DUSSEHRA!

If you look through our Indian calendar, you will find that each month some sect or community in India is in a state of celebration. It is part of our diverse culture to engage in festivities and irrespective of the religious significance, what it does, is bring people together, forge a closer bond and spread the much needed cheer all year-round. I am sure you will agree with me that the positive vibes from any festival can be strongly experienced whether you are celebrating it yourself or not. One such festival, Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is coming up in the next few days – and as with most Hindu festivals, it signifies the triumph of good over evil.

Today, I would like you to meet Mrs. Sridevi Ravindra and her daughter-in-law, Lakshmi Priya Srinivas who work tireless together to set up a fabulous Bomma Golu / Bombe Habba / Bommai Kolu around this time of the year. Every year, for a period of two weeks their wonderful home in Bangalore converts into a place where stories of ancient and modern India unfold. The vast collection of dolls are displayed in a carefully planned and well-thought out sequence. They are meticulously arranged across an entire room and as you walk from one end to another, you will be taken back and forth in time. The attention to detail is impressive and each arrangement tells a unique story of Gods, Hindu mythology, royalty, ancient rituals, Indian festivals and of course depicts scenes from our day-to-day lives.

The Ravindra household starts preparing at least 30-40 days in advance and under the guidance of the women of the house, they arrange the 2000+ dolls, adding new elements and stories every year. Mrs. Sridevi says, “It is about promoting and preserving our culture and traditions for the future generations. My grandchildren also help us in arranging the dolls and look forward to it every year.  We even arrange a musical performance where budding artistes perform. It has now become a ritual of its own for us”.

As you scroll through the images, you will feel happy vibes, share in their excitement and appreciate the meaningful way this close knit family preserves our culture and teaches their children about our rich Indian heritage.