One of the idols depicting ‘Kumbhakarna’ put up on display in ‘Bommala Koluvu’ arranged by three sisters – P. Kameshwari, K. Ratnamala and V. Krishna Kumari at their house in Akkayyapalem in Visakhapatnam. (Right) Ninety-year-old retired Botany Professor of Andhra University Maheswari Devi with ‘Bommala Koluvu’ at her residence in city.

Visakhapatnam, October 14, 2013: On one side, King Dasaratha with his three queens and Sapta Maharishis perform ‘Putra Kameshti Yagna’ where Lord Agni emerges from the flames to offer ‘payasam’ to the queens bestowing them with children.

The other corner portrays ‘Ravana Sabha’ where all the ministers along with the ten-headed king settled down for a discussion.

There is also the gigantic mythological character ‘Kumbhakarna’, younger brother of Ravana, sleeping tight while people try hard to wake him up and please his enormous appetite with a spread of meat, rice, fruits, ‘kajas’ and ‘jalebis’ – all intricately modelled in clay, clothes, paper mache, coconut shells and other eco-friendly stuff.

Eye-pleasing

This and many more encapsulates the theme-based ‘Bommala Koluvu’ designed and created by three sisters – P. Kameshwari, K. Ratnamala and V. Krishna Kumari – at their residence near Akkayapalem. The set of idols depict 25 episodes of the eternal epic Ramayana. “It took 21 days for us to complete 150 toys. Though it is a time-consuming task, we enjoyed creating it involving children and family members,” Ms. Krishna Kumari, one of the sisters said.

The theme based Bommala Koluvu arrangement here is eye-pleasing and conveys a meaningful message. The spread of sets include themes such as ‘Sita Swayamvaram’, ‘Sita-Rama Kalyanam’, ‘abduction of Sita by Ravana’, fight between ‘Vali’ and ‘Sugriva’, ‘Lanka pravesam’, ‘Lanka dahanam by Hanuman’ and ‘Rama-Ravana yudham’, among several others.

“It was our grandmother’s dream to bring life to Ramayana theme during Dasara. And we are more than happy that we are able to make it this year,” P. Kameshwari elaborated. The kolovu here is open for three days – ‘Ashtami’, ‘Navami’ and ‘Dasami’.

Source: The Hindu, October 14, 2013