Exploring the Eco-Friendly Traditional Indian Toys, Safe for Kids

Traditional Indian toys reflect India’s rich cultural legacy. These toys have been around for centuries and are symbols of preserved old crafts and cultures. As these toys have natural substances, they do not have strong toxic chemicals. They have been handmade by local artisans for generations. 

Previously, people always used natural raw materials found in nearby areas, so the toys were eco-friendly and harmless. It is only since last fifty years that people and nations are talking about the effect of industrialization on nature. 

Today, people are looking for ways to use products made of natural substances.

These toys originated centuries ago when the production of plastic goods and industrialization had not started. Even today, the toys are handmade by humble rural folks with forest wood, natural colors, cloth, bamboo, coconut shells, etc.

Also read: How to Tell Stories to Kids

Timeless Charm of Classic and Traditional  Indian Toys 

A variety of traditional toys exists in India, such as Karnataka’s colorful Channapatna wooden toys to West Bengal’s terracotta figures.

These toys are relevant even in current times. Attitudes are shifting towards eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyles, making traditional Indian toys more in demand. 

India is a diverse country with a variety of languages, costumes, and festivals; the diversity extends to a range of indigenous toys as well. Every region of India has a proud legacy of its unique toys.

Traditional toys from every state of India are a work of art with cultural importance. 

• Wooden toys from Chandigarh
• Babushka dolls, string puppets and clay toys of Haryana
• Wooden toys of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
• Terracotta and bamboo toys of West Bengal
• Paper mache and walnut wood toys of Jammu and Kashmir
• Lacquered toys and miniature utensils of Uttar Pradesh
• Clay and wooden toys of Odisha
• Folk toys, lattu, chankana, handwai and ghuggu of Punjab
• Wooden toys and painted cloth dolls of Jharkhand
• Wooden and Kathakali dolls of Kerala
• Timber and coconut shell toys of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Betel Nut toys of Madhya Pradesh
• Coir toys of Goa
• Clay toys, Cloth stuffed toys and kites of Gujarat

Traditional Indian Channapatna Wooden Toys of Karnataka

Origin and History

There is a quaint small town, Channapatna, where many people make wooden toys. This town is sixty kilometers from Bengaluru, in the Indian state of Karnataka and is different from other small towns. 

Several people in this town make wooden toys in workshops and at their homes, which is why, this town is popularly called the “Toy Town of India”.

But this craft is not new as it originated during Tipu Sultan’s 18th-century reign. The ruler called Persian artists to teach local craftsmen how to make the toys using local wood.

These wooden toys are sturdy, easily preserved and cleaned. 

Craftsmanship 

The special soft ivory wood of the Wrightia tinctoria tree, also known as “Aale Mara,” is used to make the Channapatna toys. This wood is soft and easy to carve, ideal for toys. So, the moisture is removed before carving the wood into various shapes. Natural turmeric, indigo, and kumkum colours are used to brighten the toys making them kid-safe and non-toxic toys.

These are handmade toys, made with a lot of labour, generally at home or in small setups in the bylanes of Channapatna in Karnataka. Many local women get employment in this business and families in Channapatna live on the income generated through this family business of making wooden toys.

Value and Speciality

Channapatna toys are simple and lacquered for a beautiful shine. The wooden toy designs include spinning toys, dancing dolls, kathakali dancers, pull-along toy carts, miniature kitchen sets, miniature home furniture, teethers, camels, stacking circles, puzzles and educational toys, etc. 

In today’s society where people are increasingly looking for safe and eco-friendly toys for children, Channapatna toys have non-toxic materials. Sustainable manufacturing methods make them a good alternative to mass-produced toxic plastic toys. 

Current Situation of the Craft

Despite rising demand for Channapatna toys, artists still face market access issues even though companies such as Amazon deliver Channapatna toys to your doorstep. 

As people grow more aware of plastic’s environmental impact, support for these age-old crafts is expanding. Government and non-government agencies attempts to enhance this legacy craft have also helped preserve it.

