Mangaluru : Nammavaru, Vipra Koota the residents of Mysuru region organised a Dasara Bombe Pradarshana (doll exhibition) during the nine-day Navaratri Festival was inaugurated at Sharavu Mahaganapati Temple here on Tuesday, October 13.

Sharu Raghvendra Shastri inaugurated the doll exhibition by lighting the lamp and after he said such exhibitions go a long way in keeping alive the culture and traditions of a region.

The exhibition theme revolves around Mysuru palace wherein a miniature replica of Mysuru palace, measuring 8 ft by 14 ft, would be the centre of attraction. The replica would have lighting arrangements as done to the original palace with the Jamboo Savari in the front.

Nammavaru, an informal association of over 120 families that migrated from Old Mysuru region to Mangaluru, is all set to exhibit the dolls at the Sharavu Mahaganapati Temple from October 13 to October 22 for the ninth consecutive year. Formed about 18 years ago, Nammavaru started the Bombe Pradarshana to pass on the heritage to the next generation, according to its convener M.S. Gururaj.

Besides the Mysuru palace, there would be more than one thousand dolls exhibited on nine steps. Mr. Gururaj said the association had Tirumala Brahmotsava concept in 2014 while it was Swami Vivekananda in 2013 to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary. As far as dolls are concerned, they depict the stories of epics — Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as the Dasara celebrations of Mysuru. Every house hold in Mysuru region would have Bombe Pradarshana during the Navaratri.

The association has in its possession over one thousand dolls worth about Rs. 7 lakh for the purpose of organising the exhibition.

Over the years, the association collected the dolls so as not to trouble the members every year to bring delicate items from their homes, Mr. Gururaj said. Every year some new doll is added even as old ones are refurbished, he added. Nammavaru secretary Srinivas said the exhibition also helps the members to introduce the tradition to the next generation.

The way Old Mysuru people celebrate Navaratri is different from the celebrations in coastal region, he said. Similar is the practice with distribution of ‘Yellu-Bella’ during the Sankranthi festival, he said.

There would be cultural programmes every evening between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., including devotional songs, Satsang, light music, Lalita Panchami etc. The exhibition is open to public.

Pradeep Kalkura and others were present.