Today’s parents do not have the time to really teach their children traditional knowledge and wisdom.  'Dhaatu', a Centre for Sharing Life Skills and Traditional Wisdom has been founded to make an effort to bridge this gap in today's society. 

“One of the ways that Dhaatu seeks to achieve this is through the visual medium of dolls, puppets and bringing awareness of our celebratory traditions”, say Anupaam and Vidyashankar Hoskere, Directors of the Centre

The Dhaatu Navaratri Doll Display is now an established and much expected event every year.  Here, the stories of Ramayana,  Mahabharata, Bhagavatha and Krishna Leela, Shiva Purana and the temples of India are exhibited using dolls whose sizes vary from six inches to 5 feet made of wood, wire, ceramic, terra-cotta, brass and glass.

A special feature at Dhaatu is the  display of a particular scene using the traditional wooden Nilu Gowri dolls of Karnataka.  These are wooden dolls which have the joints of the human body and can be dressed as desired.  There are about four feet tall.

A new feature this year are the Paanchaalika dolls from Dhaatu, designed to facilitate movement and ease to create the desired traditional or mythological character with costuming.  These would be available for sale on order.  These dolls have a wooden body and a ceramic face.  They are about 12 inches tall and can sit or stand and have movable limbs.

Mahabharata

Maharshi Veda Vyaasa's all encompassing grand epic Mahabharata has over one lakh verses and is a story covering six generations. The Centre focus of the theme is the rivalry between the righteous Pandavas representing Dharma and the greedy Kauravas who have no qualms about taking the path of Adharma.   Krishna who is the guide, protector and saviour of the people on the path of Dharma, is the thread around which this garland of stories has been strung.

An attempt has been made to depict the story line of this world's largest epic.  In addition to over thirty scenes from Adi parva to the telling the stories, there is a depiction of the battlefield of Kurukshetra where Bhagawan Krishna expounded the secrets of life to his disciple Arjuna through the famous shlokas of Bhagawad Geeta.  The scene where Arjuna is blessed with the vision of the Vishwaroopa of the Lord is also seen. A display of the Chakravyuha has been displayed emplying the infantry, horses, elephants and charriots as used in the

Ramayana

Maharshi Valmiki, the master poet has given to the Indian masses the story of Rama. The story of Rama depicts his unwavering sense of Dharma, his valour and sacrifice, his wisdom and sense of justice, strength and compassion.

About fifty scenes from the Ramayana have been displayed this year beginning form the birth of Rama - Bala Kanda, to his sons Lava and Kusha singing Ramayana shlokas - Uttara Kanda.  The scenes where Rama meets Hanuman and Sugrreva shows Rama the jewels of Seeta are said to have occurred near Hampi in Karnataka.  A model of the terrain and river Tungabhadra flowing in this region has also been depicted.

The birth and pranks of baby Krishna as in the Bhagavata have been depicted consisting of about 30 scenes. Brahma Murari surarchita Lingam, Ravan darpa vinashaka lingam, A happy scene from Kailasa, Birth of Subrahmanya , Bedara Kanappa are some scenes from this section.

Tirupati temple

Every year a particular temple has been focused upon and displayed at Dhaatu. This year attempt has been made to represent the foremost Hindu temple at Tirupati. This ancient temple of Sri Venkteshwara is located on the seventh peak of a range of hills.

The grandeur of the Brahmotsava that happens during Navaratri at Tirupati is common knowledge.  At Dhaatu, every day of Navaratri will have one Utsava being depicted as it happens at Tirupati. The scene in the picture shows Lord Venkateshwara and Godess Padmavathi and the main festival of Teppotsava and Garudotsava

Ashtadikpaalakas

The guardians of the eight directions are the Ashtadikpaalakas.  The forms of these have been sculpted in the village of Kinhal especially for Dhaatu.  The dikpaalakas  seated on their Vahanas holding their ayudhas are displayed along with some relevant stories from the Puranas.  They are Kubera (N) capital Amaravati, Eshaana (N-E)-city of Yashovati, Indra (E) — city of Sahasraaksha, Agni (S-E) — City of Tejovati, Yama (S)- city Samyamani, Nirutti (S-W) — city of Krishnaanjana, Varuna (W) — city of Sraddhaavati and Vayu (N-W) — city of Gandhaavati.

Navaratri

Navaratri is a festival celebrated with great grandeur in Karnataka.  It has a tradition of the Mysore Dasara procession happening on the Vijayadashami Day at Mysore. This tradition finds its origin in the Vijayanagar empire. Display of dolls during Dasara and inviting friends and family to come and see this has been a tradition in Karnataka and a few other states of India from times immemorial.

A depiction of the Ambari, Mysore Maharaja and Rani and a procession may be seen in front of the main steps.  Also the traditions and customs of a wedding have been depicted- not to miss the delicious meals being served on banana leaves. There is also a representation of rural India.

Dhaatu, Centre for Sharing Life Skills and Traditional Wisdoms is located at  3944/F,  17th D Cross,  4th Main,  Banashankari 2nd Stage. Phone: 65683396.