I visited the 41st India Internation Trade Fair recently. Among the multitude of amazing stalls, I found a few stalls exhibiting toys of regional traditions. Being a mother of an eleven months old these stalls were especially appealing to me. Among these stalls were stalls exhibiting and selling beautifully colored Channapatna toys.
It is said that Tipu Sultan came across some toys made by Persian artisans. He was so impressed by their beautiful lacquer finish and woodwork that he encouraged the craftsmen of his region to learn the craft. He arranged to bring a few Parsian artisans to train local artisans. That encouragement went a long way and Channapatna town in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka became a hotspot of this toy-making style. This town is known as the toy town or Gombegala Ooru of Karnataka today. Due to the long heritage and tradition, Channapatna toys have been granted Geographical Indication by the Government of India.
Manufacturing Process
Channapatna toys are primarily made from wood. Traditionally, ivory wood is used in the making. Although, other types of wood like rubber, pine, and teak are being used today. Mostly Doodhi-wood (white colored) is used to make the toys. This wood is soft to work with and also looks beautiful. This wood also makes the toys lightweight and easier to handle for the children. The manufacturing process starts with the making of desired pieces of the toy. These pieces are beautifully carved for a smooth finish. After that, they are colored and polished with lacquer. They are dyed with vegetable colors so that they are safe for the children. This also makes the toy-making process completely environment-friendly.
Channapatna Toy Status
It is very pleasant to see these traditional wooden toys in the plastic toy-dominated market. These toys are simple yet boast very fine craftsmanship. These toys featured prominently in the recent India Toy Fair 2021 in New Delhi. PM Modi rightly called for innovation and the use of e-commerce to compete in the market.
Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission 2022, the Govt Of India is taking a lot of steps to encourage the local toy and game industry. Toy fairs are a part of the program. The govt is also organized Toycathon for encouraging innovation in toys and games.
Visit here for the full list of handicrafts and other items granted GI indication by the government of India.