Dasara Gombe habba – Mahabharata theme

This year this is  the first post on Dasara Gombe habba. Though I got  some visit invitations from some of my friends, I could not visit those Gombe habba. These dolls were exhibited in Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad. I got special invitation.

This gombe habba arrangement is based on Mahabharata theme, majorly Droupadi vastrapaharana. While entering the exhibition hall, I was stunned by this arrangements.

The whole arrangements in three steps.

The arrangements in three steps

The first steps shows the “Krishna with Radha”,

Krishna and Radha on the first step

Then comes the “Droupadi Swayamwara”, on the second step. You can see the doll Droupadi is decorated is so well, and the five Pandavas. The other kings , Bheeshma and Kunti , are seen sitting there. The marriage arrangement is very grand, of course it should be :). You can also see the sweets and fruits in the front also, the fire (Agnikunda) .

How evry detail is covered, you can see in this image.

The marriage ceremony of Droupadi with Pandvas

Next step is, the major turning point in the epic Mahabharata,  “Dyoota kride “.The below image shows , how the dolls are arranged so well, considering all the points of the story.

Dyuta Kreede

The Pandavas are sitting on one side , with disappointment  and anger on their face. It is very difficult to show this on the face of a doll. Still the artist has achieved it to some extent.

Droupadi Vastrapaharana

You can see the pain of Bheeshma, though it is doll, we can see it by the sitting position of Bheeshma. As I have written earlier, some of the expressions on the dolls are achieved by the posture of the dolls. That is the creativity of the artist here !

Bheeshma is upset

The entire scene of Droupadi Vastrpaharana

This is the entire scene, of Shri Krishna protecting  Droupadi, when Dushasana tries to pull her saree. Here Shri Krishna doll is made big as he is the God protecting.

Shree Krishna protecting Droupadi

The ladies talking about the incident

In the above image you can see some lady dolls. This is depicting , the ladies of the palace are shocked by the incident and talking about Droupadi Vastrapaharana. As a woman , the artist thought of this scene. It is so well thought and very nicely arrange Gombe habba, depicting the scenes so well. These dolls are made of threads or woolen, and only the face and base are made of wood.

And here is the artist with her doll arrangements:

The artist

I have captured two more Gombe habba  in the same exhibition. I will share about those in coming post.

Until then,

Love, Laugh and Live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana