It was as if the pantheon of Indian gods had descended on the city.
From Vishnu to Shiva, Brahma to Devi, Guru Nanak to Buddha and Thiruvalluvar, every conceivable form of divinity was seen jostling for space at the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation’s (Poompuhar) showroom in Anna Salai. If the Dashavatar was about the various manifestations of lord Vishnu, the dolls on display here had taken it a step further, in their myriad forms, shapes and the materials they were made of.
The occasion was the inaugural of the Kolu Toys Fair at the showroom on Friday evening. With idols and toys from virtually all over the country displayed on the racks, the expo may also testify to the phrase ‘unity in diversity’.
Launching the kolu fair was Additional Chief Secretary and Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited, Sheela Rani Chunkath, who was clearly bedazzled at the range of dolls on display.
She said that the new additions to this year’s expo included hand-painted dolls from West Bengal, the ‘set’ dolls based on a variety of themes — from cricket teams to vegetables and fruits — and the Hare Rama, Hare Krishna idols.
Describing a Durga idol from Kolkata, she said, “The eyes of the dolls are sharp and small unlike the idols manufactured in the South. The idols are made of wet clay, whereas the ones manufactured here are made of fired clay.” On the Cricket Kolu set, she said that nowadays boys too are interested in arranging Kolu dolls, so far associated only with women.
Adding that the last edition of the exhibition netted sales worth about Rs 45 lakh, Sheela projected this year’s sales to exceed Rs 60 lakh. “Our sales might even go up to Rs 100 lakh if proper public patronage is given. The wares of artisans from across the nation, who need our support, would be sold here,” she said and added that many NRIs who visited the store to purchase the idols appreciated the doll collections.
“These dolls symbolise our culture and heritage handed down to us generation after generation. They need to be preserved,” she said.
Secretary to the department of Handlooms, Handicrafts and Textiles and Khadi, G Santhanam, was also present. The sale will be on till October 23 and a discount of 10 per cent will be given on most items.