Dasara Gombe Navaratri Doll Festival – Pattada Gombe, Tier Arrangement, History, Customs & Significance
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Pattada Rani and Pattada Arasa represent the set of royal
traditional queen and king. This pair is the main of all the idols and takes
the place on top along with the idols of deities.
Steps 1 to 3 – These top steps are reserved for divine figurines
of Gods and Goddesses.
Steps 4 to 6 – These are the respected positions for popular personalities who have done great to the society like saints, kings, queens. Mysore Royal family of Kings and Queens have due importance during Mysore Dasara Habba (Festival). So, idols of famous and influential rulers are also placed at these steps.
Step 7 – Hindu festivals, celebrations, events, special occasions are depicted at this step.
Step 8 – Our everyday life activities are shown at this point, such as vegetable vendor, carpenter, park, a shop keeper, an old couple chit chatting, ladies cooking, and so on.
Step 9 – How man’s life and other living things have evolved are what is usually depicted at this bottom most step.
Dasara, the festival of 10 long days which glorifies Goddess
and her fiercely power in defeating the evil. This festival is celebrated
throughout India, but the traditions and customs vary a lot and are unique to
each place.
Southern India celebrates in a totally different manner than
in North. Dasara, observes the tradition of Doll Festival in many parts of Karnataka,
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
In Karnataka, Dasara straight away indicates the pomp and
glory of Royal Mysore. Mysore Dasara is little different than other places.
Dasara Gombe Utsava which is Doll Arrangement Festival has a
special significance. Every house hold has a doll house arranged and displayed
throughout the 10 days.
Pattada Gombe
In Mysore, the arrangement is incomplete if Pattada Gombe, a
pair of wooden dolls husband and wife, is not included.
Pattada Gombe are decorated in silk cloth and made ready as
though they are the bride and the groom ready for marriage.
Tier Arrangement
This toy festival allows all grown-up elders and children of
the family to come together and present the idea and theme behind the
arrangement.
Commonly, the dolls/toys are arranged on a stepped platform.
The steps are chosen to be odd in numbers – 7 or 9 or 11. These steps are either permanently made in any
corner of the house for every year’s decoration or temporarily arranged using
cardboard or wooden boxes.
There are specific rules followed while arranging the dolls
on the tiers.
Steps 4 to 6 – These are the respected positions for popular personalities who have done great to the society like saints, kings, queens. Mysore Royal family of Kings and Queens have due importance during Mysore Dasara Habba (Festival). So, idols of famous and influential rulers are also placed at these steps.
Step 7 – Hindu festivals, celebrations, events, special occasions are depicted at this step.
Step 8 – Our everyday life activities are shown at this point, such as vegetable vendor, carpenter, park, a shop keeper, an old couple chit chatting, ladies cooking, and so on.
Step 9 – How man’s life and other living things have evolved are what is usually depicted at this bottom most step.
This is generally the system of doll arrangement followed by
all. One can always change and evolve the idea of the decoration.
History
This Doll Festival custom is believed to be prevailing from
Vijayanagara Kingdom days and is followed to this day.
Goddess Durga fought a fierce battle with the demon
Mahishasura which she won after fighting for 10 long days. During the battle,
all other Gods and Goddesses gave Maa Durga all their powers and stood
motionless like statues.
To pay all these deities respect, doll festival came into
practice and hence these dolls are worshipped every day through Dasara.
Folklore also explains that common man did not have the
privilege of witnessing their favourite royal family weddings and celebrations.
So, at home, people made arrangements of the royal wedding and festive
celebrations toys and enjoyed witnessing through the doll arrangements.
Customs
Customs are many when it comes to celebrating Dasara Dolls
Festival. But none of them are compulsory. Every custom is followed based on
the personal convenience.
Some of the generic customs followed are –
- Pattada Gombe pair is mandatory for all in Mysore. How creatively the decoration is done is their wish.
- The Dasara Jumbo Sawari depiction also becomes a must as it is an important event in Mysore on Vijayadashami.
- Each year, people add new dolls to their collection.
- The dolls are handed over to the new generations in the family.
- The dolls are worshipped throughout the 10 days. Prasad, usually different sweets and savouries are offered every day to the dolls while performing daily puja.
- A theme is followed in arranging the dolls. Some common themes are stories from Ramayana, Mahabharatha, forest theme, social causes, unity in diversity, and many more.
- People invite home all their relatives and friends to see their doll house. Every one go visiting every house hold to watch doll decoration.
Significance
Karnataka has this doll festival exhibited through clay
models or wooden toys. The art, craft and talent of doll making is soon
diminishing. In order to stay rooted to the tradition, the concerned department
arranges for competition and media coverage of doll house arrangements.
Dasara is the special occasion when Mysore turns into a land
of dolls and toys.
Upcoming posts about
Where to buy Dasara Dolls in Mysore?
Dasara Doll Arrangement Designs Ideas
Dasara Dolls Exhibition at Bombe Mane
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