Traditional Indian Kathputli Toys of Rajasthan

The traditional Rajasthani kathputli are string puppets primarily used for entertainment and passing messages to native audiences. The community that practices this type of puppetry have used these puppets for more generations than they can remember; to communicate mythology, folklore, and historical stories. This art form is centuries or even more than a thousand years old. 

Craftsmanship

The puppets are made of Paper Mache heads, clothes and embellishments, metallic wires inside the puppets and strings to manage the puppets. They wear brightly colored Rajasthani clothing with jewelry and headgear. Expert puppeteers give the puppets life by managing their strings and make the show very dynamic.

Expertise and Value

Through Kathputli, artists convey stories, by singing as well as drama. The puppets depict gods, rulers, queens, and commoners, often re-enacting morality or history. Artists keep adapting the Kathputli art to keep the tradition alive and adapt to current themes. 

Few schools use these puppets to convey stories and ideas. Kathputli puppets are easy to use and kids are excited, attentive and delighted to see these puppets. 

Doing a puppet show for kindergarten, can make senior students feel a sense of community and accomplishment. You can also combine puppetry with your history class. 

Current State of Art

Over time, Kathputli puppetry has declined due to television, movies and social media. Travel companies and cultural institutions have revived interest in this historic medium. Over the decades, some members of the community have preserved this cultural tradition by training few young people in the next generation.

Traditional Terracotta Indian Toys: Earthen Marvels

Background and Origin

Prehistoric archaeological sites show terracotta toys in Indian society from the Indus Valley Civilization. Terracotta toys have traditionally been made in several parts of India, such as Chattisgarh, Assam, West Bengal and Orissa, especially in Bishnupur and Bankura.

Craftsmanship

Terracotta toys are handmade, or by using moulds, from local clay or river soil. After sun-drying, the toys are kiln-hardened. Some are painted in bright colours, but most are kept in earthy tones. The toy figures are usually of working people, animals, pull-along carts, etc. 

Expertise and Value

Terracotta toys are noted for their durability and rustic appearance. They reflect rural life as animal sculptures, toys, and small utensils. These are biodegradable, chemical-free toys and are environmentally friendly. 

Status of the Craft and Artisans

Terracotta toys are popular in urban and rural markets as display items because art lovers like their detailing. 

Artists make these toys with government support and market them in Khadi Gramudyog exhibitions and craft shows.

Despite this, artisans struggle to prosper because of several limitations.

Traditional Bhatukali Toys of Maharashtra

Bhatukali, a staple toy from Maharashtra, includes small kitchen items and housewares. Playing pretend with these toys taught young kids housework as they could imitate elders doing household work.

Craftsmanship

Bhatukali toys are made of clay, brass, wood, and other materials. The toys are meticulously designed to resemble real furniture pieces and tools, including pots, pans, and miniature grinders. Brass ones are prized as family treasures, preserved for generations.

Other than this, making a handmade clay replica of Shivaji’s fort at a mountain top, is a favorite activity during Diwali and Shivaji Jayanti. Children and teenagers enjoy making these displays.

Expertise and Value

Bhatukali sets are valued for their craftsmanship, nostalgia and cultural significance. They show Maharashtra’s domestic life and inform kids about domestic work, planning, organizing and executing. These toys are now collector’s items and are used to teach Indian culture. These Bhatukali toys help kids pretend and play.

Current Work Situation

Bhatukali toy making is diminishing as fewer artisans make them. Still, Diwali festivities and other celebrations make these toys popular. Some artisans are exploring new markets and creating fresh designs for newer generations to revive this age-old tradition.

Etikoppaka Toys: Andhra Pradesh’s Lacquered Wonders

History, Origins

Etikoppaka, Andhra Pradesh, has artisans who make lacquered wooden toys. These toys look similar to the Channapatna wooden toys. Making these toys is a centuries-old local tradition. Natural lac gives toys their beautiful colours and shiny surfaces.

