The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Now, theme-based sets for doll arrangement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 15, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Now, theme-based sets for doll arrangement

Chitra V. Ramani

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Pretty picture: Dolls displayed at a shop in Bangalore.

Bangalore: Navratri is that time of the year when the dolls stored in the attic are brought out and displayed in every home.

Each year, families buy new dolls and add it to their ever-growing collection.

After a slump in the sale of dolls or “gombe” a few years ago, people now seem to have got back to buying more dolls.

“People now want to buy varieties of dolls. We get different varieties of dolls from other States. Most of our stock has been sold out,” said Amudha M., a “gombe” seller in Malleswaram.

She said that her family had been in the business of selling dolls for more than 50 years.

“Earlier, people would usually buy single pieces. Now, theme-based doll sets are in great demand. People want to tell stories through the doll arrangement. This tradition has really caught on,” she said.

Dandapani S., another “bombe” seller, said that the sale of dolls over the past three years had increased.

“People have taken up the arrangement and display of dolls as a hobby. Since there is such a great demand for the dolls, both single pieces and sets, we place orders anticipating the year’s demand in January itself. Our family has been buying dolls basically from different parts of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

The sets in great demand include the marriage ceremony complete with a bridegroom, bride, priest, relatives.“The dolls of gods and goddesses are still quite popular,” he added.

Kamala Panindra said, “People are interested in keeping alive old arts and crafts and celebrating traditional festivals. The most popular variety is the “pattada gombe” which is usually presented to the bride by her mother,” she said.

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