Hobbies And Interests
History
The people of India have been making dolls since ancient times. Doll making began in the simple, laid-back homes of farmers. The oldest dolls found date back to around 5,000 B.C. at the ancient Indus River Valley civilization site. These ancient dolls were quite accurate in depicting animals and the human form. As centuries progressed, Indian doll making became more proficient and elaborate.
Geography
Every settled area of India made and still makes dolls. Each area has its own distinctive approach to doll making. The Assam and West Bengal areas make dolls out of pith (a spongy, soft substance found in vascular plants). The terra cotta belt make mother and child dolls. Varanasi, Lucknow, Mathura and Vrindavan areas make brightly painted wooden dolls. People in Rajasthan make unbaked clay dolls. Madhubani makes grass dolls. Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh make dolls of cow dung, sawdust and clay.
Materials
Dolls made in India were and are made of a wide range of materials. Earliest Indian dolls were made of wax. Wax doll making fell out of fashion somewhere along the way. Many parts of India made dolls out of metal, such as copper and bronze. As woodworking became more popular in India, wooden dolls were made, too. Wooden dolls were convenient because they they could be painted. Dolls made of cow dung, clay and sawdust were also easy to paint. Paints were made of lustrous pigments. Grass and pith of plants were common materials in early doll making. Another popular material for dolls was, and still is, cloth. Cloth dolls have been made since cloth was created in India.
Types
Metal dolls from the Orissa states are called dokra. The dokra dolls are generally made in the likeness of Hindu gods. Dancing dolls are dolls that depict the complex dances of Kathakali or Bhangra. Puppets were also made in India and used to illustrate stories. Dolls were also made in the likeness of everyday people, such as farmers.
Other Purpose
Not all dolls made in India were or are for play. In the past, dolls were used wedding gifts for the young bride. Some dolls made out of stone were built large and displayed in temples. Indians-made glass dolls, which are obviously to dangerous to play with, were used for trade.