Small wood toys of Varanasi

Varanasi – Hindu religious place, in India- many visit this place , intending to visit temples. Varanasi is not only religious place it is also cultural place of India.Ghats of Varanasi-Bank of Ganges attract lot of religious people also many artists. When I visited the ghats of Ganga, I saw many artists capturing the beauty of the Ganges through their brushes. Ganga Aarti  -the fusion of light , music and devotion is world famous. I need not say about , Banaras saree, which is loved by saree lovers for its intricacy , design and quality.

Few know that , Varanasi has many other arts and crafts hidden. One such craft is small toy making from wood. There are many forms of wood carving in India.  This wood carving is unique in Varanasi, where they make tiny idols of Gods and Goddesses. The craftsmen also carve tiny birds and animals, which are sold in sets of twelve.

Origin of the woodcarving

This craft originated from the ivory carving. Due to unavailability of the ivory, the craftsmen have chosen, Keria (Coraiya)  wood. They also use Eucalyptus. The toys are carved , then painted with white color. The painters draw the features in detail, with natural colors.

I don’t have the dolls of mythology characters. But have some animals and birds toys.

Set of birds

The painters draw the features so perfect, that one can differentiate the type of bird

Varanasi wooden toy

Varanasi wooden toy-bird

Varanasi wooden toy-Parrot

I have some tiny animal toys too.

Set of tiny animal toys

Animal toy- horse-The features are painted so precisely that we can differentiate each animal

Animal toy- Tiger

More information about the wood working of Varanasi here

http://www.dsource.in/gallery/animal-and-bird-toys-varanasi-3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooden_Toys_of_Varanasi

-Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

Ranjana