Deepavali Bommala Koluvu

It was Deepavali and as with every year, it was busiest time for me to arrange Bollamala Koluvu. I was packing all the toys, dolls and decorations after one week of displaying them. There is one 4” doll with cute braids for which my mom crocheted a dress a couple of years back. It reminds me of one my own doll that I had when I was little. I remember, the day when my peddamma asked as what I would like to have for a gift for my birthday. I don't remember which birthday that was, but i was fancied with a doll which will close its eye when tilted.

It was one adorable doll to have. It was a dream come true of a typical girl when peddamma got it for me. I sure did spent a lot of pretend play with it. There were other dolls which my mom used to take out only during Deepavali for Bommala Koluvu and pack it back once it is done. Nevertheless I still used to feel attached to every single one of it. May be that is the beauty of Bommala Koluvu, it makes you get fond of it.

I come across people who ask as what is the significance of Bommala Koluvu. Coming to significance, apart from praying and thanking God, it was a form of entertainment and relaxation for the women in the olden days. One would think as if that significance still hold good for today’s times, when women of today have numerous other things to amuse themselves with. Well, I look at Bommala Koluvu as an exhibit of collections, talent and imagination of women who arrange it and imagination and creativity will never become obsolete.

It is a kind of art, where you could display ones talent of sculpture to landscaping to designing to painting in the means of rangoli or modeling a town or village or an mythological or historical epic. It is one household’s museum where the family will open their exhibition once a year and each year has a new collection of imagination adhering to the old ones at the same time.

What other best way could you think of for kids of today’s generation, here at overseas, to get acquainted with Indian culture and history, and at the same time, have an opportunity to express their own art? We tend to take up classes for our children to learn art, and Bommala Koluvu in my thoughts is one of the means to enjoy that art. Bommala Koluvu is a conglomerate art of entire family.

Here is our collection of toys - Traditional, Modern, Contemporary, Sweet and everything in between :)