Like the name suggests, Kondapalli toys are made in Kondapalli town of Krishna District. It is a plush town nestled in the backwaters of river Krishna. It is situated close to Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is a delight to historical adventurers with several forts and other historical sights to explore.
The city has been in the limelight worldwide for its brilliant artisans and artforms. The city has been exporting toys handcrafted from a special wood that adds a great touch of aesthetics to any room with their finely crafted figurines. These toys are a niche category across several toys all over the world.
They are made from a softwood that is indigenous to the Kondapalli Hills. The wood is known as Tella Poniki and the artisans who carve this wood are called ‘Aryakhatriyas’. In several manuscripts and inscriptions, their origin can be traced back to Muktharishi, who is believed to be a sage that was endowed with skills in arts and crafts by the mighty Lord Shiva himself.
The crafting of these toys is a special procedure that only a selected few are capable of. Each part of the toy is carved out and designed separately. Then, a homemade paste of tamarind seed powder and sawdust is used to join the pieces together.
The scene of Kondapalli toys lies in crafting small figurines that are more often than not, figures of gods and goddesses. Some of the most popular Kondapalli toys include Sankranthi toys, married couple set, Lord Krishna sets, and the ever-popular ‘Dasavarata’ sets that each signifies a message of their own.
For example, the most popular ‘Dasavarata’ set includes ten hand-crafted Kondapalli toys that depict the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The ten toys are namely Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashuram, Rama, Krishna, Balaram (or Buddha), and Kalki. In Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu is considered as the preserver of this world. When death and destruction prevail the earth, Lord Vishnu visits the earth in his innumerable avatars (incarnations) to cast off all the evil and suffering. The ‘Dasavatara’ set signifies ten of his most popular avatars to ward off evil.
The story narrated by one and many such Kondapalli toys add a great value of tradition, heritage, and glow with their vibrant colors. The age-old production techniques mythological themes also add rustic value to your showcases. They are also especially great for festival events like Bommala Koluvu (arrangement of dolls) during Dussehra or Diwali.
Even with the advent of mechanized and other popular toys, Kondapalli toys have been part of a craft that has not lost its skill. While this art form has experienced its advancement, the themes have varied to suit the popularity amongst buyers.
Desiauthentic supports this dying art and its artisans to aspire the next generations to this pristine artform. We believe that art is a breath of fresh air in a world that is slowly distancing itself from unspeakable forms of beauty. To purchase toys straight from Kondapalli, visit https://www.desiauthentic.com/collections/indian-toys