Pattada Gombe in Kannada means, the royal dolls and Alankara means decoration. Many households have a custom of arranging dolls during Dasara festival in Mysore and distribute sweet and savories to children. This is also known as Kolu in Iyengar households. Various dolls are arranged and the main dolls are the King and the Queen. The King and Queen dolls are made of Chandana / Rosewood. These dolls are gifted to the girl on her wedding day by her parents. You can also buy the dolls in shops in Karnataka. Every year, few days before Dasara, the Pattada Gombe / King and Queen dolls are decorated using different materials. Credit for decorating the dolls in the pictures below goes to my mom.
Materials Required:
Pattada Gombe / King and Queen dolls
Colored Papers or Cloth
Gold and Silver papers or lace
Gum
Sequins
Beads
Cellophane tape
Bindi Stickers
Black Hair
Method:
Take measurements of the dolls and cut the paper or cloth for the Sari, Blouse, Dhothi / Salwar, Kurta / Tunic, Shawl, Turban, Borders etc. as shown in the picture below.
Braid the hair and make a wig for the Queen. Decorate hair with accessories.
String the beads for necklaces and bangles. Use the bead string on the turban.
Stick Bindi for ear rings and on the forehead.
Stick the borders on the Sari and Kurta and Dhothi. Assemble the costume and fix it on the dolls using Gum or Cellophane tape.
The dolls are now ready to lead the arrangement. Aren’t they a handsome couple!? How about treating them with Dasara Snacks and Savories?
Related Images:
Cute looking dolls..
Takes me back to old memories where my mome decorated the dolls, arrange them previous day of Dasara with lights, Kalasa, etc…
Good old Dasara holidays at school, enjoyed playing, eating, going to palace in the evening, visiting exhibition,…
i agree with lalitha, we used to call them marapachi bommai…amma used to keep them first before keeping other dolls….and we used to wear different get ups of god and invite people 🙂
Lavanya
http://www.lavsblog.com
super …
Thank u Shantha for jogging up our memories,living in distant lands with all modern facilities,will not diminish the festive pleasures of Dasara and the Gombe alankara.
very nostalagic .
Thank you girls. Happy Dasara to you all.
[…] […]
Dasara dolls are sold @ Nagalakshmi’s shop in gandhi bazar next to foodworld It is just an outstanding collection of clay dasara dolls, if you visit here once I think you will stunned by the art and culture filled in each doll.Even if you have never had a tradition of arranging dasara dolls, you will start arranging from now….. While speaking to her she told me that she gets dolls from chennai ,bombay,calcutta,kondapali etc list from where all they get goes on and on…….. If we have to go each place and buy dolls it would cost us our time… Read more »
I just got her Nagalakshmi’s contact number from my purse 9945305207, thought it would be of good use
Gandhi bazar next to food world. Contact number is 9945305207
Thanks for the information Deepika and Monika. There are few shops selling Dasara dolls in Jayanagar 4th block market too.
it is greate . even we have kept some dolls we want yo give them to news channels cam toy please help us
A very Nice Article, Indeed.
We will publish this on our site if you send this article to us. If you send a picture of your self we will put it up too giving full credit.
We are NOT a commercial site.
Thanks,
Godha
Hi Godhalakshmi,
Sorry for the delay in replying. Thank you for your appreciation. My suggestion is that instead of publishing the same article again, you can give a link back to the article from your site.
With best wishes,
Shantha
Dear all, while searching t i found this site. is very interesting. I am residing in konanakunte.I used to do dressing up of dolls in good clothes and design a number of kundan rangolies. you can see pictures from my facebook . Interested can contact me over my mobile no. 9686810322
thank you.
rajalakshmy
Thank you Rajalakshmy. Your hobby is very interesting.
Regards,
Shantha
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful art Shantha! Its very useful information for people who like to keep the Gombe which I am planning to do from next year as my lilttle son would be old enough to understand that he is shud not pull his toys or arrangement :-p…(hopefully he shud understand)
You are welcome Rashmi. Hope you enjoy yourself doing this next year.
Cheers!
Shantha
Give me some new ideas for the arrangements
Very informative
Thank you.
Please check the following links:
http://www.itslife.in/do-it-yourself/gombe-habba-forest-arrangement
http://www.itslife.in/life-photos/dasara-dolls
http://www.itslife.in/festivals/dasara/navaratri-golu
http://www.itslife.in/do-it-yourself/traditional-dolls-arrangement
pl name the glues required for pattada gombe cloth stiching
I have used Fevicol that is used for craft work.
Madam I have seen this gombe habba from my childhood days where all our neighbours are celebrating at their house but we were not since my mother told we don’t have that tradition. Now am married and I am wishing to start this gombe habba tradition. Now my question is can we buy Pattada gombe on our own or it has to be gifted by someone
Yes, you can buy. Glad you want to continue the tradition.
Wish you the best!