Ancient doll sets on display

MYSORE: The tradition of worshipping dolls during Dasara by the Mysore Wadiyars is a tradition that has been inherited by them from the Vijayanagar kingdom.The Wadiyars exhibited bronze idols of Vishnu and Mahalakshmi and wooden idols of other deities. Earlier, the Mysore Palace had a doll pavilion called ‘Gombe Thotti’ to display dolls, which was also displayed.Displaying dolls was part of worship and was open to royal guests. The Wadiyars have a collection of dolls made of European and Rajasthan marble, wood and mirrors. Scion of the Wadiyars Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar said that two bronze dolls kept in a silver cradle were based on the incarnation of Mahalakshmi and Lord Vishnu in their human form.