BENGALURU : Gombe Habba at Vanishree Nagaraj’s home on Bannerghatta Road showcases multiple worlds. After all, her collection of dolls spans various cultures, with pieces originating from Greece, Japan, Korea and Africa, in addition to a large collection of traditional Indian dolls.
Each doll tells a story, offering a glimpse into the customs and values of the society it represents, she says, as she lovingly displays her treasured collection.
Her canvas of Gombe Habba expanded in 2012 from Pattada Gombe, crown dolls of raja and rani, to international dolls and theme-based displays, crafted from various materials like clay and papier-mâché, wood, and terracotta.
Her Japanese assortment comprises samurai dolls and those adorned in Kimono. The 53-year-old electronics and communications engineer also has German dolls, depicting their renowned beer festival.
In 2019, when Vanishree and her family were in Greece, her son, Satvik, a mechatronics and automation engineer, was keen on buying dolls of Greek gods.
They now adorn a section of their display on a special stand, built by her son and husband Nagaraj, 61, a mechanical engineer.
She says Gombe Habba helps preserve traditions for future generations to also experience the joy of this festival.
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