Did you know that Kolkata’s Nehru Children’s Museum in Maidan has three floors dedicated to dolls? The museum, run by the National Cultural Association, has three floors showcasing Indian and international dolls, a collection of dolls and statues inspired by mythological figures like Ganesh, as well as displays that recreate scenes from the Ramayan and Mahabharat using doll figurines
All photos by Soumyajit Dey
One of the collections has dolls — a male and female duo — in the traditional attire of various Indian states. Dressed in vibrant saris and ghagras and pleated dhotis, the detailing on the dolls includes intricate beadwork, stitching with exquisite patterns, beadwork, mirror work and tie-dye designs that reflect the rich textile heritage of the various regions
The dolls from West Bengal include a bride and groom in traditional wedding attire as well as a couple with the man dressed in a ‘panjabi’ and traditional ‘kochano dhuti’ and the woman in a white and red sari draped in the Bengali style. The traditional garments are in silk and cotton embellished with intricate motifs and patterns
The museum also has a small collection of international dolls. Among the collection of Japanese dolls are these costume dolls, which were dressed in colourful traditional Japanese kimonos with delicate embroidery, complete with an ‘obi’ or sash tied into an elaborate bow at the back, along with colourful headdresses
The Hakata Ningyo dolls (centre and right) represent the traditional craftsmanship of the city of Fukuoka in the Kyushu region of Japan. A distinct feature of these clay dolls is the finely detailed face with serene expressions, painted by hand, making these treasured items and collectibles, especially in Japan
While Lord Ganesh is worshipped as the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and prosperity, mythological stories also depict Ganesh as having a playful character. That, along with the elephant-human form of the god, mean that the mythological figure has been translated into fun statues and dolls. The Ganesh collection at the museum houses many such examples, from traditional forms to fun ones like this one of Ganesh playing football
