindu temples such as the Meenakshi temple arrange elaborate golu displays each year for Navarathri.
GOMBE HABBA.
Every year during Dasara/Navaratri, zealous people participate in the Gombe Habba, or festival of dolls, celebration. Gathering a variety of dolls, displaying them on a multi-stage platform, and inviting people over to take a look are all part of the Festival of Dolls.
Important components of Gombe Habba:
Theme: Each person or family participating in Gombe Habba may choose a theme or a legendary story to centre their doll collection for that year. Characters from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, or other Hindu Puranas, for instance, provide a wealth of themes and subplots.
Pattada Gombe: In doll collections, the lead couple or central figures are frequently displayed prominently. Oftentimes, lead pairings of deities include Sri Krishna and Radha, Shiva and Parvati, and Rama and Sita. Wood is frequently used to make dolls. You can also utilise dolls made of clay, plastic, or metal.The arrangement: Nine dolls, which represent the nine days of Navratri, are typically arranged in multiple layers. Most often, the most notable dolls are displayed in the top-most racks, while the lesser dolls that symbolise minor or supporting roles or additional plot lines are shown at the bottom. Gombe Habbà celebrations are made more visually appealing by adding light displays, lamps, garlands, and other decorations.
Gombe Habba includes visiting each other's homes to see and enjoy each other's doll collections as well as welcoming each other and exchanging treats. The ninth day of Navaratri is the day for Saraswati Puja. The dolls are meticulously packed and rested till the next year on the tenth day of Navaratri.
BOMMALA GOLUVU
Marapachi Dolls, also known as Marapachi Bommais (literal meaning: "wooden dolls"), are traditional dolls made specifically of red sandalwood or silk-cotton-wood or red wood which are displayed during the Golu festival in South India as part of Dassara or Navaratri celebrations. These dolls made in pairs generally of male and female are dressed up by children as part of plaything and displayed during the Golu or "Bommai Kolu" festival. Tirupathi is one of the locations where it is specially ornament ally carved, and the dolls are stated to represent Venkateshwara and his consort. They are also made in Kondapalli as Raja-Rani (King and Queen) dolls which are a compulsory display during the Golu festival.
As a tradition Marapachi dolls are a hereditary gift from mother to daughter when the latter starts her Bommai Kolu arrangement.
Kandhei Jatra or Toy Fair is a traditional festival celebrated every year in Berhampur in the Indian state of Odisha. The festival is three centuries old and related to the oldest Jagannath temple of the city. This festival takes place for three days and things for domestic use made of clay, wood or metal were also put up for sale.
This festival is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Hindu calendar month of Ashadha. This festival is held at Berhampur known as the silk city after a week of Ratha Yatra. It is to be believed that the traditional festival is around three centuries older. The toy fair is ritualistically attached to the oldest Jagannath temple in the city (Berhampur) located in Khaspa Street. According to the tradition, on the night the pedestal of idol of lord Jagannath at this temple is decorated with earthen toys of different mythological characters. The good thing about the festival is that, it promotes the traditional toy makers of the area who make toys from clay, cow dung, wood, coir and papier-mâché.
Very informative !!!
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