What would you classify as traditional toys?
Playing with toys is an instinct that's evolved since the beginning of human evolution. Every infant gets attracted to toys, irrespective of their material, shape, size or colour. Anything that attracts them fuels their imagination and makes the object an improvised toy. Secondly, India is the home of toys! Indus Valley sites have artefacts that can be attributed to toys. The function of a toy as a play object never changed; its character, materials and shapes kept changing over time.
What are the different types of traditional toys found in India?
Almost every corner of the country has a toymaking tradition of some kind. Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Chennapatnam in Karnataka, Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh, Jaipur in Rajasthan, Dhubri in Assam and Nadia in West Bengal have clusters of toymakers who manufacture toys out of wood, cloth and clay. These toys are made by families who have been in this trade for centuries.
Terracotta toys could be as simple as those found from the Indus Valley or they could be handcrafted and coated with lacquer or carved to be made very fancy and decorative in shapes of animals, humans and flowers. The dolls made from wood in Varanasi, Kondapalli or Chennapatnam or the puppets from Rajasthan are very colourful and attractive. Despite the variety of toys, they all have a common objective-to entertain children. Styles in terms of appearance, treatment and materials used have regional variations.
This story is from the December 01, 2022 edition of RobinAge.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 01, 2022 edition of RobinAge.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Quirky Creatures Of The Ocean
Scientists say that life first began in the oceans. Yet, so far, we have discovered only 10% of the life in our oceans. Much of it has the most bizarre, flummoxing appearances and behaviours. Let's dive into the oceans and explore some of these quirky creatures.
THE MAN WHO LOST HIS HAIR
This story starts with a man called Babur.
The History of Electrification In India
Look around you. You are surrounded by electricity. Lights, fans, air-conditioners, washing machines, fridges and even reading devices all work on electricity or electrical charge. Without electricity, our lives would be very different. AMRITA GANERIWALLA, a class 12 student of Bombay International School, Mumbai, tells you how electricity changed India.
THE OVERHEAD TANK
Hey Hi! am a Shola tree. In groups, we form the Shola forest Solaivanam in Tamil). We are a native species of the Nilgiris. Did you know, we Sholas act as overhead water tanks’ and form the main source of water for South India? Wonder how? Let me tell you.
Town Musicians of Bremen
GRANDMA’S TALES: A SERIES BY INDIRA RAJAGOPAL
The Mass Communication Industry
Many years ago in India, people gathered around the radio to hear an important news announcement or listen to the leader of the nation speak. People also got together at small tea stalls to discuss the day's newspaper. Fast forward to about five decades, the internet and telecommunications industry have transformed the way news, information and entertainment get delivered to people across the country. LAKSHMI MITTER throws light on this change.
BUILDING FUTURE DECISION-MAKERS, TODAY
Children are the future of the nation. Many of today's children will grow up to be adults who will lead India in various spheres. It is therefore vital that children are well-informed and develop leadership and decision-making skills at a young age.
What Is Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear energy is the energy stored inside an atom by the forces that hold together the nucleus of an atom. Scientists have learned how to capture large amounts of energy from these forces, which can be used to generate electricity.
Karnataka & Scotland
Coorg in Karnataka is known as the Scotland of India. Both places have similar climate, terrain and hill ranges. Interestingly, even the traditional clothes worn by Coorgi men look very similar to the Scottish kilt! Let's learn more about these two places.
AMIGO THE PROTECTOR
\"Mom, I'm telling you, there is a monster in the loft. You must listen to me. Siddy and I hear sounds every night,\" Amigo the beagle told Ambika, his pet parent, as they waited for their turn at the Paw Counsellor Clinic. Ambika wanted a pet dog and companion for her baby boy Siddharth, but it now seemed like Amigo was causing too much trouble, and she was getting tired of running to the pet counsellor so often.
