Continuing the rich tradition of displaying dolls (Bommalakoluvu) Taduri Padmavathi and Ramachandra Rao have turned their house into a veritable show of various customs and celebration of festivals and religious themes.
Most of the toys on display are made with clay or thermacol. Ms. Padmavathi makes most of the toys giving a personal touch to the entire show which a number of people visit every year.
Occupying pride of place are the Krishna idol and Vatapatra Sai that are bequeathed by Mr. Rao’s great grandmother, Tulasamma of Eluru. “Navadurgas” is another attraction.
While the “koluvu” is generally displayed during Dasara in North Andhra in some parts of the State it is a part of Sankranti.
This year they created a replica of the way Tirumala developed as a pilgrimage centre capturing the story of Lord Venkateswara becoming the presiding deity.
A captivating description of Sankranti celebration in villages is the mainstay.
Mr. Rao, a retired SBI officer, and his wife have been celebrating the festival with the show for the last 30 years. Their three children also contribute liberally.
