Stories
Bengaluru Artist Brings History And Mythology To Life Through Golu Dolls
N
News18•15-10-2026, 12:38
Bengaluru Artist Brings History And Mythology To Life Through Golu Dolls
- •Prithvi Prabhu, a young artist in Bengaluru, has spent 21 years building an elaborate Golu or Gombe Habba doll collection that tells stories of Indian history, mythology, and cultural heritage.
- •What started with just two gifted dolls has grown into a massive collection featuring detailed episodes from the Ramayana, Vande Mataram, Tirupati Venkateshwara Seva, and Mysore royal history.
- •The displays include rare historical artefacts such as 99-year-old original letters written by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in 1927 bearing his signature.
- •Prithvi and his family meticulously research every theme, such as depicting Sita in her finest silks and jewelry rather than as a sanyasini based on traditional interpretations.
- •The Gombe Habba tradition continues to thrive across Bengaluru and South India during Navaratri, acting as a living medium to preserve cultural narratives and pass traditions to younger generations.
Key Questions Answered
Prithvi Prabhu's association with Golu began 21 years ago when he helped his aunt arrange dolls during his younger days, which eventually inspired him and his mother to start their own family collection.
Contrary to the common belief that Sita is dressed like a sanyasini during her vanvaas, Prithvi's display depicts her wearing all her finest silks and jewellery, reflecting cultural traditions of how a kula vadhu should leave home.
The collection features original letters written in 1927 by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar bearing his original signature to mark 25 years of his reign, along with historical photographs of members of the royal family.
