’Nammavaru’ Dasara Bombe Pradarshana from Oct 13

Mangalore Today News Network

Mnagaluru, Oct 13, 2015 :  While the Kudroli Gokarnatheshwara Temple is decked up to exhibit the grandeur of Dasara to Mangalureans, the residents are being offered the rich cultural heritage of Mysuru region in the form of Dasara Bombe Pradarshana ( dasara dolls exhibition) during the nine-day Navaratri Festival.

’Nammavaru’, an informal association of over 120 families that migrated from Old Mysuru region to Mangaluru, is all set to exhibit the dolls at the Sharavu Mahaganapati Temple from October 13 to October 22 for the ninth consecutive year. Formed about 18 years ago, Nammavaru started the Bombe Pradarshana to pass on the heritage to the next generation, according to its convener M.S. Gururaj.

This exhibition has a  theme revolving around Mysuru palace wherein a miniature replica of Mysuru palace, measuring 8 ft by 14 ft, would be the centre of attraction. The replica would have lighting arrangements as done to the original palace with the Jamboo Savari in the front.

Besides the Mysuru palace, there would be more than one thousand dolls exhibited on nine steps. Mr. Gururaj said the association had Tirumala Brahmotsava concept in 2014 while it was Swami Vivekananda in 2013 to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary. As far as dolls are concerned, they depict the stories of epics — Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as the Dasara celebrations of Mysuru. Every house hold in Mysuru region would have Bombe Pradarshana during the Navaratri.

The association has in its possession over one thousand dolls worth about Rs. 7 lakh for the purpose of organising the exhibition.   Over the years, the association collected the dolls so as not to trouble the members every year to bring delicate items from their homes. Every year new dolls are added even as old ones are refurbished. Nammavaru secretary Srinivas said the exhibition also helps the members to introduce the tradition to the next generation.

The way Old Mysuru people celebrate Navaratri is different from the celebrations in coastal region, he said. Similar is the practice with distribution of ‘Yellu-Bella’ during the Sankranthi festival, he said.

While the exhibition would be inaugurated at 6 p.m. on October 13, Today,  there would be cultural programmes every evening between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., including devotional songs, Satsang, light music, Lalita Panchami etc. The exhibition is open to public.