I have this fascination for dolls. I also have the habit of collecting dolls not only form India but from else where if I can. Every year during the festival of Sankranthi which falls in January, we arrange a Bommala Kolluvu or all the dolls in a display for three days. Some arrange this during Dassera ior Diwali depending on the traditions of their regions. This practice is followed by the most of the South Indians.
We invite all our neighboring women and girls to look at the display. It is like a ladies only event. For this, every year we have to have at least one new doll or toy. The collection passes on from mother to daughters and keeps on growing with the addition of new dolls.
In olden days dolls were made of wood or clay and were available only at the carnivals during celebrations of religious occasions at temple, or at the pilgrimage centers. Now the dolls are available at various ehibitions or shops specially meant for these.
So I have been collecting dolls since my child hood. Here are some of them...
These are all made by the artisans of the Bengal. these are made of clay and by hand. Look at the way each detail has been perfectly brought out in each of them.
These are the tribals performing on the drums.
This is the man carrying the trash.
This is the man selling curd in pots.
This the washer man, carrying the clothes.
This is the man selling jaggery.
This is a fisher man on his way to fishing, carrying the cane baskets to carry his catch
This is the vendor selling bottle gourd roaming around in the village from door to door.
The structure of the body, the clothes worn and the expressions on their faces so beautifully brought out.
Well I will be back with some more of the ones I have some other time.....
