Special display of Bombe Mane 2010

The special display at this Bombe Mane is a hall of fame of dolls. This hall of fame pays tribute to five great rulers of Mysore who immortalised Dasara in the annals of Mysore's history beginning Raja Wodeyar who began the tradition (of Mysore Dasara on the lines of celebrations at Vijayanagara) four centuries ago and the last four rulers who made the celebrations known across India and the world.

Since then, every successor to the throne has followed this annual tradition except a couple of years during the reign of Tipu Sultan. A scroll painting in company style in the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum, UK, is a magnificent visual record of the Dasara celebrated during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III. With the advent of photography, the Dasara celebrations of Chamaraja Wodeyar X have been vividly captured in sepia tones. Raja Rishi Maharaja  Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (Nalwadi) gave a whole new impetus to the annual pageantry which had reduced from martial show of strength to a symbolic ritual. Dasara became synonymous with Mysore. 

Panorama of the special display at Bombe Mane

Ramsons Kala Pratishtana pays tribute to the enlightened rulers of Mysore by recreating, in part, of the famed Mysore Dasara of 1939 during the reign of Nalwadi.

Sannidhi of Sirsi Marikamba depicted at Bombe Mane

Also on display is a replica, in part, of the famed Marikamba temple at Sirsi in North Canara. The unique Kavi art of the Konkan region forms the backdrop of the deity and the buffalo (Pattada Kona). According to one legend, the buffalo is considered to be Marikamba's spouse and is reared in the temple with special care. It is taken around the town in a procession a week ahead of the bi-annual temple fair. Devotees are known to feed the buffalo with rice, jaggery and coconuts.

Entrance door of Sirsi Marikamba temple decorated with Kavi art

Kavi art is a style of creating designs and frescos on walls with red dye which is prepared using red ochre, sea shrimps, crystal, fermented jaggery and lime. The mixture produces the characteristic dark-maroon colour.

Scene depicting Dasara procession of 1939