Although the group Durga Puja has been affected in Odisha’s Silk Metropolis right here as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, the Bommala Koluvu- a “fading custom” has come to the forefront in the course of the celebration of Dussehra competition among the many Telugus. Bommala Koluvu is an exhibition of dolls and ornamental items by feminine members of the Telugu individuals, primarily Kamma group and it commences from the primary day of Navaratri – the nine-day competition and lasts until the ultimate day of Dussehra.
“Now we have displayed dolls, largely of various deities, conventional bands and marriage processions of various states and religions to mark the celebration of the nine-day ritual throughout Navaratri,” stated J Sailaja (55), spouse of J Narayan Rao, a physician. She has taken a couple of week to brighten about 700 dolls in an 18X10 sq toes room with lighting association, whereas her physician husband has helped within the work.
“It required round every week to brighten the dolls”, stated Sailaja. “Now we have not used any plastic gadgets”, stated Narayan. “A lot of the dolls are made of various woods, clay, garments, brass and silver. Whereas a number of of those dolls had been preserved by our forefathers, now we have procured some others from totally different states and overseas”, he added.
He stated after a niche of some years, his household began the Bommala Kuluvu in his home from final 12 months. Many individuals had visited their home final 12 months on invitation. Nonetheless, this 12 months no invitation was given to any customer as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. Only a few individuals, solely our associates and family visited our home to witness the exhibition by sustaining social distance, sporting masks and sanitizing the palms, stated the physician.
Equally, M Padmavati, spouse of M Venkat Rao at Brajanagara has additionally displayed totally different dolls. She alongside along with her relations organized over 200 dolls. “Now we have been celebrating Dussehra with Bommala Koluvu for the previous couple of years. This 12 months, we are attempting to unfold a message of Swachha Bharat, safety of surroundings,” stated Meenakshi, a postgraduate pupil. Previously, nearly all Telugu individuals, particularly in Berhampur, celebrated Bommala Koluvu. Since kids of those households are out of their properties for research or to do jobs, this custom is progressively fading. “We couldn’t maintain Bommala Koluvu for the final 5 years, as my daughters have been out of the state,” stated M V Anuradha, a physician.