Craftsmanship of Traditional Indian Etikoppaka Toys

As with Channapatna toys, Etikoppaka toys are made from Ankudu (Wrightia tinctoria) wood. Animals, birds, humans, carts, and household miniature items are carved from wood. Lac is a natural resin used to make the items look shiny. The toys are coloured with natural colours made with seeds, bark, leaves, etc.

Expertise and Value

Etikoppaka toys are remarkable because of their eco-friendly production methods. These toys are safe for kids as they are made from natural materials and colours. They are treasured as toys and decorative pieces due to their glossy, smooth feel and sophisticated look.

Current State of the Craft 

Etikoppaka toy production is not easy in current times. Cheaper plastic toys and a variety of electronic toys are easily available online and offline, so, fewer artisans are continuing this art. However, with increased demand for eco-friendly products, these iconic toys are back in style. 

Etikoppaka Toys Geographical Indication (GI) emblem helps conserve and sell the craft internationally.

Tamil Nadu’s Bobble-Head Thanjavur Dolls

History and Origins

Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, is noted for its bobblehead dolls, also known as  “Thanjavur Thalaiyatti Bommai”. These dolls originated with Thanjavur 17th-century Maratha monarchs. These bobblehead dolls move their heads and waist from side to side, though they are made out of terracotta or Papier-Mache, have a GI tag and are hand-painted with intricate designs and attractive colors.

Craftsmanship

Some Thanjavur dolls are made using tapioca flour and plaster of Paris instead of clay or Papier-Mache. The doll’s wobbly heads oscillate with the slightest touch or movement. They depict Indian mythology and rural life in brilliant colors and represent Indian handicrafts beautifully.

In Thanjavur, some families traditionally make these toys for generations and women help out in the making of these toys. Sometimes, children may help in kneading the dough used for making the toys. This way, kids learn the process and may take up the craft as a grownup.

Many artisans have left this craft and moved to other professions to earn a better livelihood, so, if this art has to be carried forward in the future, fans must encourage this craft. 

Value

Thanjavur dolls are known for their creative and playful vibe. The bobblehead mechanism is a feat of engineering and balance, so kids and adults love these dolls. Besides, these dolls are displayed in cultural exhibitions.

These dolls are popular as tourist souvenirs among national and international tourists. In the festival of Gollu, during Navratri, some of these dolls, symbolic of Hindu gods and goddesses, are displayed and worshipped. Therefore, the Thanjavur dolls have a strong cultural relevance.

Current Situation of the Craft

The talent for making Thanjavur dolls has declined because fewer artists make the toys these days. Even then, the dolls are treasured as Navaratri decorations and gifts in the current times. Attracting new artists or retaining the old ones is challenging. Workshops and events about doll making may be organised to revive this dwindling traditional business.

Kondapalli Toys: Andhra Pradesh’s wooden wonders 

Origins, and History

Kondapalli is a village in Andhra Pradesh that has a rich history of making some beautiful things. The people of this town have made toys for approximately 400 years. There is a community of people here named the Nakarshalu.

The woodworkers of this community have traditionally made these toys. These toys are lightweight because they are made from local wood but the toys are renowned and have a strong cultural significance.

Generations of artisans have made the Kondapalli toys for the past 400 years. 

Craftsmanship

Traditional Kondapalli toys are made from white sandalwood from the Tella Poniki tree. Wood is cut, seasoned, and assembled into sculptures. These lightweight toys are painted with natural hues giving them a unique appeal. Animals, mythology, and rural scenes are typically depicted.

The Kondapalli toys have a GI tag and are popular among collectors of traditional Indian toys and handicrafts. 

Significance

Kondapalli Toys are well known for their pleasing intricate details and for depicting traditional rural life using quality and eco-friendly materials. Every toy is art and represents Andhra Pradesh’s culture and society. Children love these toys, and art enthusiasts may collect them for their cultural and aesthetic value.

