Toys come in all kinds of fun shapes and sizes and they make for an important part of one’s childhood. Not only are they interesting to play with, but toys also help in the emotional and intellectual development of kids. Acquainting them with shapes, colors, sizes, etc, they are an effective way to learn concepts.
While most people are enchanted by the toys imported from the West and other parts of the world, very few people know that india has a very rich heritage of handmade toys, especially wooden toys. These are made from a variety of materials like wood, clay, etc.
Different states produce different types of toys. For instance, Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur Thalaiyatti Bommai are very famous for their bobble movement, terracotta toys of Assam, and toys from Karnataka made from a variety of wood are very popular. These toys reflect the culture of India because they usually depict the local population of the regions they are manufactured in. That is why just by looking at them one can find out about the daily lives of the people they portray. Not only are these toys great for children to play with but they also make for great pieces of decor and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the houses they grace.
The history of toy making in India goes way back to the Indus Valley Civilization that thrived around 2500 to 1700 BC. Various terracotta toys like miniature bullock carts and animal figurines were unearthed during excavations of Harappan cities. Ever since then this art has only flourished in India. Different regions came up with their own distinct toys and each of them has a charm of their own.
Channapatna toys are manufactured in a town called Channapatna in Karnataka. They are made from wood, painted with natural dyes, and coated in lacquer. Wood from Sycamore trees, Rubber trees, Sandalwood trees, Teak trees, and Pine trees are used to make the toys. These toys come in a variety of shapes and sizes. These dolls have even received a Geographical Indication tag from the Government of India.
Kathputlis or puppets are dolls made from cloth or even made from wood. They are popular in Rajasthan and usually depict local Rajasthani people. They are used as characters in puppet shows. Many people use them as home decor also because of their vibrant appearance.
Thanjavur dolls are made in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. They are made of wood pulp, Plaster of Paris, papier mache, etc, and come in 2 types, tilting dolls and bobblehead dolls. The latter are known for their continuous bobble movement, while the former is known for being topple-proof.
Natungram dolls are popular in West Bengal. They are made from clay, jute fiber, and straw and are painted in very bright colors. These dolls depict human figures from the daily life of Bengal. Nesting dolls and Peg dolls are two types of Natungram dolls. These beautiful toys also make for very eye-catching home decor.
Kondapalli dolls hail from Andhra Pradesh and artisans who craft them are believed to be the descendants of Muktharishi who learnt the art of making these dolls from Lord Shiva himself. These dolls are usually made from White Sander wood. These beautiful South Indian dolls depict figures of the local people of the region and Hindu deities. They are water resistant because of the coating of the Linseed oil that covers them.
Asharikandi toys from Assam are made from a special type of clay soil called Hiramati. This is a 100-year-old art form that is practiced exclusively by the Namasudra community. toys include figurines of animals like horses and elephants and human figures as well. One of the most famous figures is Hatima Putul, who is a woman with elephant-like ears holding a child in her lap.
The town of Nirmal located in Telangana is famous for making toys from softwood. The art of making these toys has been around since the 17th century and involves intricate carving and beautiful painting. It is practiced by the community of Naqqash artisans who migrated to this region from Rajasthan. The artisans make these toys in the form of animal figurines. miniature utensils, dolls, etc. it received a Geographical Indication tag from the Government of India in 2009.
Kinhal toys are produced in Kinhal which is situated in Karnataka. They are made from softwood by first cutting the wood into different pieces and then pasting them together. This is done by using a specific glue that is made from locally sourced materials. The Chitragar community of artisans is known to craft these wooden toys.
A town in Tamil Nadu called Vilachery is known for the production of clay dolls and paper mache dolls. These dolls are crafted by hand to depict various mythological figures. People purchase them, especially during Navratri and Vinayaka Chaturthi. After being made these dolls are dried in the sun and then painted beautifully by hand.
Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is also known for manufacturing fun wooden toys which are in the form of deities, human figures, animals, birds, etc. The unique thing about them is that these toys don’t have any joints and are carved from a single piece of wood. Most of the time wood from Shisham trees and Eucalyptus trees is used to carve these amazing wooden toys which are usually coated with lacquer.
Marapachi dolls also come from Tamil Nadu and are carved from red sandalwood. It is tradition to display these dolls during the Golu festival in South India. They are generally created in pairs usually depicting Lord Venkateswara and his consort. Tirupati and Kondapalli are two of the places where these dolls are crafted.
Ghurni dolls hail from a district called Nadia in West Bengal. These dolls are made of clay by very skilled artisans. This art has been around since the 18th century. Artisans craft these beautiful dolls from a mixture of clay and bronze and mold them into beautiful figurines. These dolls are appreciated all over the world and also called Krishnanagar dolls.
Maharashtra has a region called Sawantwadi which is famous for its wooden toys. Generally these toys are made from the wood of Mango trees. These toys are in many forms like miniature versions of regular household items. The community of artisans who make these beautiful handmade toys is called the Chitari or the Chitrakar community.
Many regions of Odisha are also known to produce wooden toys. For instance, Bargarh which in Sambalpur is famous for its animal figurines made of wood. The toys of Subarnapur are carved from wood of trees like Shavan and Ghamandi. The Raghurajpur Artisan Village is popular for its toys which are made from wood, paper mache, clay etc.
The art of toy making in India is almost 5000 years old and has its roots in the Indus Valley Civilization.
These handmade toys represent the culture of India and give a glimpse into Indian society. They give a glimpse into the lives of Indians and they come in a vast variety from soft toys to wooden toys and the ones made from terracotta, from traditional Indian dolls to wooden tops and miniatures of fruits and vegetables. Indian dolls and other traditional toys are made from a variety of eco-friendly materials ranging from cloth to clay and metal to wood.
There are many reasons why Indian toys are way better than their foreign counterparts. The traditional handmade toys of India are not only innovative but they also stress ensuring that the child learns something new in a fun and creative way. Indian toys are good for the environment as well and are way better as alternatives to the plastic toys that are generally imported. These toys are made from natural materials like wood, clay, cloth, etc. Most of them are painted using natural colors which are not harmful for kids.
With the advent of globalization, western toys have made their way into the lives of Indians and while that is not such a bad thing it has certainly taken away from the importance traditional Indian toys used to enjoy. Indian handmade toys for kids have taken a backseat and the traditional toy-making crafts are suffering and so is the livelihood of the artisans who are involved in them. That is why it is time that we revisit our rich heritage of traditional toy making.
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