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Festival at a dolls’ house

Arathi Menon

Anupama Hoskere has a different hobby - collecting dolls. This, she does to keep the tradition alive and pass it on to the younger generation.

There are many ways of narrating a story. Read it out in a drab monotone or pepper it with intonations and vocalise it in a rather endearing mode. The difference, however, lies in how it hits the target. Anupama Hoskere and her five-member family know an unusual way of doing it. With Dasara just round the corner, her beautiful house in Banashankari II Stage has transformed into a gombe mane (dolls’ house).

Stories from Hindu mythology are brought to life in a hall in her house named ‘Centre For Sharing’ with the help of beautiful puppets. This, she has done to pass the stories on to the next generation and keep the tradition alive. “We do not have tim e for our children and they don’t know much about our tradition. If we do not care to pass it on to our children, they will pick up whatever is available, such as Valentine’s Day or Mothers’ Day or Fathers’ Day, because these are more attractive to them,” Anupama says.

There is a young Krishna in His trademark pose with the flute watching the Mahabharata in progress. Lord Rama, flanked by his beautiful wife and a dutiful brother on either side, tells you the inspiring story of His life. There is also a section where a Lord Shiva figurine is placed opposite dolls depicting Bhagavatha. The most interesting in the Dasara gombe rack are the tales of Krishna, the ultimate loverboy, playing pranks with his gopikas. There is nothing in mythology that is not depicted in Anupama’s house.

One corner of the hall is fully adorned with the puppets for Dasara. Interestingly, she has included Gandhiji, Tagore and Subhashchandra Bose with the idol of Goddess Saraswati.

She has also made a miniature of the scene portraying the Jayantha Sabha of Pandavas, a replica of the life-size depiction at Mysore Palace. There are life-size dolls of Krishna and Rukmini also.

Anupama has sourced these puppets from the puppeteers in Chennai. “We have very few artisans here. We don’t lack tradition or festivals, but not many are into puppet-making,” Anupama says.

Anupama is not averse to modern dolls either. The range of dolls in this unique library vary from those made of plaster of paris to Barbie dolls.

She is planning to expand her dolls’ museum with Kalidasa and his stories. “The stories of Kalidasa are very inspiring,” says she.

Like in the past 10 years, this Dasara-Deepavali holidays too, her house will be open to children who are interested in knowing more about mythology.

She will be taking classes with the help of another instructor. There will be quiz on mythology and story-telling sessions. Classes will be held from October 5 - 29, between 4 pm and 8 pm.

Admission is free for those who enroll before October 13. Centre For Sharing is at 3,944/D, 17th ‘D’ Cross, 4th Main, Banashankari II Stage. Call Anupama at 57683396 for details.