Current State of the Craft 

Kondapalli toy art is threatened by declining demand, lack of awareness and the easy availability of plastic mass-produced toys. Government sponsorship, artist training, and marketing campaigns promote these toys as ecologically sustainable, culturally significant commodities to preserve this tradition.

Patrons of Indian art and craft items must recognise the situation and choose these items for personal use and gifting.

Lattu Spinning Top

Origins and background

For millennia, Indians have used lattu, or spinning tops, as one of the original toys. Each Indian region has its unique spinning top, a simple but fantastic toy.

Craftsmanship

Artisans use wood, clay and metal to make them. The conical tops have a sharp end for spinning. A string around the top spins it quickly. The skill is in keeping the top spinning as long as possible.

Significance

Their simplicity makes Lattu popular and are a part of old Indian sports. Even then, young people play lattu in small get-togethers. In the age of technology, the Lattu represents simple childhood delights.

Current Status of the Craft

Lattu is still popular in rural areas and during celebrations, but in urban society, the use of modern toys has reduced the popularity of this traditional toy. Moreover, children these days have little time to play outdoors with spinning top toys. 

Even then, Lattu, manufactured by traditional methods, is slowly regaining more popularity as a screen-free, environmentally responsible toy.

Pachisi Traditional Indian Toys

History and Origins

Pachisi is an Indian board game, played for centuries, that you probably may have seen in an Amar Chitra Katha comic or the Mahabharat serial on television. This game is similar to snakes and ladders, Ludo and other dice games, has a reference in the Mahabharata text as a popular game in royal courts and families.

Craftsmanship

Cotton Pachisi boards have square playing areas. The pieces are usually cowrie shells or wood. The dice-based game involves moving all pieces around the board and back to the starting position.

Value and Significance

Pachisi is a game of Indian cultural heritage and has been a base for developing modern board games like Ludo. People across India play several variations of this game. Strategic elements and social participation make the game popular with all ages.

Present Situation of the Craft

Modern designs of Pachisi are available, however handcrafted ones are not common. Pachisi board and piece creators compete with mass-produced alternatives. Old games have a modest market due to nostalgia and cultural value.

Conventional Indian Toys Environmental Impact

Traditional Indian toys are eco-friendly, which is an advantage today. Most of these toys have biodegradable wood, clay, and linen and natural colors. Plastic toys can have toxic chemicals, pollute and threaten health, whereas traditional Indian toys are safe and sustainable.

The revival of traditional toy-making promotes sustainable living and preserves culture. By buying handmade toys, buyers can support local artisans and prevent plastic waste.

Preservation of the Legacy of Traditional Indian Toys and Artisans

Centuries-old processes go in the making of traditional toys. These artists, often from specific communities or locations, have passed on their talents to future generations. The future market for traditional toys depends on the Indian government and cultural support groups. 

Recent efforts to help these artists include programs like the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which ensures credit and fair use and protects their works from imitation. Exhibitions, seminars, and websites have provided artists with new ways to reach global audiences. Additionally, new designs can give new life to these toys.

Conclusion

In this article, you read about the traditional Indian toys that are symbolic of the nation’s rich cultural history and the Indian people’s skill in making sustainable toys using natural materials. In modern times, these sustainable Indian toys make us proud of our old eco-friendly practices.

Legacy of these toys may inspire modern-day entrepreneurs and innovators to bring in the design thinking to adapt these toys to the current times. 

Environmentally friendly and culturally enriching, these toys are not only an alternative to plastic and electronic toys, but they also make us feel connected to our roots. 

Supporting classic and traditional Indian toys ensures future generations will value them otherwise they will never know such toys existed in India. Every state of India has their traditional toys made from wood, paper mache, cloth rag dolls, and using parts of coconut trees.

FAQ’s

What makes traditional Indian toys eco-friendly?

Wood, clay, and fabric and natural colors are part of traditional Indian toys. This makes them greener than plastic toys.

What can artists do to preserve Indian toys?

Artists know how to make classic Indian toys. They have to pass on these skills to interested young people. Artists and patrons are crucial for continuing the cultural legacy of these toys.