Bommala Koluvu - A Treasure Trove Of Telugu Heritage

Every year a theme is formulated for the Bommala Koluvu and the dolls are arranged as per the theme. The preparations begin months in advance to procure the relevant dolls. The dolls mainly used in the Koluvu include Kondapalli toys, Clay dolls, Etikoppaka toys, Channapatna toys, Paper Mache dolls etc.

Praneetha Yenduri

Updated on: 11 February 2023 8:09 am

Bommala Koluvu dolls representing kite flying competition

Bommala Koluvu is a custom of arranging an array of dolls in elaborate themes representing various mythological stories,deities, regular village life and traditions such as marriage, public gatherings etc.Usually during Makar Sankranthi, the Telugu people celebrate this tradition with much fanfare

Every year a theme is formulated and the dolls are arranged as per the theme.The preparations begin months in advance to procure the relevant dolls.

The dolls used in the Koluvu primarily include Kondapalli toys, Clay dolls, Etikoppaka toys, Channapatna toys, Paper Mache dolls etc.

Bhogi bonfire - Sankranthi celebrations start with this bonfire being lit

Usually people purchase the toy sets but this year our family made each and every doll set from scratch using cardboard, foam board, thermocol, crepe paper, foam paper etc. The theme for this year is to showcase village atmosphere and rustic rituals, celebrations during Sankranthi,

Some of the dolls have been made using clay and others have been accessorised in Indian clothing, jewellery.

Bhogi pandlu- Kids below 5 yrs of age are showered with a mixture of berries, flower petals,coins,harvest rice for their wellbeing.

The dresses of the dolls like half sarees, dhotis, turbans have been made from cutting blouse fabrics as per required measurements and attatching lace borders.

Black wool is used in the form of hair for the dolls to give them an Indian traditional look.

Gobbemmala Pooja - Young girls dancing around the sacred cow dung balls that is believed to attract bliss and prosperity into the household

The mini jewellery sets that you get for Bal Gopal in the market have been dismantled and created into jewellery pieces of our requirement like maang tika, necklases, studs, waist belt,bangles etc.

Haridasu, Gangireddu Melam - This set represents haridas (devotee of Lord Vishnu) clad in saffron clothes, flower garlands collecting alms from households that are brimming with prosperity due to the arrival of new harvest on the eve of Sankranthi. A bull adorned with jewels is accompanied by men playing shehnai, dhol

Due to the fast paced life and emergence of nuclear families, unfortunately Bommala Koluvu has become a fading tradition..

Yenduri family - a family effort of making these handmade dolls

I hope more youngsters actively participate in such rituals instead of looking at festivals as just week-long vacations.Growing up, I saw my maternal grandmother Mrs Syamala celebrate this festival with a lot of passion and grandeur and I strive to keep her legacy alive.