Mysuru: The 15th edition of Bombe Mane, the year-long display of dolls organised by Ramsons Kala Pratishtana at Pratima Gallery on Nazarbad Main Road, will be inaugurated by Rangayana Director Bhagirathi Bai Kadam on Sept. 10 at 5 pm. Inauguration of special section of the dolls display will be done by renowned Karantak vocalist Dr. R.N. Srilatha.

This year, the Bombe Mane celebrates the 60th anniversary of Barbie doll with a diorama of Barbie dolls in various avatars along with ethnic dolls from countries like Uzbekistan, Thailand, Vietnam, France, Germany, Britain, etc. This year also being the 150th, 135th, 130th and 100th birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Jayachamaraja Wadiyar respectively, dolls depicting the great personalities, rare photographs, paintings and some vintage oleographs will be showcased.

The other attractions include ‘Varnaankita’ — the fascinating tradition of naamas and tilakas, ‘Leela Shuka’ — Vivid hued parrots that have flocked together at the fourth special display to welcome the Goddess and God of love — Rati and Manmatha. This apart, thousands of other dolls in various sizes and shapes are displayed at Bombe Mane and many of these have been newly created — Appaji Ammanni doll pair (which honour the royal couple of Mysuru), cute bride and groom pairs, Nava Nataraja, Sapta Nadi, Gajendra Moksha, Atti Varadar, Rama Guha Alingana, Pancha Utsava Murthy, Dashavatara Vitthala, etc.

The expo will be open between 10 am and 7.30 pm  daily. Entry for public is free.