Page 10 - Craftcil Aug & Sep 2023

feature -2nd Khilona-India Toys & Games Fair

Repository of rich regional culture and craft traditions in miniature forms. The art of making leather toys
tapped to present rare & exclusive collections for play, is said to be inspired from Taxidermy, art of
decor and keepsake preserving animals in their original shape, after
being hunted. GI tagged in 2008; Asharikandi
Khilona-India Toys & Games Fair featured a vibrant
Terracotta Toys - Using traditional tools
representation of India’s rich heritage and unparalled craft
and equipment like Kodal, Pitna, knives,
skills with several artisans from the remotest corners of India’s
and Kathi, the artisans of Asharikandi, a
toy craft villages, towns and clusters, among exhibitors at the
village in Assam’s Dhubri district, employ
fair. With several decades of history to back them, some of
ancient artistic techniques to deftly craft
these are being practiced since generations as a way of life and
terracotta figurines of deities, animals, birds, and also objects
carry distinguishing characteristics unique to their place of
from ordinary life; Kathputlis - GI tagged in 2008, the puppets or
origin. Many of them have geographical indication
Kathputlis are from Rajasthan are distinctively colourful and a
certifications and are GI tagged, which means they are original,
delight to watch. The kathputli tradition of Rajasthan is an
authentic and directly from the source.
ancient art and its practitioners have entertained, the style of
Their existing and original skills have been further honed
head dress, shape of eyes, beard and
towards creating more designs & variety, improved quality,
moustache style are used to depict the
marketability and commercial viability, by EPCH through Guru
character of the puppet; Raja Rani Dolls -
Shishya Hastshilp Prashikshan programs under NHDP-Skill
as the name suggests these are in pairs
Development Program of Office of Development Commissioner
of a male & female and embody intricate
(Handicrafts), New Delhi. The products are completely hand
wood carving craft and embellishing.
crafted and hand embellished with sustainable raw materials
They are a popular and iconic item in
as well as colouring agents.
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and
Among these were, Channapatna Toys & Dolls - wooden
Karnataka, traditionally gifted to a
lacquerware toys and dolls produced at Channapatna, a small
couple at the time of
town in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka with origin at
their wedding. Among other such toy crafts were
the beginning of 20th century; Kinhal Wooden Toys - GI tagged
Natungram Dolls chiselled out of seasoned wood
and practiced in the Koppal district of Andhra Pradesh, these
and intricately painted with bright colours.
are known for unique usage of powder made from tamarind
These are the traditional dolls of Natungram
seeds, pebbles and jute rags for pasting, embossing &
village in Burdwan, Kolkata, West Bengal; they
ornamentation; Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware Toys - famous
have rustic artistry that is original. The famous
unique wooden lacquerware and wooden toys (GI tagged in
pair of owls is worshipped by Bengalis as a
2015) with designs created with the natural veins of the wood.
way of receiving blessings from the goddess
These toys are made without any joints, hence are attractive
Lakshmi. Then, there were Thanjavur dolls from Tamil Nadu. The
and harmless playthings for children; Leather toys of Indore -
doll’s centre of gravity is fixated at its bottom-most point, such
animal figurines, leather
that a continuous oscillating
toys of Indore look life like
movement is generated. There
were Kondapalli wooden toys,
Ettikopaka lacquerware toys,
Nirmal wooden toys, Chitrakoot
wooden toys and Bishnupur toys
and dolls.

10 CRAFTCIL • August-September 2023