BANGALORE: At Dhaatu, Dasara is not merely about keeping a tradition alive but it’s about a peek into the great Indian mythology and culture.The non-profit organisation is striving towards bringing about an awareness of the traditional art.Like every year, Anupama Hoskere and her entire household and the Dhaatu team, have put up another dazzling display of Dasara dolls, puppet shows, themes and cultural programmes.And there’s a surprise every year and this Dasara is no different.“We were invited to a Mahabharata festival in Delhi in January, where we displayed the Jaya Utsava, which we have replicated here this year,” says Anupama, who was also invited by the Khadi Gram Udyog in Chennai last month for the inauguration of the annual Dasara sales and was handed over the first sale of a khadi doll by the Tamil Nadu khadi minister.Puppetry, which is one of Anupama’s specialisations, will come in a brand new format this year.“We recently revived Karnataka’s traditional jointed puppets called Keelu gombe.We were not sure how to operate them.During my recent visit to the Czech Republic where I attended a workshop on puppetry, I found an artiste using motorised puppets.It was such a coincidence and helped me adopt this technology to these keelu gombes,” says Anupama, who plans to use these puppets for storytelling.Among the attractions this year are the Rishi Parampara, a merry-goround Dashavathara for story-telling, Ganjendra Moksha which will be part of a sound and light show.“This will be an on-going display with lights moving on different aspects of the display with a narration in the background, repeating itself every 15 minutes,” explains Anupama.Another draw is the automated Chakravyuha, which moves in a clock-wise and anti-clock-wise direction.“We have been displaying these themes as static exhibits, but this year, we developed a moving display,” adds Anupama, who, with help from the Dhaatu team, has been working for more than a month to set up the grand display.Asked about the number of dolls on display this year, Anupama says she has no count “but it’s certainly more than last year’s,” she laughs.Besides the display the Mahotsava features cultural programmes like Bharatanatyam, Sugama Sangeeta , Puppet Theatre and group rendition of Carnatic music.
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